U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced the Trump administration’s full support for Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to Israel, saying Washington’s focus remains on freeing hostages and eliminating Hamas.
Speaking alongside the Israeli prime minister, Rubio did not mention a ceasefire or repeat earlier criticism of Israel’s strike in Doha last week that targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar, a U.S. ally. Instead, he said the U.S. priority is both the return of 48 hostages, living and dead, and the destruction of Hamas as an armed group.
The State Department confirmed that Rubio will stop in Doha on Tuesday before heading to London, as the administration works to manage fallout with Gulf partners. At an emergency Arab and Islamic summit in Doha, Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, accused Israel of undermining ceasefire talks with the strike. He argued that assassinating negotiation partners showed an intent to derail the process.
The Doha attack appeared to end prospects for an agreement that had been under discussion. Hamas had accepted a phased ceasefire proposal in August, while Israel and Trump pushed for a one-step deal exchanging all hostages at once.
In Jerusalem, Rubio said peace in the region is not possible until Hamas is destroyed. “Hamas needs to cease to exist as an armed element that can threaten the peace and security of the region. And the people of Gaza deserve a better future. But that better future cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated,” he said.
Rubio also warned that recognition of a Palestinian state by U.S. allies such as the UK, France, Canada, Belgium and Australia would embolden militant groups and make negotiations harder. He suggested that Israeli countermeasures, including annexation of parts of the West Bank, could follow such moves.
The Israeli offensive in Gaza City has continued despite widespread criticism. Residents reported the demolition of apartment blocks after evacuation notices were posted online, while tens of thousands have fled south. Humanitarian groups say no safe shelter remains in the enclave. UNRWA reported that 10 of its buildings, including schools and clinics, were hit by airstrikes in the past four days.
Netanyahu defended the strikes on towers, insisting they served as Hamas command posts. “We’re not bringing down those towers to intimidate people. Those towers are serving as Hamas strongholds,” he said, accusing Hamas of using civilians as shields.
UN human rights rapporteur Francesca Albanese said the Gaza City campaign was aimed at making the area unlivable. Israel’s mission to the UN rejected her remarks, accusing her of ignoring Hamas’s tactics.
Reports in Israeli media suggest military leaders harbor doubts about the Gaza offensive. Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the IDF chief of staff, reportedly told lawmakers he had not been briefed on long-term objectives and questioned the effectiveness of humanitarian initiatives being pursued alongside the campaign.
Families of hostages have urged the military to avoid actions that could endanger their relatives, warning against further pressure that might result in deaths in captivity or the loss of remains in the rubble.
Qatar’s emir accused Israel of prioritizing Gaza’s destruction over recovering its hostages. Netanyahu, however, defended the Doha strike as an Israeli decision, saying it carried a clear message: “You can hide, you can run, but we’ll get you.”
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, with most of the victims civilians. Many thousands more are believed buried under collapsed buildings. Netanyahu faces an arrest warrant for war crimes from the International Criminal Court, while the International Court of Justice is reviewing genocide allegations. Israel rejects the charges, citing its right to self-defense after the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 Israelis, most of them civilians.
