Qatari PM, U.S. Secretary of State stress need for calm in Mideast

DOHA, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) — Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday jointly stressed the need for calm and de-escalation in the Middle East.
Al Thani, who is also the foreign minister of Qatar, received a phone call from Blinken, during which they discussed recent developments in Gaza, said the Qatari Foreign Ministry.
They also reviewed the progress of joint mediation efforts aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza and addressing ongoing tensions in the Middle East, it said.
Since the outbreak of the conflict between Hamas and Israel in October of last year, Qatar has played an active role in mediation efforts, acting as an intermediary between the two sides.
However, the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has led to a stalemate in peace talks and a sudden escalation in regional tensions. ■