Marco Rubio Visits Israel In Aftermath Of Israel's Qatar Strikes
Top US diplomat Marco Rubio began a visit to Israel on Sunday, after expressing the Trump administration's unwavering support for its ally in the war with Hamas despite a strike in Qatar that drew broad criticism of Israel.
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Israel's military operation targeted Hamas leadership discussing a US-proposed ceasefire plan in Qatar.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel on Sunday, demonstrating the Trump administration's continued support for its Middle Eastern ally despite Israel's controversial strike in Qatar that has drawn widespread international criticism.
The diplomatic visit follows President Donald Trump's public rebuke of Israel regarding the unprecedented attack against Hamas officials meeting in Doha on Tuesday.
This marked Israel's first military action against US-allied Qatar, further complicating diplomatic efforts to achieve a Gaza ceasefire.
Prior to his departure on Saturday, Rubio acknowledged to reporters that while President Trump was "not happy" about the strike, he emphasized it would "not going to change the nature of our relationship with the Israelis".
However, he noted that the United States and Israel would need to address the operation's impact on ongoing truce negotiations.
Trump met with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Friday, while Rubio's visit coincides with a planned meeting of Arab and Muslim leaders in Doha on Monday, organized to express solidarity with Qatar following the Israeli strike.
The Israeli operation specifically targeted Hamas leadership gathered to discuss a new American-proposed ceasefire initiative.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has defended the military action, stating on Saturday that eliminating senior Hamas officials would remove the "main obstacle" to ending the conflict.
According to Netanyahu's office, Rubio will visit Jerusalem's Western Wall with the Israeli Prime Minister on Sunday.
His primary diplomatic engagements, including meetings with Netanyahu and other officials, are scheduled for Monday before his Tuesday departure.
In recent days, Israel has intensified operations to gain control of Gaza City, the territory's largest urban center, ordering civilian evacuations and destroying numerous high-rise buildings allegedly used by Hamas.
As of late August, UN estimates indicated approximately one million people were living in Gaza City and surrounding areas, where the organization has declared a famine attributed to Israeli aid restrictions.
AFP images depicted columns of vehicles and pedestrians fleeing southward from Gaza City through devastated landscapes of destroyed buildings.
Among those fleeing were an amputee using crutches, a couple with a newborn, and a man in a wheelchair carrying a child.
'One obstacle'"We are living in constant terror amid relentless shelling and powerful explosions," said Sara Abu Ramadan, 20, a resident of Gaza City.
"Why such massive firepower in these rockets? What's their goal? We are dying here, with nowhere to seek refuge... and the world just watches. Why so much injustice?"
Gaza's civil defence agency reported at least seven fatalities since dawn Sunday resulting from Israeli military strikes.
The Israeli military issued another evacuation order for Gaza City residents ahead of planned operations.
Media restrictions and access difficulties in Gaza prevent AFP from independently verifying information provided by either the civil defence agency or Israeli military.
On Friday, the UN General Assembly voted to support reinvigorating the two-state solution, despite Israeli opposition.
Several Western nations, including British and French allies, plan to recognize Palestinian statehood at an upcoming UN gathering, expressing frustration with Israel's military conduct in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Nevertheless, Israel maintains strong support from the United States, its most powerful ally and primary arms supplier.
Before Rubio's visit, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated the diplomatic chief would demonstrate "our commitment to fight anti-Israel actions including unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state that rewards Hamas terrorism".
Domestically, Netanyahu government opponents have pressured ministers to end the conflict in exchange for releasing Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
On Saturday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum accused Netanyahu of being the "one obstacle" preventing hostage release.
Of the 251 individuals kidnapped by Palestinian militants in October 2023, 47 remain in Gaza, including 25 the Israeli military believes are deceased.
'Alarming passivity'Brian Katulis, Middle East Institute senior fellow, suggested Rubio was unlikely to push Israel toward a ceasefire.
"There is an alarming passivity in actually getting to a ceasefire in Gaza," said Katulis, who worked on Middle East policy during the Clinton administration.
The conflict began following Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel that killed 1,219 people, primarily civilians, according to AFP's compilation of official figures.
Israel's military response in Gaza has resulted in at least 64,803 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Hamas-run Gaza health ministry figures considered reliable by the United Nations.