US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) meets Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, during Blinken's week-long trip aimed at calming tensions across the Middle East, at Lusail Palace in Lusail, Qatar, Jan 7, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

DOHA AMMAN - The Qatari emir stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire during his meeting on Sunday with the visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani stressed the necessity of working towards an immediate ceasefire and protecting civilians, a sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid delivery into all areas of the Gaza Strip, and working to reduce the escalation to ensure stability and security in the region, reported Qatar News agency.

Later in the day, Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held a press conference in Doha with Blinken.

The Prime Minister of Qatar told reporters that the recent killing of a senior Hamas leader has impacted Qatar's mediation efforts in the Israel-Hamas conflict, while Qatar remains committed to continuing its mediation efforts.

He also emphasized that hostile actions in the Red Sea are unacceptable, constituting unfortunate consequences of the Gaza conflict.

For his part, Blinken stated that he would raise the issue of protecting civilians during his upcoming visit to Israel, adding that Palestinian civilians must be allowed to return to their homes and should not be forced to leave Gaza.

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In this May 26, 2021 file photo, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) listens during a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II at Bayt Al Urdon in Amman, Jordan. (PHOTO / AP)

Meanwhile, King Abdullah II of Jordan on Sunday stressed the country's rejection of attempts to separate the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, warning of catastrophic ramifications of continued Israeli attacks on Gaza at a meeting in Amman with Blinken, according to a statement by the Royal Hashemite Court.

King Abdullah underlined the important role of the US in pushing towards an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the protection of civilians, while guaranteeing the sustainable delivery of sufficient humanitarian and relief aid to the strip, according to the statement.

The Jordanian leader also voiced Jordan's rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, which he said constitutes a clear violation of international law.

The king also called for enabling Gazans to return to their homes.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Sunday held talks with Blinken during which he stressed the necessity of achieving an immediate and permanent ceasefire to end the Israeli aggression and the resulting killings, destruction, and humanitarian catastrophe, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

During the meeting, the king said there will be no stability in the region without a just solution to the Palestinian issue and just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution.

He added that extremist settlers' violence against the Palestinians and violations of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem are completely rejected and must be countered before they lead to an explosion in the region.

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Also Sunday, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi held talks with Blinken during which he stressed the necessity of achieving an immediate and permanent ceasefire to end the Israeli aggression and the resulting killings, destruction, and humanitarian catastrophe, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Jordanian minister stressed the need to deliver humanitarian and medical aid immediately, comprehensively, and sustainably to all parts of Gaza, which faces a humanitarian disaster due to the ongoing Israeli aggression and the insufficient entry of aid.

Safadi warned of the consequences of the continued aggression and Israel's violations of international law and humanitarian law, as well as the dangerous Israeli escalation in the West Bank. He emphasized the importance of Israel halting all its illegitimate and provocative actions leading to an escalation of the situation in the West Bank, according to the statement.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (left) meets with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in Amman, Jordan, Jan 7, 2024. (POOL PHOTO VIA AP)

During the meeting, the two ministers agreed on the necessity of delivering adequate aid to Gaza, rejecting the displacement of Palestinians within and outside the strip. They highlighted the importance of enabling displaced Gazans from the north to return to their homes and areas, the statement read.

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Safadi also underlined the futility of any future proposal that perpetuates the separation of Gaza from the West Bank in isolation of a comprehensive plan that fulfills the Palestinian people's right to freedom and an independent, sovereign state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution.

Both ministers agreed to continue communication to discuss efforts for a ceasefire, aid delivery, civilian protection, and a genuine effort to end the conflict and achieve a just peace based on the two-state solution, the statement added.

Blinken is currently on a tour of several Middle Eastern countries, seeking to de-escalate the situation in the wake of the killing of a senior Hamas leader, which has further intensified the crisis in the region.