Rubio heads to Qatar after Israel strike
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is traveling to Qatar this week after a trip to Israel, with heightened tensions in the region following an Israeli attack on Doha targeting Hamas officials.
Israel has threatened follow-up strikes if the U.S. designated-terrorist group is not expelled from the country.
The State Department announced Rubio’s updated travel schedule Monday, coming after two days of meetings in Israel.
The secretary, who also serves as national security adviser, sought to show U.S. solidarity with Israel despite strains between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Qatar strike, a major, non-NATO ally to the U.S.
But the last minute, back-to-back trips signal the challenge facing the Trump administration in balancing ironclad U.S. support for Israel with anger over its decision to launch a military strike on Qatar without consultation or forewarning to the U.S.
Rubio projected unity with Israel while standing alongside Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday.
When asked if he would warn Israel against striking Qatar again, Rubio said he is focused on having Doha play a “constructive role” on the end of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the release of the 48 living and deceased hostages held by Hamas, the disarmament and “elimination” of the U.S.-designated terrorist group, “but also a better future for the people of Gaza.”
“We're going to remain focused on what we can do next,” Rubio said.
Qatar has signaled it wants to deepen its military ties with the U.S. to deter a renewed Israeli attack. Qatar hosts the largest U.S. military presence in the region, at Al Udeid Air Base.
Trump has telegraphed his frustration with Israel for launching the strike against Qatar, warning Israel to “be careful.” The U.S. agreed to a joint statement with the United Nations Security Council condemning the strikes against Qatar without naming Israel as the belligerent.
Also Monday, Qatar hosted imembers of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which condemned Israel’s strike in the Gulf nation and connected it with the suffering wrought on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid Israel’s war against Hamas.
“The blatant Israeli aggression against the sovereignty of the state of Qatar… constitutes yet another attempt by Israel, the occupying power, to expand the scope of war, undermine regional security and stability and persist in violating all international charters, laws, and resolutions,” said OIC Secretary-General Hussein Brahim Taha.
International condemnation against Israel is at a fever pitch following the strikes, with Qatar accusing Netanyahu of “killing” efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release with Hamas, where Qatari officials served as primary go-between.
Netanyahu has given the green light to a major Israeli military operation to take over Gaza City, part of his war goals to eliminate Hamas, amid nearly two-years of war triggered by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack.
Trump has given a tacit green light to the operation, even as his national security team has redoubled efforts to achieve a ceasefire and hostage release deal. Trump’s special envoy for peace missions, Steve Witkoff, had handed Hamas an updated ceasefire proposal last week and was expecting an answer when Israel decided to launch a strike, killing a number of Hamas officials in Doha.
Rubio on Monday said an Israeli military defeat of Hamas might be more realistic compared to a negotiated settlement, while saying the U.S. had not abandoned its efforts to push Hamas to disarm, give up control in Gaza and release the hostages.
“We'll continue to pursue that route. It's the ideal outcome. But it may require, ultimately, a concise military operation to eliminate them,” he said.