U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Israel to discuss the war in Gaza following Israel's attack on Hamas members in Qatar, which has drawn international condemnation.
Before his departure, Rubio said U.S. President Donald Trump was unhappy with the Israeli strike on the key U.S. ally, but stressed that the U.S.-Israeli relationship is 'very strong'.
'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,' Rubio said.
His visit comes as Israeli forces continue to destroy residential buildings in Gaza City, forcing thousands to flee ahead of an expected ground offensive to seize the city.
In his remarks at Joint Base Andrews, Rubio added that Trump's priority remains the return of all hostages and an end to the war. Hamas members had been in Doha to discuss the latest U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza when Israel launched its strikes.
When questioned whether the strike on Doha complicated Qatar's willingness to cooperate with the U.S., Rubio stated, 'they've been good partners on a number of fronts'.
Qatar is set to host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit on Monday to discuss the next steps. Doha condemned Israel's attack as 'cowardly' and a 'flagrant violation of international law'. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the move by claiming it targeted senior Hamas leaders responsible for the October 7 attacks.
Approximately 48 Israeli hostages, of whom 20 are believed to be alive, are currently held by Hamas. Their families argue that Netanyahu is the 'one obstacle' preventing their return and hindering peace negotiations.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum criticized Israel's actions, alleging, 'every time a deal approaches, Netanyahu sabotages it.'
Netanyahu's strategy to occupy Gaza City has met with international backlash, with the UN warning that the military escalation amid declared famine conditions will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.
Footage verified by the BBC showed bombs hitting the al-Kawthar tower. Local officials reported that at least 30 residential buildings have been destroyed, with Israeli military asserting they have completed five waves of air strikes targeting over 500 sites linked to Hamas.
Israeli officials have ordered Gaza City's residents to evacuate south, estimating around 250,000 Palestinians have fled, though many remain in the area. Some, unable to leave, cite safety concerns and financial limitations.
On Sunday, the Hamas-run health ministry reported the arrival of 68 bodies resulting from Israeli military actions at local hospitals over the previous day. Since the UN announced a famine in Gaza City on August 22, the ministry has claimed at least 144 people have succumbed to starvation and malnutrition, a figure disputed by Israel.
The Israeli military response in Gaza was initiated following a Hamas-led attack on October 7, which resulted in around 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages being taken. The Hamas-run health ministry reports that at least 64,871 individuals have died from Israeli strikes in Gaza since that date.
