By Omar Alothmani
ISTANBUL (AA) - The foreign ministers of Qatar and Iran discussed developments across the occupied Palestinian territories on Saturday, particularly in the Gaza Strip which is experiencing an Israeli intensified onslaught.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani received his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Doha to review relations, in addition to discussing the situation in Palestine, according to the Qatari state news agency, QNA,
QNA said Sheikh Mohammed stressed "the necessity of working towards an immediate ceasefire, protecting civilians and releasing prisoners."
He reiterated that the expansion of violence and cycle of conflict "will have dire consequences" for the region.
Diplomatic efforts are taking place by several regional countries including Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia to deescalate the conflict between the Palestinian groups in Gaza and Israel, and to allow humanitarian efforts for the besieged people in Gaza.
Israeli forces, a week ago, launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.
The conflict began Oct. 7, when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel -- a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.
Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.
That response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has endured a crippling siege since 2007, as well as ordering more than 1 million Gazans in the northern strip to evacuate to the southern strip within 24 hours.
More than 3,500 people have been killed since the outbreak of the conflict on Oct. 7, including 2,215 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.
*Writing by Ahmed Asmar