US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel on Sunday to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His visit came just days after Israel launched a controversial airstrike in Qatar and intensified settlement expansion in the West Bank, escalating regional tensions.
Israel Strikes Qatar
Last week, Israel carried out an airstrike on a building in Doha, killing several aides of a Hamas leader and a Qatari officer. This was Israel’s first direct attack on Qatar, a close ally of the United States. The strike drew strong international criticism and disrupted ongoing efforts to negotiate a truce in Gaza. As a result, several Western nations, including the UK, France, Canada, Australia, and Belgium, are now preparing to formally recognise Palestine.
US Expresses Displeasure
Before departing from Washington, Rubio admitted that the US was deeply concerned about the strike. “Obviously, we’re not happy about it. The president was not happy about it. Now we need to move forward and figure out what comes next,” he told reporters. However, he made it clear that this incident would not harm the long-standing relationship between the US and Israel, saying, “It’s not going to change the nature of our relationship with the Israelis.”
Israel Seeks to Calm Relations
Meanwhile, Israel worked to ease tensions with Washington. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon told army radio that Israel remained in close coordination with the US administration. “We have a very close dialogue with the administration. We’re coordinated with them and, relatively speaking, the American reaction was reasonable,” Danon said.
He admitted that the UN expressed some “minor reservations” about the strike but noted that Israel understood such actions would “have a price.” Danon also accused Qatar of exploiting the situation for political gain. “From their perspective, they are leveraging this incident. From our perspective, we delivered the clear message that we will pursue the terrorists everywhere,” he explained.
Rubio’s Goals in Israel
Upon arriving in Jerusalem, Rubio visited the Western Wall with Netanyahu before holding further talks. He said his focus was on securing the return of hostages, ensuring humanitarian aid reaches civilians, and addressing the ongoing threat posed by Hamas. Rubio emphasized that he wanted to gain a clear understanding of Israel’s plans moving forward.
“We’re going to meet with them. We’re going to talk about what the future holds. I’m going to get a much better understanding of what their plans are moving forward,” he stated.
Trump Criticises Netanyahu
Former US President Donald Trump strongly criticised Netanyahu over the Qatar strike. The attack reportedly targeted Hamas leaders who were discussing a possible ceasefire at the time. Netanyahu, however, defended the operation, arguing that killing Hamas commanders would remove what he described as the “main obstacle” to peace.
Gaza Conflict Intensifies
As tensions continued to rise, Israel intensified its military campaign in Gaza. The Israeli forces urged civilians to evacuate and demolished several high-rise buildings, claiming they were being used by Hamas for operations.
Rubio to Join Trump in the UK
After his visit to Israel, Rubio will travel to the UK to join Trump. During their time there, Britain is expected to receive its first group of children from Gaza for medical treatment, marking a significant humanitarian step amid the ongoing conflict.