Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman discussed on Wednesday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken the latest developments in the besieged Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories. The two sides focused, over a telephone call initiated by Blinken, on ongoing tension in the Middle and the joint mediation to end the war in Gaza, Qatar's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. They stressed the need of continuing working in order to reach a ceasefire in the Strip to mitigate the sufferings of Palestinian people, ensure the release of hostages and open door for possible wider stability as well as avoid further escalation, it added. The two senior officials reviewed deep-rooted strategic ties between Qatar and the US, and means of enhancing them. Blinken thanked Qatar's Premier for his country's key role in achieving permanent regional peace, it noted. Source: Kuwait News Agency