US Secretary of State to Visit Qatar

The United States Secretary of State is set to visit Qatar on Tuesday, according to The Washington Post, citing two American sources.

Senator Marco Rubio, currently in Israel, is discussing U.S. concerns over Jerusalem’s recent strike on a Hamas compound in Doha. Qatar is hosting senior officials from across the Arab and Muslim world to coordinate a joint response to the escalating situation.

Thomas Barrack, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy for Syria, is also in Qatar, the report added.

In Israel, Rubio delivered a press statement alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and held a private one-on-one meeting with the premier for approximately an hour and a half, before expanding discussions with aides, a U.S. official said.

Rubio addressed key issues including Israeli military plans to seize Gaza City, the largest urban center in the conflict-stricken territory, and the government’s discussions on annexing parts of the occupied West Bank, which could undermine prospects for a Palestinian state.

Earlier, Rubio noted that former President Donald Trump seeks a swift resolution to the Gaza conflict, emphasizing the release of hostages and ensuring that Hamas no longer poses a threat.