Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not ruled out further strikes on Hamas leaders following last week's attack in Qatar, saying they would not have immunity wherever they are.
Speaking at a Jerusalem press conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Netanyahu stated that every country has the right to defend itself beyond its borders.
Israel's decision to target Hamas leaders in Qatar – a close US ally – drew international outrage and criticism from US President Donald Trump. Hamas reported six casualties but asserted that its leaders survived the attack.
Netanyahu's statements come just days after the White House indicated that Trump assured Qatar that such a thing will not happen again on their soil.
When pressed about US involvement in the strike, Netanyahu firmly replied, We did it on our own. Period. Rubio later stated that the US maintains strong relationships with our Gulf allies despite the tensions arising from the incident.
The leaders presented a unified front, with Rubio praising bilateral technological and cultural ties while Netanyahu emphasized that Israel had no better ally. Their discussions occur against the backdrop of a summit where Arab leaders expressed solidarity with Qatar, urging the international community to halt existing double standards and to hold Israel accountable.
Qatar serves as a significant regional mediator and hosts a US airbase; it has been pivotal in diplomatic efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict and has housed the Hamas political bureau since 2012.
Netanyahu and Rubio's visit to a sacred site in Jerusalem's Old City yielded remarks about the durability of US-Israel relations. Meanwhile, they avoided addressing the recent strikes in Qatar during media inquiries.
Attention is centered on an increasing Israeli offensive in Gaza, with military operations expanding as Israeli forces demolish further buildings in Gaza City. Moreover, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians continue to flee the violence.
As Netanyahu's administration pressed on with its aggressive strategy, doubts loom regarding humanitarian conditions and the future of peace negotiations in the escalating conflict zone.
On the political front, Netanyahu's government recently approved settlement expansions in the West Bank amid discussions about Israel's annexation plans, stirring controversy within both Israel and the broader international community.
