By Enyichukwu Enemanna
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday arrived Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as tensions mount in the Middle East over the unprecedented Israeli attack on Qatar last week,.
with an emergency session of the Arab-Islamic summit set for Monday in Doha, and as Israel presses ahead with its destruction of Gaza.
Rubio’s trip comes after US President Donald Trump criticised Israel over the brazen and failed attack on Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital.
Rubio visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem with the Israeli leader and US envoy Mike Huckabee, where Netanyahu said the alliance between the two countries is “durable as the stones” of the holy site.
“Under President Trump, and Secretary Rubio, this alliance has never been stronger, and we deeply appreciate it,” Netanyahu said.
Before departing for Israel, Rubio told reporters that while Trump was “not happy” about the strike, it was “not going to change the nature of our relationship with the Israelis”.
But he added that the US and Israel would discuss its impact on efforts for a truce in Israel’s war on Gaza.
“The president wants this to be finished with. And finished with meaning 48 hostages released all at once. Hamas is no longer a threat, so we can move on to the next phase, which is, how do you rebuild Gaza?” he said.
“How do you provide security? How do you make sure Hamas never comes back again? That’s the president’s priority … And part of what we’re going to have to discuss as part of this visit is how the events of last week with Qatar impact that.”
Rubio said it had yet to be determined who would do that, who would pay for it, and who would be in charge of the process.
In a post on X on Saturday, Rubio said his focus in Israel would be “on securing the return of hostages, finding ways to make sure humanitarian aid reaches civilians, and addressing the threat posed by Hamas”.
Israel’s attack on Qatar, a major non-NATO ally of the US, targeted Hamas leaders who had gathered to discuss a new ceasefire proposal in the war on Gaza at the instance of the US. The leadership survived, but six people were killed, including a Qatari security officer.
US officials described it as a unilateral escalation that did not serve US or Israeli interests.
