US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will journey to Israel within the coming days amid dwindling prospects for a Gaza ceasefire and disapproval from President Donald Trump over Israel’s “unilateral” strike on Doha lower than per week in the past.
The high US diplomat “will convey America’s priorities in the Israel-Hamas conflict and broader issues concerning Middle Eastern security, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to Israeli security,” State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated in an announcement Friday asserting the journey.
“He will also emphasize our shared goals: ensuring Hamas never rules over Gaza again and bringing all the hostages home,” Pigott stated, noting that Rubio will meet with the households of the hostages.
The journey comes days after an Israeli strike in Doha shocked and enraged regional allies and which the Trump administration stated “does not advance Israel’s or America’s goals.”
“I’m not thrilled about the whole situation,” Trump stated as he went for dinner on Tuesday. “It’s not a good situation … we are not thrilled about the way that went down.”
According to Israeli officers, the strike was meant to goal senior leaders of Hamas, nevertheless it doesn’t seem the leaders had been killed. Five members of the group and a Qatari safety official had been killed. A Hamas negotiating delegation was discussing its response to the US’ newest Gaza ceasefire proposal on the time of the strike, in accordance to the group.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani instructed NCS’s Becky Anderson on Wednesday that he believes Israel’s strike on Doha “killed any hope” for the hostages remaining in Gaza.
Trump spoke with Al-Thani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Tuesday’s strike. Both Trump and Rubio are anticipated to meet with Al-Thani within the United States on Friday.
Although Trump has expressed frustration over the Doha operation, his administration has stood forthrightly by Israel all through this time period and offered it with important political cowl.
While on the journey, Rubio intends to talk about “Israeli operational goals and objectives” for its Gaza City offensive, which has already wrought destruction within the metropolis the place 1000’s of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge.
He may even underscore the US’ “commitment to fight anti-Israel actions including unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state that rewards Hamas terrorism, and lawfare at the ICC and ICJ.”
The US has undertaken an aggressive coverage of sanctions and visa revocations in opposition to these concerned with the ICC, the Palestinian Authority, and the Palestine Liberation Organization. The State Department has stated it’ll deny a visa to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for the upcoming UN General Assembly, the place quite a few nations are anticipated to acknowledge a Palestinian state.
The announcement of the journey doesn’t point out any anticipated dialogue of the catastrophic humanitarian state of affairs in Gaza.
After his time in Israel, Rubio will proceed on to the United Kingdom to meet up with Trump’s visit.
“The Secretary will meet with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to discuss U.S.-UK cooperation on critical global challenges, including ending the Russia-Ukraine war, preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, ensuring release of all Hamas-held hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza, and competing with China,” Pigott stated.