U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday called on Qatar to continue to play a constructive role in resolving the Gaza conflict, speaking in Jerusalem on the same day that Arab leaders were meeting in Doha to respond to an Israeli strike.
Qatar, a U.S. ally which has been co-mediating talks between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, was angered last week by Israel's attack on its capital, which targeted Hamas leaders who reside there.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his office in Jerusalem, Rubio said Qatar could help reach the goals of releasing all 48 hostages still held in Gaza, disarming Hamas and building a better future for Gazans.
"And so we're going to continue to encourage Qatar to play a constructive role in that regard," he said.
Netanyahu, who has not backed down an inch since the Doha strike drew widespread condemnation, said he did not rule out further strikes on Hamas leaders "wherever they are".
Rubio gave strong backing to Israel, which has grown increasingly isolated on the world stage because of widespread indignation at the enormous death toll in Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian and hunger crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
He also stressed that Washington would maintain maximum pressure on Iran, a supporter of Hamas, until Tehran “changes course.”
President Donald Trump has said he wanted the war in Gaza to end soon and all the hostages to be released, but Washington has not taken any steps to oppose Netanyahu's plan to keep fighting to take full control of the territory and eliminate Hamas.
"As much as we may wish that there be a peaceful, diplomatic way to end it, and we'll continue to explore and be dedicated to it, we also have to be prepared for the possibility that's not going to happen," said Rubio, calling Hamas "savage terrorists".
"Hamas needs to cease to exist as an armed element that can threaten the peace and security of the region," he said.
Indonesian authorities evacuated more than 900 people from nearby villages and were helping 170 stranded climbers return safely after the eruption of ...
At least 25 Palestinians were killed in four Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday in a part of Gaza under Hamas control since a shaky ceasefire took effect...
At least 26 people were killed and many were listed as missing in a Russian drone and missile attack overnight that hit apartment buildings in the wes...
The U.S. has signalled to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine must accept a U.S.-drafted framework to end the war with Russia that proposes Kyi...
U.S. President Donald Trump signed the bill to release the files from the Justice Department investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein ...
Brazilian President met with ministers from African and small island states on Wednesday (19 November) at the COP30 summit to push for early agreements on some of the most contentious issues in global climate talks, including fossil fuels and climate finance.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that it has not received any official information from the U.S. regarding the “agreements” on Ukraine, reported in the media.
Germany has returned 12 royal-era cultural artefacts to Ethiopia in a ceremony in Addis Ababa, marking a formal step in ongoing cultural cooperation between the two countries.
U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll and Chief of Staff General Randy George met with senior Ukrainian officials in Kyiv on Wednesday (19 November) as part of a fact-finding mission.
Thousands of users in the United States, some parts of Europe and South America on the X (formerly twitter) platform have reported being unable to access the site due to Cloudflare outage.
Emirates Airline is confident in Boeing’s plans for a larger 777X and has ruled out ordering Airbus’s A350-1000 at the Dubai Airshow.
Punjab’s modern political story begins in 1947. The end of British rule divided the region between India and Pakistan, leaving Sikh communities with a split homeland and unresolved questions about cultural and administrative protections.
Iran's air force, heavily reliant on aging F-14A Tomcat jets, faces a growing technological gap as its neighbors rapidly modernize their air forces with advanced fighter jets and air defense systems.
Ukraine says it will seek almost $44 billion from Russia to cover the climate damage caused by wartime emissions, marking the first attempt by any nation to bill an aggressor for its carbon footprint during conflict.
Indonesian authorities evacuated more than 900 people from nearby villages and were helping 170 stranded climbers return safely after the eruption of Semeru volcano, one of the country's tallest mountains.
At least 26 people were killed and many were listed as missing in a Russian drone and missile attack overnight that hit apartment buildings in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, Ukraine's interior minister said on Wednesday.
The U.S. has signalled to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine must accept a U.S.-drafted framework to end the war with Russia that proposes Kyiv giving up territory and some weapons, two people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed the bill to release the files from the Justice Department investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Wednesday.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that it has not received any official information from the U.S. regarding the “agreements” on Ukraine, reported in the media.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment