Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Israel's recent attack on Qatar, which targeted Hamas members, will not alter the diplomatic relations between Tel Aviv and Washington. Rubio addressed the media before his departure for Britain and Israel, clarifying the US stance on the incident.
According to TRTworld.com, Rubio expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, noting that President Biden shared similar sentiments. However, he emphasized that the incident would not affect the longstanding relationship between the US and Israel. Rubio indicated that discussions would take place to assess the impact of the attack on diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a truce in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the attack, asserting that targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar was crucial for removing barriers to releasing hostages and halting the violence in Gaza. Netanyahu criticized the Hamas leadership residing in Qatar, accusing them of obstructing ceasefire attempts to prolong the conflict.
In response, Hamas labeled the attack as an Israeli effort to undermine ceasefire talks, maintaining that their conditions for ending the violence in Gaza remain unchanged. The attack on Doha marked Israel's expansion of military actions in the region, adding to its operations in Palestine, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Qatar.