Israel Intensifies Gaza City Strikes as Rubio Heads to Qatar
(Bloomberg) — Israel intensified strikes on Gaza City overnight as US President Donald Trump’s top diplomat warned Hamas there was a “very short window” for a negotiated deal to end the war.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio left Israel on Tuesday morning for Qatar, where he said he would try to encourage the Gulf state’s leader to re-engage in mediation talks. Qatar was outraged by an Israeli missile strike on its capital, Doha, a week ago that targeted Hamas officials in a residential area.
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“We know they’re upset about it,” Rubio said to reporters before flying to Qatar, a key ally of the US and home to the largest American military base in the Middle East. The US has a close partnership with Qatar and “we appreciate and respect” the efforts they have made to mediate between Hamas and Israel, he said.
Rubio arrived in Israel on Sunday and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the trip, which included them praying at the Western Wall together, proved how strong US-Israeli relations were.
Standing beside Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday, Rubio endorsed Israel’s goal of destroying Hamas on the battlefield. While US wants the Islamist group to negotiate, lay down its weapons and free 48 hostages that it still holds, “it may require ultimately a concise military operation to eliminate them,” Rubio said.
Rubio also suggested the Abraham Accords — a series of deals that saw a few Arab countries including the United Arab Emirates recognize Israel five years ago — could be expanded. That’s an important goal for Trump, but one that looks increasingly unlikely given the anger toward Israel among Middle Eastern governments as the war in Gaza continues. Their frustration only increased after the Sept. 9 strikes on Qatar.
On Monday evening, Gulf leaders, including Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, met in Doha and condemned Israel’s attacks on Qatar. Saudi Arabia previously described them as a “criminal act.”
Qatar, along with Egypt, has been the main interlocutor between Israel and Hamas since the war in Gaza erupted in October 2023. The conflict was triggered by the Palestinian militant group’s attack on the Jewish state.
Israel started preparations for an offensive on Gaza City, home to roughly one million people and the de facto capital of the Mediterranean territory, about a month ago. While troops have yet to enter the heart of the northern city, Israel has increased its aerial attacks, leveling several high-rise buildings. It’s told civilians to leave the area. The Israeli government says around 320,000 people have fled south so far.