Rubio arrives in Israel as Israeli strikes intensify in northern Gaza

"JERUSALEM -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel on Sunday, as Israel intensified its attacks against northern Gaza, flattening another high-rise building and killing at least 12 Palestinians. Rubio said ahead of the trip that he will be seeking answers from Israeli officials about how they see the way forward in Gaza following Israel's attack on Hamas operatives in Qatar last week that upended efforts to broker an end to the conflict."

"His two-day visit is also a show of support for the increasingly isolated Israel as the United Nations holds what is expected to be a contentious debate on commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly opposes the recognition of a Palestinian state. Attack on Qatar Rubio's visit went ahead despite President Donald Trump's anger at Netanyahu over the Israeli strike against Hamas leaders in Doha, which he said the United States was not notified of beforehand."

"On Friday, Rubio and Trump met with Qatar's prime minister to discuss the fallout from the Israeli operation. The dual, back-to-back meetings with Israel and Qatar illustrate how Trump administration is trying to balance relations between key Middle East allies despite the attack's widespread international condemnation. The Doha attack also appears to have ended attempts to secure an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and the release of hostages ahead of the upcoming U.N. General Assembly session, at which the Gaza war is expected to be a primary focus."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel to seek Israeli perspectives on the path forward in Gaza after an Israeli strike on Hamas operatives in Qatar disrupted ceasefire efforts. The two-day visit served as a show of support for Israel amid growing international isolation and a contentious upcoming U.N. debate on Palestinian statehood, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes. President Donald Trump expressed anger over the Doha strike and met with Qatar's prime minister alongside Rubio to address fallout. Israeli forces intensified airstrikes across Gaza, flattening a high-rise and killing at least a dozen Palestinians, including multiple members of the same family in Deir al-Balah.

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