Sept. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has landed in Israel to meet one-on-one with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over operations in Gaza City to expand the war even after the Trump administration criticized Israel for a surprise attack against Hamas negotiators in Qatar, which has been mediating between Israel and Hamas throughout the war.
As Rubio meets with Netanyahu, an Arab-Islamic summit will be held Monday in Qatar's capital, Doha, where preparations have begun. The meeting seeks to draft a response to Israel's attack in Qatar, as Arab nations face pressure to take meaningful action rather than making statements that have been viewed as ineffective.
After Israel's strike, the United States reportedly asked the Persian Gulf nation to continue its mediation efforts as Prime Minister Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani said in a statement that Qatar "reserves the right to respond" to the attack.
"My focus will be on securing the return of hostages, finding ways to make sure humanitarian aid reaches civilians, and addressing the threat posed by Hamas," Rubio posted on social media. "Hamas cannot continue to exist if peace in the region is the goal."
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