Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will be in Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on negotiations to reach a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

It will be the Qatari emir’s first official visit to Paris since his return to the throne in 2013, the Elysee Palace announced.

“Qatar is making efforts to free the hostages which is a priority for us,” according to the French presidency, at a time when three Frenchmen are among the hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

The talks will also address “ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire (…) to allow the mass transfer of aid to the population of Gaza.”

Qatar hosts the political leadership of Hamas and has taken a mediating role with the United States and Egypt to end the conflict with Israel.

According to the French Presidency, a new humanitarian operation with Qatar “will take place in the coming days” with flights carrying ten ambulances, more than 300 tents and supplies for the population of Gaza.

Doha announced earlier this week that drugs sent to Gaza under a deal negotiated between Doha and Paris in January had finally reached the Hamas hostages.