US diplomat Marco Rubio is set to visit Israel on Sunday, reinforcing the Trump administration’s strong support for Israel following a controversial strike in Qatar that drew significant criticism.
This visit comes after President Donald Trump criticized Israel for the unprecedented attack on Hamas leaders in Doha on Tuesday.
As Israel’s first strike on US ally Qatar, it has strained diplomatic efforts to secure a truce in the war-torn Gaza region.
Before heading to the region on Saturday, Rubio stated that although Trump was “not pleased” with the strike, it would “not alter our relationship with Israel”.
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He noted, however, that the US and Israel need to discuss the strike’s implications on truce efforts.
Trump reprimanded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the attack, which targeted Hamas leaders considering a new US ceasefire proposal.
Netanyahu defended the operation, asserting on Saturday that eliminating top Hamas officials would resolve the “main barrier” to ending the conflict.
Talks of a ceasefire remain elusive after months of negotiations, as Israel intensifies its campaign in Gaza.
Recently, efforts to seize Gaza City have increased, with residents urged to evacuate and numerous high-rise buildings destroyed, allegedly used by Hamas.
Many residents have fled, but according to the Israeli military and Hamas, many remain.
The UN estimated that as of late August, around one million people were in the city and its surroundings, where a famine has been declared due to Israeli aid restrictions.
Bakri Diab, a father of four who fled to southern Gaza, reported ongoing Israeli strikes.
“All this occupation has done is force people into overcrowded places with no basic services or safety,” he said.
Gaza’s civil defence reported 32 deaths from Israeli fire on Saturday.
Media restrictions and access challenges mean AFP cannot independently verify these claims.
‘Main barrier’
Despite ongoing international criticism, Netanyahu and his administration remain defiant.
On Friday, the UN General Assembly backed a two-state solution, defying Israeli opposition.
Israeli allies Britain and France, among other Western nations, are expected to recognize Palestinian statehood at a UN meeting, frustrated by Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
London and Paris, along with Berlin, have called for an immediate halt to the offensive in Gaza City.
Nonetheless, Israel continues to have the support of its strongest ally and largest arms supplier, the United States.
Prior to Rubio’s visit, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott emphasized US commitment to combating anti-Israel actions, including unilateral Palestinian state recognition that rewards Hamas terrorism.
“He will also stress our shared goals: preventing Hamas from ruling Gaza again and ensuring all hostages return home.”
Domestically, Netanyahu’s opponents are pressuring the government to end the war in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
On Saturday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum accused Netanyahu of being the “main obstacle” to freeing hostages, alleging sabotage of ceasefire efforts.
Out of 251 hostages taken by Palestinian militants in October 2023, 47 remain in Gaza, including 25 deceased, according to Israeli military claims.
‘Alarming passivity’
Brian Katulis of the Middle East Institute believes Rubio is unlikely to push Israel towards a ceasefire.
“There’s an alarming passivity in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza,” said Katulis, who advised on Middle East policy under President Bill Clinton.
“The administration seems to prioritize its base of evangelical Christians allied with right-wing Israelis,” he added, mentioning US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, a Baptist pastor.
In Jerusalem, Rubio is scheduled to visit the Western Wall with Netanyahu on Sunday, according to Netanyahu’s office.
The conflict began with Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, resulting in 1,219 deaths, mostly civilians, based on AFP’s tally of official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed at least 64,803 people, mostly civilians, as per the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry figures considered reliable by the UN.
