United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed for Israel on Saturday, where he plans to address the recent Israeli strikes targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar. The strike sparked tension between Washington and Tel Aviv.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his trip, Rubio acknowledged the Trump administration’s frustration over the strikes but emphasized the need to move forward.
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“Obviously, we were not happy about it. The president was not happy with it,” Rubio said. “Now we need to move forward and figure out what comes next. Because at the end of the day, there is still a group called Hamas — an evil group that still has weapons and is terrorizing. There are still 48 hostages that deserve to be released immediately, all at once. And there is still the hard work ahead, once this ends, of rebuilding Gaza in a way that provides people the quality of life they deserve. And who’s going to do that?”
The Israel-Hamas war started on Oct. 7,2023, when Hamas militants invaded southern Israel, killing 1,200 and taking 251 hostage. Since then, the Israeli offensive has killed at least 64,803 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Rubio said a key part of his mission will be reaffirming the strength of the U.S.-Israel alliance, despite recent friction.
“Our relationship with Israel is going to remain strong,” he said. “Sometimes things happen in those relationships where you’re not 100% aligned, but it’s not going to change the nature of our relationship with the Israelis.”
The White House was reportedly notified of the Israeli strikes as they occurred. United States President Donald Trump called the decision “unacceptable” and criticized Israel for launching the attack on Qatari soil, as the country is a key U.S. ally involved in mediating talks to end the war in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told Trump that the opportunity to target Hamas leaders in Doha was fleeting and required swift action.
Rubio’s visit comes as diplomatic efforts intensify to secure the release of remaining hostages and lay groundwork for Gaza’s reconstruction after months of conflict.
