Jerusalem, Israel — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel on Sunday as its military stepped up attacks in northern Gaza, flattening multiple high-rise buildings and killing at least 13 Palestinians.
Rubio said ahead of the visit that he would press Israeli leaders on their vision for Gaza’s future after last week’s Israeli strike in Doha killed senior Hamas leaders, derailing mediation efforts and sparking outrage in Qatar.
His two-day trip is both a diplomatic mission and a political signal: an expression of U.S. support for Israel at a moment of growing isolation. Next week, the United Nations is expected to hold a contentious debate on recognition of a Palestinian state, a proposal firmly opposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Balancing allies after Doha strike
Rubio’s visit went forward despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s public anger at Netanyahu for failing to inform Washington before the Doha operation, which killed at least six people and halted progress toward a ceasefire deal. On Friday, Trump and Rubio met Qatar’s prime minister to contain the fallout, underscoring Washington’s balancing act between two of its closest Middle East partners.
On Sunday, Rubio joined Netanyahu, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, and their spouses in a tour of the Western Wall tunnels. Netanyahu hailed the symbolism: “I think his visit here is a testament to the durability, the strength of the Israeli-American alliance. It’s as strong and as durable as the stones of the Western Wall we just touched.”
Meanwhile, Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, condemned the Israeli strike as “an attack on the principle of mediation itself.” Arab and Muslim foreign ministers met in Doha to consider a unified response, while Qatar reaffirmed its commitment to working with Egypt and the U.S. on ceasefire efforts.
Mounting toll in Gaza
As diplomacy faltered, the fighting on the ground escalated. Local hospitals reported at least 13 deaths in Gaza on Sunday, including six members of one family killed when an airstrike hit a tent in Deir al-Balah. Associated Press footage showed thousands of Palestinians fleeing Gaza City along the coastal road as smoke rose from new strikes.
Israel destroyed three high-rise buildings after ordering evacuations, including one on the campus of the Islamic University. Residents scrambled to save belongings, tossing mattresses and carrying suitcases before the buildings were leveled. The Israeli military claimed the structures were being used by Hamas for surveillance, though it offered no evidence.
“This is part of the genocidal measures the occupation is carrying out in Gaza City,” said resident Abed Ismail. “They want to turn the whole city into rubble, and force another Nakba.” Israel has rejected accusations of genocide.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
Gaza’s Health Ministry said two Palestinians died from malnutrition-related causes in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 277 adult deaths since late June, when the ministry began counting. Since the start of the war in October 2023, another 145 children have died of malnutrition-related causes.
The Israeli defense body overseeing humanitarian aid in Gaza said more than 1,200 trucks carrying aid, mostly food, entered the territory over the past week. But aid workers stressed that the deliveries are far from sufficient for Gaza’s enormous needs, with much of the aid looted before reaching those in desperate need.
International teams also completed repairs on one of Gaza’s three main water lines from Israel, increasing daily supply to 14,000 cubic meters (3.7 million gallons). Yet water remains scarce, with families often chasing trucks that arrive every few days, filling bottles and canisters to haul home.
War’s origins and scale
The conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and abducting 251. Israel says 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive.
In response, Israel launched a massive offensive that has killed at least 64,871 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
SOURCE : AP NEWS | Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube
