U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to Qatar on Thursday, a key mediator in negotiations with Hamas.

Axar.az reports that he works to gain traction in efforts to end the Gaza war following Israel's assassination of the group's leader. After his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Blinken is traveling from Saudi Arabia to Doha to gauge Hamas's stance on a potential ceasefire.

This trip marks Blinken's 11th visit to the region since the Hamas attack on Israel, as he faces ongoing difficulties in trying to stop the extensive Israeli military response in Gaza.