U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel on Sunday amid growing friction with Washington’s allies after an Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar and continued settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
Speaking to reporters before his flight, Rubio stressed that neither the U.S. nor President Donald Trump was happy about the attack, but said it would not fundamentally change America’s ties with Israel.
When asked if he was concerned about Israel’s threats of further strikes in Qatar, Rubio replied, “We’re going to meet with them. We’re going to talk about what happens next. I want a clearer understanding of what their plans are moving forward. What happened, happened. We weren’t happy with it, the president wasn’t happy with it. Now we need to focus on what comes next.”
Rubio’s stop in Jerusalem comes days after Tuesday’s rare Israeli operation in a wealthy Doha neighbourhood, which targeted Hamas leaders who had gathered to discuss a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. The strike marked Israel’s first attack on its U.S. ally Qatar, sparking international criticism and complicating efforts to secure a truce in war-battered Gaza.
Trump openly criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for authorising the strike, while Netanyahu defended the move, saying the killing of senior Hamas officials removed a “major obstacle” to ending the war.
Israel has intensified its offensive in Gaza in recent days, pushing into Gaza City, ordering evacuations, and demolishing high-rise buildings it claims Hamas was using. Thousands have fled, though many remain. Gaza’s Civil Defence agency reported 32 people killed by Israeli fire on Saturday.
The nearly two-year-long war continues to draw mounting international backlash. On Friday, the United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of reviving a two-state solution despite Israel’s opposition. Britain, France, and other European powers are preparing to recognise a Palestinian state during this month’s UN session, frustrated with Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank. London, Paris, and Berlin also demanded an immediate halt to Israel’s assault on Gaza City.
Still, Israel retains strong backing from its most powerful ally and arms supplier, the United States.
State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said before Rubio’s visit that he would reaffirm U.S. opposition to moves against Israel, including unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, while also pressing shared goals: preventing Hamas from ruling Gaza again and securing the release of all hostages.
Domestically, Netanyahu faces pressure from hostage families, who accuse him of blocking ceasefire efforts. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Saturday that the prime minister was “an obstacle” to securing their release.
Of the 251 people seized by Palestinian militants in October 2023, 47 remain in Gaza. Israel believes 25 of them are dead.
The war began in October 2023, when Hamas launched an attack that killed 1,219 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to official figures. In response, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 64,803 people, also mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Rubio will continue his trip next week by joining Trump on a planned visit to the United Kingdom, where officials are expected to receive the first group of wounded and sick children evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment. While in Jerusalem, he is also scheduled to visit the Western Wall alongside Netanyahu.
