US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Tuesday that Qatar remains the sole nation capable of mediating in Gaza, even after Israel’s recent strike on Hamas there.
“They need to decide if they still want to mediate following last week’s events, but we want them to know that Qatar is the only country that can facilitate a negotiated resolution,” Rubio remarked to reporters aboard his flight to Doha from Israel.
Rubio also cautioned that Hamas has only a limited time to agree to a ceasefire, as Israeli forces intensified their attacks on Gaza City.
“Israel has initiated operations, so we believe the window for a deal is narrow. We no longer have months, probably just days or a few weeks,” Rubio explained to reporters.
“Our preferred solution is a negotiated agreement where Hamas agrees to disarm and cease being a threat,” Rubio stated.
“Working with a group as extreme as Hamas may not make this feasible, but we hope for such an outcome,” Rubio added.
On Monday, Rubio met with Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, expressing support for the Israeli Prime Minister’s new offensive in Gaza City aimed at dismantling Hamas.
Witnesses later informed AFP that the city faced heavy shelling.
