U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio undertook a diplomatic tour, engaging with key leaders in the Middle East before traveling to Britain. In Jerusalem on Monday, Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where he affirmed America’s “unwavering support” for Israel’s campaign against Hamas.
His visit then proceeded to Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, where he met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar. This meeting occurred following a recent Israeli airstrike in Qatar that reportedly targeted Hamas officials, an incident that prompted the Qatari emir to accuse Israel of “sabotaging” cease-fire and hostage-release negotiations. The U.S. State Department’s official readout of Rubio’s meeting in Doha reportedly made no mention of either the Israeli strike or the ongoing Gaza offensive.
Throughout his engagements, Rubio reportedly appeared disinclined to take a definitive stance on the Israeli strike in Qatar, notably refraining from repeating earlier sharp criticisms voiced by President Trump regarding the Doha incident. Qatar continues to serve a vital role as an intermediary between Israel and Hamas. Following his brief visit to Qatar, Secretary Rubio departed for Britain for a scheduled meeting with President Trump.
Source: www.nytimes.com