Qatari PM indicates Israel is scuttling ceasefire talks

Qatar's Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said on Tuesday that Israel has been an obstacle in talks to reach a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Speaking to Aljazeera outside the US Department of State where he met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, al-Thani said Doha, alongside Washington, remains committed to securing a deal for the release of all captives held in Gaza and an end to the war. 

The prime minister also said Rubio appeared open to sanctions relief in Syria, in order for the country to draw in investments and start to rebuild after the fall of its longtime president Bashar al-Assad in December.