US Secretary of State Marco Rubio headed to Qatar Tuesday to ask it to stay on as mediator in Gaza, hoping to reassure the Gulf partner a week after Israeli airstrikes there against Hamas leaders.

Heading to Qatar from Israel, which overnight carried out major new strikes in Gaza, Rubio was pessimistic about a ceasefire deal but said Qatar uniquely could help.

“We’re going to ask Qatar to continue to do what they’ve done, and we appreciate very much, and that is, play a constructive role in trying to bring this to an end,” Rubio told reporters as he flew out of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport.

“Obviously they have to decide if they want to do that after last week or not, but we want them to know that if there’s any country in the world that could help end this through a negotiation it’s Q

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