Netanyahu Reaffirms U.s. Alliance As Rubio Visits Jerusalem After Qatar Strikes

DOHA, Qatar — Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s sojourn to Israel sends a “clear message” of support, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday, arsenic it emerged that a cardinal Qatari negotiator narrowly avoided an Israeli onslaught because their gathering was delayed.

Rubio landed successful Jerusalem connected Sunday seeking answers from Israel aft its unprecedented onslaught connected Hamas leaders wrong Qatar, different cardinal American partner successful the Middle East. The Trump management has sought to region itself from nan strike, which has outraged location powers and could person escalated moreover further.

Qatar’s cardinal negotiator, who regularly talks to some Israel and Hamas, was owed to beryllium astatine nan villa that Israel struck past Tuesday, a diplomat pinch knowledge of nan talks told NBC News. At nan past infinitesimal his gathering pinch Hamas was delayed, they said.

Rubio said Saturday that nan U.S. was unhappy astir nan onslaught connected nan building successful Qatar’s capital, Doha, but Netanyahu emphasized nan enduring U.S.-Israel confederation arsenic nan 2 said to reporters.

“America has nary amended state than Israel, and of course, Israel has nary amended state than America,” he said, adding that President Donald Trump is nan “greatest friend” Israel has ever had successful nan White House.

“Your sojourn to Israel coming is simply a clear connection that nan United States stands pinch Israel,” he said to Rubio.

Rubio, too, promised “unwavering support” for Israel’s goals successful Gaza, saying Hamas must beryllium “eliminated” and nan hostages returned “immediately.”

“As overmuch arsenic we whitethorn wish that there’d beryllium a benignant of a peaceful, negotiated measurement to extremity it, and we’ll proceed to research and beryllium dedicated to it, we besides person to beryllium prepared for nan anticipation that that’s not going to happen,” he added.

Rubio and Netanyahu successful Jerusalem connected Monday.Nathan Howard / AFP - Getty Images

Despite nan nationalist show of unity, Rubio's travel underlines Washington’s delicate effort to equilibrium relations pinch cardinal friends while managing nan fallout of nan attack.

Rubio will recreation to Qatar connected Tuesday aft gathering pinch Netanyahu successful Israel, past make his measurement to nan U.K., according to a elder State Department official.

On Sunday, Qatar began hosting a acme of Arab and Muslim leaders successful nan aftermath of nan strikes, which drew condemnation from nan United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and different location powers.

The United Nations Human Rights Council said it would clasp an urgent statement connected Tuesday to “discuss nan caller subject aggression” by Israel connected Qatar.

Trump met pinch Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani successful New York connected Friday, days aft Israel’s strike. The Qatari premier, who accused Israel of having “killed immoderate hope” of releasing hostages still held successful Gaza, besides met pinch Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.

Elsewhere, Israeli forces person intensified aerial attacks connected famine-stricken Gaza City and adjacent areas successful caller weeks, arsenic portion of an cognition to inhabit nan city.