Speaking to the press ahead of the meeting, Rubio said he intended to address two highly sensitive issues: Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza City and the domestic debates over a possible annexation of territories in the occupied West Bank — a step that would effectively rule out the creation of a Palestinian state.
Rubio stressed that U.S. President Donald Trump wanted to “bring an end to the Gaza war,” triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. He added that any resolution would only be possible through the release of all hostages and strong guarantees ensuring that Hamas “no longer poses a threat” to Israel.
Washington Caught Between Two Allies
The Secretary of State’s visit had been scheduled before Israel’s strike in Doha — an operation that deeply unsettled President Trump. Washington now finds itself in a delicate position: while Israel remains its number-one strategic ally in the region, Qatar is also a crucial partner, hosting the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East and playing a central diplomatic role, alongside Egypt, in ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations.
“This attack does not change the nature of our relationship with Israel, but it warrants discussion,” Rubio declared, while acknowledging that Washington was “clearly not satisfied” with the strike.
The Israeli strike targeted a meeting of senior Hamas officials in Doha convened to review a new U.S. ceasefire proposal. The attack killed five Hamas members and a Qatari police officer, sparking a wave of diplomatic shock.
A Visit with Strategic Stakes
Rubio’s trip also aims to reaffirm U.S. support for Israel, just days ahead of a United Nations summit co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, which seeks to promote international recognition of a Palestinian state. That prospect has been firmly rejected by Netanyahu and his far-right allies.
Despite the controversy, Rubio stressed the importance of “moving forward and determining what happens next,” underscoring that Washington’s priorities remain unchanged: guaranteeing Israel’s security while seeking to unlock a path toward a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv