US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Israel on Sunday amid tensions with US allies in the Middle East. The visit came after Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar and its expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank. Despite the strikes, Rubio emphasized that the US-Israel relationship would not change. He also stated that the US would hold meetings to discuss the future and assess Israeli plans. The trip to Israel precedes Rubio’s participation in Trump’s planned visit to Britain, where injured and sick children from Gaza will be receiving medical treatment.
In Jerusalem, Rubio is scheduled to visit the Western Wall with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The visit follows an Israeli attack against Hamas leaders in Doha, marking Israel’s first strike against US ally Qatar. This intensified tensions and strained diplomatic efforts to establish a truce in Gaza.
Trump has chided Netanyahu over the attack, which targeted Hamas leaders discussing a US-proposed ceasefire proposal. Netanyahu defended the operation, claiming it would remove the main obstacle to ending the war.
The situation in Gaza remains precarious, with Israel intensifying its efforts to control Gaza City and demolishing high-rise buildings deemed to be used by Hamas. Despite international criticism, Israel continues to receive support from its primary ally, the United States.
Prior to Rubin’s visit, the UN General Assembly voted in favor of a Hamas-free government for Palestine, going against Israeli opposition. Several Western nations, including Britain, France, and Germany, are set to recognize Palestinian statehood at a UN gathering in response to Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. However, Israel retains significant US support.
Opponents of Netanyahu’s government have been pressuring ministers to end the war in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. As of now, 47 hostages, including 25 believed to be dead, remain in Gaza. The conflict began with a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 64,803 people, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/14/rubio-visit-middle-east-israel-qatar-hamas
