U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in Israel on Sunday while Israeli forces escalated their campaign in northern Gaza, toppling a residential tower and killing at least 12 Palestinians.
Before departing Washington, Rubio said his mission included seeking clarity from Israeli leaders on their plans for Gaza following Israel’s strike on Hamas operatives in Qatar last week, an operation that disrupted international efforts to mediate an end to the fighting.
His visit comes at a moment when Israel faces growing isolation ahead of a United Nations debate expected to focus heavily on the recognition of a Palestinian state, a proposal strongly opposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Rubio’s presence underscores U.S. backing despite tensions between President Donald Trump and Netanyahu, who clashed after Washington was not informed of the Doha strike.
On Friday, Rubio joined Trump in meeting Qatar’s prime minister to discuss the fallout. The meetings in both Doha and Jerusalem reflect the administration’s attempt to juggle ties with key allies in the region, even as the Israeli operation has been widely condemned and has undermined ceasefire talks and negotiations for hostage releases ahead of the U.N. General Assembly.
The violence in Gaza continued to intensify Sunday. Hospitals reported that 13 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli strikes across the enclave. Casualties included a family of six killed in Deir al-Balah when an airstrike hit their tent after they fled from Gaza City. Local medical staff said the victims were parents, their three children and an aunt, originally from Beit Hanoun.
In Gaza City, the army demolished the Kauther tower in the Rimal neighborhood less than an hour after issuing an evacuation notice online. Residents said the building collapsed entirely. “They want to turn the whole city into rubble,” said Abed Ismail, a local resident, accusing Israel of aiming to force mass displacement. Israel has rejected accusations of genocide.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported two additional deaths from starvation in the past day, raising the number of malnutrition-related fatalities since June to 277 among adults, with another 145 children reported dead from hunger-related causes since the war began in October 2023.
The war started on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and abducting 251 hostages. Israel says 48 captives remain in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive.
In response, Israel’s offensive has killed at least 64,803 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians but says roughly half of those killed have been women and children. Widespread destruction has left major cities in ruins, and officials estimate 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents have been displaced.
