Jerusalem witnessed a demonstration of a us israel unified front on Monday, as both nations publicly maintained a united stance amidst escalating international criticism. The unified posture emerged in response to growing global anger over Israel’s recent airstrikes targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar and its continued, intensifying bombardment of Gaza City. While Arab and Muslim leaders convened in Doha to condemn last week’s Israeli attack in Qatar and new rounds of criticism surfaced regarding Israeli plans to potentially occupy Gaza City, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood together in Jerusalem. They collectively downplayed the significant furor that had, at least temporarily, caused consternation within the Trump administration.
Secretary Rubio is scheduled to undertake a rapid visit to Qatar on Tuesday. This trip appears designed to alleviate tensions between two key U.S. allies before he travels to London to join President Donald Trump during his state visit to Britain. Despite President Trump having previously expressed clear displeasure over Israel’s unilateral strike against Hamas in Qatar, there were no outward signs of U.S. frustration with Israel’s latest operational decisions during Rubio’s visit to Jerusalem.
Shared Objectives and Diplomatic Engagements
Both Prime Minister Netanyahu and Secretary Rubio articulated a shared conviction regarding the resolution of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. They concurred that the sole viable path to ending hostilities involves the complete elimination of Hamas and the secure release of the remaining 48 hostages, with approximately 20 believed to still be alive. This shared objective led them to set aside calls for an interim ceasefire, advocating instead for an immediate and decisive conclusion to the conflict. Secretary Rubio’s visit to Israel was partly aimed at obtaining specific answers from Netanyahu concerning Israel’s strategic intentions for proceeding in Gaza. Additionally, he sought to ascertain Israel’s interest in Qatar’s continued involvement as a mediating force in regional discussions. Rubio emphasized the enduring impediment posed by Hamas to regional stability, stating, “As long as Hamas is around, there will be no peace in this region because they are not agents of peace. They are agents of barbarism.” Prime Minister Netanyahu reciprocated the sentiment of solidarity, affirming, “Your presence here in Israel today is a clear message that America stands with Israel. You stand with us in the face of terror.”
“As long as Hamas is around, there will be no peace in this region because they are not agents of peace. They are agents of barbarism,” Rubio said.
Rubio’s diplomatic tour proceeded despite earlier expressions of anger from President Trump directed at Netanyahu. This anger stemmed from the Israeli strike in Doha, which Trump indicated the United States had not been pre-notified about. The Doha attack, resulting in the deaths of at least five lower-ranking Hamas members and one member of the Qatari security forces, has reportedly stalled critical mediation efforts that were focused on achieving a ceasefire and facilitating the release of hostages. When questioned by a reporter on the U.S. approach to Israel’s actions in Doha, Rubio underscored that the U.S. was primarily focused on future developments and would persist in encouraging Qatar to play an active and constructive role in the ongoing talks. He also minimized U.S. concerns regarding Israel’s most recent operations within Gaza City, while Netanyahu offered no indication that Israel intended to scale back its offensive.
Intensified Operations in Gaza City
As its offensive pressed forward, Israel reportedly destroyed another high-rise building in Gaza City. Video documentation captured the powerful explosion and subsequent collapse of the tower, with later images showing individuals navigating a landscape of gray rubble. In recent days, Israel has systematically demolished multiple high-rise structures, always preceded by evacuation warnings. Israel has accused Hamas of utilizing these buildings to install surveillance equipment, though specific evidence to support these claims was not provided. Overnight airstrikes and those continuing into Monday resulted in the deaths of at least 14 individuals, including children, according to health officials at Shifa Hospital, where the victims’ bodies were transported. One particular overnight strike hit a tent housing a family in western Gaza City, killing seven people, as reported by hospital staff. Another strike targeted a tent located on the roof of a building, leading to the death of a local journalist, Mohammed al-Kuifi, and another individual, according to Shifa. Mohammed Saber, a resident in Gaza City, described the harrowing conditions, stating, “It was another night of horror. … The situation is tragic and getting worse day by day.” Israel maintains that its operations exclusively target militants and attributes civilian casualties to Hamas, citing the group’s entrenchment within densely populated areas.
