US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Doha for talks with Gaza mediator Qatar as part of a diplomatic effort aimed at heading off further escalation in the region, AFP reports.

The visit to the Gulf emirate, which hosts Hamas’ political office and has led mediation for a Gaza truce alongside the United States and Egypt, follows talks in Israel and Saudi Arabia on Blinken’s 11th visit to the region since the start of the conflict last year.