Amid tensions after the strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar, Rubio travels to Israel

Amid tensions with US partners in the Middle East over Israel‘s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar and the growth of settlements in the occupied West Bank, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Israel on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters before departure, Rubio reiterated that the US and Trump were not happy about the strikes, but that it was “not going to change the nature of our relationship with the Israelis”.

When asked if Israeli authorities’ threats to launch more strikes in Qatar worried him, Rubios responded, “We’re going to meet with them.” We’re going to discuss what lies ahead. I’m going to get a much better understanding of what their plans are moving forward.

When asked if he was worried about Israeli officials threatening to launch more strikes in Qatar, Rubios responded, “We’re going to meet with them.” Our conversation will focus on what is ahead. I’m going to gain a far greater knowledge of their future ambitions.

“What transpired has transpired. It goes without saying that neither the president nor we are thrilled about it. We must now proceed and determine our next course of action.

“What has occurred has occurred. It goes without saying that we are unhappy about it, as was the president. We must now proceed and determine what to do next.

“What has transpired has occurred. The president was clearly not pleased with it, and neither are we. We now need to proceed and determine the next course of action.

Following Israel’s historic raid on Hamas officials in a posh Doha neighborhood on Tuesday, Rubio is in town. The attack, which was Israel’s first against US ally Qatar, has drawn international outcry and has redoubled diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire in war-torn Gaza.

Netanyahu has defended the operation, saying on Saturday that killing senior Hamas officials would remove the “main obstacle” to ending the war.

Netanyahu has justified the operation, claiming on Saturday that eliminating top Hamas leaders will eliminate the “main obstacle” to the war’s conclusion.

In support of the operation, Netanyahu claimed on Saturday that eliminating top Hamas leaders would eliminate the “main obstacle” to the war’s conclusion.

According to Gaza’s civil defense service, Israeli fire killed 32 civilians on Saturday.

Netanyahu and his government have defied international criticism throughout the nearly two-year war, but it continued to mount this week.

Despite Israeli resistance, the UN general assembly voted on Friday to support a resuscitation of the two-state solution.

Exasperated by Israel’s actions in the Gaza War and in the occupied West Bank, Israeli allies Britain and France, along with a number of other western countries, are scheduled to recognize Palestinian statehood at a UN meeting this month.

Berlin backed London and Paris in demanding an immediate end to Israel’s offensive on Gaza City. However, Israel continues to have the support of the United States, its largest armaments supplier and most potent ally.

Ahead of Rubio’s visit, state department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the US’s top diplomat would show “our commitment to fight anti-Israel actions including unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state that rewards Hamas terrorism”.

“He will also highlight our common objectives, which include bringing all the hostages home and making sure Hamas never controls Gaza again.”

At home, opponents of the Netanyahu government have sought to put pressure on ministers to end the war in return for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

The primary campaign organization, the captives and Missing Families Forum, charged the Israeli prime on Saturday with being the “one obstacle” to the captives’ release and with consistently undermining ceasefire attempts.

Of the 251 people taken hostage by Palestinian militants in October 2023, 47 remain in Gaza, including 25 the Israeli military says are dead.

The war was sparked by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

At least 64,803 individuals have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory attack in Gaza, the majority of whom were civilians, according to estimates from the UN-reliable health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

Alongside Reuters and Agence France-Presse