LONDON: Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani on Thursday met with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron in Doha, the Qatar News Agency reported.

During talks, they discussed cooperation between the two countries – particularly in relation to development aid – and regional issues including the situation in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the need to bolster international efforts to prevent an escalation of fighting in the region, with the top priority being to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel’s relentless bombardment and military campaign in the Strip has resulted in the deaths of at least 25,700 people, with around 70 percent of them women and children, according to health ministry officials in Gaza.

Qatar, where several Hamas political leaders are based, has served as the main mediator between the movement that governs Gaza and Israeli officials in the conflict.

In November, Qatar helped secure a seven-day pause in fighting, during which 110 Israeli and foreign hostages were released from Gaza in return for 240 Palestinians being freed from Israeli detention.