The remarks were made by Majed al-Ansari, spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, during a news conference on Tuesday, where he commented on Doha’s diplomatic efforts regarding current developments.
   Al-Ansari said Qatar is maintaining contacts with Tehran and Washington and backs all forms of dialogue intended to avert an increase in tensions.
    He stressed that there is still an opportunity for diplomatic and political solutions concerning Iran.
   On the situation in Palestine, the Qatari spokesperson said Doha is engaged with mediators to reopen the Rafah crossing into besieged Gaza and deliver aid.
   “We are working with mediator(s) to ensure we reach the second phase of Gaza ceasefire. We demanded that humanitarian aid is not used as a political blackmail,” al-Ansari said.
   Reopening Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt was a condition of the first phase of the ceasefire that went into effect on October 10. But it has remained closed as humanitarian groups say Israeli restrictions continue to hamper aid deliveries, a clear violation of the agreement.
   The crossing had long been Gaza’s only connection to the outside world until the Israeli military occupied the Palestinian side in May 2024.