Qatar says negotiations continuing in efforts to 'return to calm' as Israel-Hamas war rages on

 

A rocket being fired from inside Gaza toward Israel as battles resumed between the Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists on Dec. 1. (JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said negotiations remain underway between Israel and Hamas with the goal of "returning to a pause" hours after the temporary cease-fire ended.

In a statement Friday morning, Qatar said it "expresses its deep regret at the resumption of the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip" and that it is "committed, along with its mediation partners, to continuing the efforts that led to the humanitarian pause."

"The Ministry stresses that the continued bombing of the Gaza Strip in the first hours after the end of the pause complicates mediation efforts and exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip, and in this context calls on the international community to move quickly to stop the violence," the statement read.

Qatar said it will continue to condemn "all forms of targeting civilians, the practice of collective punishment, and attempts to forcibly displace and displace citizens of the besieged Gaza Strip."

The state also demanded an "immediate" cease-fire in order to meet the humanitarian needs of Gaza residents.