Humanitarian Situation and Aid Efforts
Israel has consistently advised Palestinians residing in Gaza City to evacuate towards the south. However, substantial challenges persist regarding adequate shelter for the displaced population. Muwasi, a sprawling and heavily crowded tent camp, has been designated by Israel as a humanitarian zone. Despite this designation, Israel has regularly conducted strikes in Muwasi, stating these target militant objectives. COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for civilian affairs in Gaza, reported an increase in the quantity of essential supplies permitted into the territory. This includes food, medical equipment, and shelter provisions, notably encompassing 20,000 tents that have been brought in since May. COGAT also stated that it has undertaken repairs of critical water lines and power infrastructure supporting desalination plants. On Monday, visual reports showed a continuous flow of Palestinians, both walking and driving, along the narrow coastal road that Israel had designated as a safe corridor for movement.
Rejection of Palestinian Statehood Recognition
A significant motivation behind Secretary Rubio’s visit was to overtly demonstrate support for Israel, particularly as it anticipates facing heightened international condemnation of the ongoing conflict at the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly session. Several European nations and Canada have publicly indicated their intention to recognize a Palestinian state, a move met with fervent objections from both the U.S. and Israel. Certain Israeli politicians have hinted at the possibility of Israel responding to such diplomatic actions by unilaterally annexing parts of the West Bank. Rubio articulated that recognizing statehood through such unilateral declarations is counterproductive to the goal of establishing a state via negotiated settlements. He further suggested that such proclamations are self-serving. He elaborated, “The only impact they actually have is it makes Hamas feel more emboldened. It’s actually served as an impediment to peace.” Serious or substantive peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians have not taken place since Prime Minister Netanyahu returned to office in 2009. Netanyahu, a staunch opponent of Palestinian statehood, responded evasively when questioned about Israel’s potential reaction to moves towards recognition, stating, “It is clear that if unilateral actions are taken against us, it simply invites unilateral actions on our part.”
Key Facts on the Conflict
- Israel and the United States showed a unified front on Monday amidst international criticism.
- Both nations agree that the conflict’s resolution requires Hamas elimination and hostage release.
- Secretary Rubio plans to visit Qatar to ease tensions before joining President Trump in London.
- Israel continues its Gaza City offensive, destroying high-rises and hitting tents, leading to casualties.
- The U.S. and Israel firmly object to recognizing a Palestinian state through unilateral actions.
Background
The current conflict in Gaza commenced on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched an assault into southern Israel. This attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals. A majority of these hostages have since been released through various ceasefires, some brokered with the assistance of Qatar, and other diplomatic arrangements. In response to these events, Israel initiated a retaliatory offensive. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, this offensive has led to the deaths of at least 64,871 Palestinians. The ministry, while part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties in its figures. It does, however, state that women and children constitute approximately half of those reported dead.
What’s Next
Secretary Rubio’s diplomatic agenda includes a forthcoming visit to Qatar on Tuesday. This quick stop is part of an effort by the administration to ease existing tensions between Israel and Qatar, which are both significant U.S. allies, before Rubio proceeds to London to join President Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain. As Israel prepares for anticipated increased international condemnation of its military actions at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session, Secretary Rubio’s visit to Jerusalem was strategically intended to reinforce U.S. support. Following the temporary halt in mediation efforts caused by the Doha attack, the United States has affirmed its commitment to continue encouraging Qatar to play a crucial mediating role in future talks. On the ground, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has provided no indications that Israel intends to de-escalate or cease its offensive operations in Gaza City. Furthermore, in the context of potential unilateral moves by other nations towards recognizing a Palestinian state, Netanyahu has implicitly warned that Israel may retaliate with its own unilateral actions, specifically hinting at the possible annexation of portions of the West Bank. These diplomatic maneuvers and military postures suggest a complex and evolving situation in the region. [Source]
