US Secretary Rubio Arrives Israel to Discuss Gaza Conflict, West Bank Annexation

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Israel to discuss critical issues following an Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, which US President Donald Trump criticized despite maintaining strong US-Israel relations. Rubio emphasized that while Trump was "not happy" about the strike, it would not change the nature of the US-Israel alliance, but the incident's impact on ceasefire efforts in Gaza would be a key topic of discussion. The attack targeted Hamas leaders reportedly meeting to discuss a new ceasefire proposal put forward by the Trump administration, but it failed to eliminate the leaders and disrupted peace talks brokered by Qatar. Rubio also plans to engage with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the possible annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, a move that has caused concern within the Trump administration due to fears it could undermine the Abrahamic Accords and Trump's legacy. The visit underscores the administration's priorities: securing the release of all hostages held by Hamas, ending the war, rebuilding Gaza, and ensuring Hamas no longer poses a threat. Additionally, Rubio is focused on promoting humanitarian aid for civilians affected by the conflict and managing the diplomatic repercussions of Israel's actions in the region.