On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Qatar is the sole nation capable of mediating the situation in Gaza, despite the Israeli strike that targeted Hamas leaders in Doha a week earlier.
While en route to Doha from Israel, Rubio told reporters, “They clearly need to decide whether they want to proceed after what happened last week. However, we want them to understand that if there is any country in the world that can help facilitate an end to this through negotiations, it is Qatar.”
Furthermore, Rubio warned that Hamas faces a “very short deadline” to agree to a ceasefire as Israel escalates its bombardment of Gaza City.
As he left Israel for Qatar, Rubio remarked, “The Israelis have begun operations there (in Gaza). Therefore, we believe our window for reaching an agreement is extremely narrow—no longer months, but potentially just days or weeks.”
He added, “Our primary option is for this crisis to conclude through a negotiated settlement where Hamas agrees to disarm and cease being a threat.”
Rubio elaborated, “Sometimes dealing with a group like Hamas can be challenging, but we remain hopeful that it can happen.”
On Monday, Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, where he expressed support for Israel’s latest campaign in Gaza, aimed at dismantling Hamas.
In a separate report, health authorities in Gaza noted on Monday that Israel had demolished several buildings in Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 Palestinians.
Rubio’s visit coincides with an emergency Arab Islamic summit taking place in Qatar, following an Israeli offensive last week aimed at Hamas leaders residing in Doha.
Amid ongoing diplomatic efforts in both Jerusalem and Doha, the Palestinian death toll continued to climb after airstrikes targeted various locations in Gaza City, including attacks on the homes of families and a tent sheltering displaced individuals.
Witnesses reported that aerial and ground assaults affected multiple areas, causing panic and forcing thousands to flee from makeshift camps on the streets and open land.
Israel asserts that its campaign to gain control of Gaza City is part of a strategy to eradicate Hamas permanently, urging civilians to relocate to a designated humanitarian zone in the south.
However, the United Nations and several countries have stated that Israel’s tactics may lead to mass forced displacement, and the conditions in the humanitarian areas are dire, with food shortages reported.