Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that a visit to Israel by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored the strength of ties between the allies, days after an unprecedented Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar drew broad criticism.
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The attack on the US ally and key mediator in Gaza truce talks has prompted Arab and Muslim leaders to gather for a show of solidarity in Doha, where Qatar’s prime minister urged the world to reject “double standards” and hold Israel to account.
US President Donald Trump has rebuked Israel over Tuesday’s strike and Rubio acknowledged to reporters before departing Washington that the president was “not happy” about it. He insisted, however, that the attack would not “change the nature of our relationship with the Israelis”.
Nevertheless, the strike has put renewed strain on efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, and Rubio allowed that the United States and Israel were “going to have to talk about” its impact.
Netanyahu has defended the operation – which targeted Hamas officials gathering to discuss a new US ceasefire proposal – saying killing the group’s leaders would remove the “main obstacle” to ending the Gaza war.
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On Sunday, Rubio offered prayers at Jerusalem’s sacred Western Wall alongside Netanyahu and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, an Agence France-Presse correspondent reported.