US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday, with Israel’s air strike in Qatar expected to dominate discussions.
The strike, which targeted senior Hamas leaders in Doha last week, drew widespread condemnation and was criticised by President Donald Trump. Qatar, a close US ally that hosts a major American airbase, also plays a central role in mediating talks between Hamas and Israel.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Rubio acknowledged Washington’s displeasure. “Obviously we’re not happy about it. The president was not happy about it. Now we need to move forward and figure out what comes next,” he said.
The talks come as Arab and Islamic leaders hold an emergency summit in Doha to rally support for Qatar. Its prime minister has urged the international community to end what he described as “double standards” and to hold Israel accountable.
On Sunday, Netanyahu sought to reassure US-Israel ties, describing them as “durable as the stones in the Western Wall” after he and Rubio visited the holy site with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee. Both officials declined to answer questions on the Qatar strike.
Other issues expected on the agenda include Israel’s military operations in Gaza and its continued expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Over the weekend, Israeli forces demolished residential buildings in Gaza City and are reportedly preparing ground operations in its western districts. The military has urged civilians to move south, estimating that about 250,000 Palestinians have already fled.
Many residents, however, say they cannot leave due to financial hardship or lack of safety in southern Gaza, which has also been hit by Israeli air strikes. Some who attempted to relocate said they returned after being unable to set up shelter.
The meeting comes ahead of next week’s UN General Assembly, where several US allies—including the UK, France, Canada, Australia, and Belgium—are expected to formally recognise the State of Palestine.
