Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani received a phone call today, Monday, from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The call focused on discussing tensions in the Middle East and mediation efforts to end the war on Gaza.

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the conversation included "reviewing the close strategic relations between the State of Qatar and the United States of America and ways to support and enhance them."

They also "discussed the latest developments in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, updates on joint mediation efforts to end the war on Gaza, and the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, stressing the need for de-escalation and reducing tensions."

The U.S. Department of State expressed its gratitude for the "extraordinary role played by both Qatar and Egypt in attempting to find a resolution to this conflict."

The department added, "Our Qatari and Egyptian partners continue to try to persuade Hamas to accept a ceasefire agreement."

The U.S. State Department clarified that Blinken spoke with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty about the tension in the Middle East, telling them that the world is facing a "critical moment in the Middle East, and it is important to de-escalate."

The department further stated, "We have sent a message through our friends to Iran that we will defend Israel and that escalation is not in its interest."

The U.S. Department of State also said, "We do not believe that a full-scale war is inevitable and continue to work to prevent it."

Meanwhile, Israel has heightened the alert level among its forces and taken a series of exceptional measures in anticipation of an Iranian response to the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week.

The U.S. has also announced that it will send additional fighter jets and warships to the Middle East.

The U.S. State Department emphasized that it continues to work towards achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, calling it a "crucial step to calming broader tensions."

It added, "The parties should look for ways to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, rather than reasons for delay or rejection."

For nearly 10 months, Israel has continued its war on Gaza with U.S. support. International experts describe it as genocide against Palestinians, with tens of thousands martyred and injured. Entire families have been wiped out from civil records, and around 70% of the civil infrastructure, including homes, schools, and hospitals, has been destroyed.

Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies