JERUSALEM — Israel and the United States showed a unified front on Monday in the face of growing international anger over Israel’s airstrikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar and its intensifying bombardment of Gaza City.
As Arab and Muslim leaders met in Doha to condemn Israel’s attack last week in Qatar and new rounds of criticism were aired over Israeli plans to occupy Gaza City, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood shoulder-to-shoulder in Jerusalem and downplayed the furor that had, at least for a short time, taken the Trump administration aback.
Mr. Rubio plans to pay a quick visit to Qatar on Tuesday, as the administration appears keen to ease tensions between its two close allies, before flying on to London to join President Trump on his state visit to Britain.
“We understand they’re not happy about what happened,” Mr. Rubio told Fox News. But “we still have Hamas, we still have hostages, and we still have a war. And all those things still have to be dealt with, and we are hopeful that Qatar and all of our Gulf partners will continue to add something constructive.”
There were no signs of U.S. frustration with Israel’s latest actions, although Mr. Trump had made clear his displeasure with Israel’s unilateral strike on Hamas in Qatar.
Both Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Rubio said the only way to end the conflict in Gaza is through the elimination of Hamas and the release of the remaining 48 hostages — around 20 of them believed to be alive — setting aside calls for an interim ceasefire in favor of an immediate end to the conflict.
Hamas has said it will only free the remaining hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Mr. Rubio had come to Israel seeking answers from Mr. Netanyahu about how Israel intended to proceed in Gaza and assess its interest in Qatar retaining a mediating role.
“Your presence here in Israel today is a clear message that America stands with Israel. You stand with us in the face of terror,” said Mr. Netanyahu.
The Doha attack, which killed at least five lower-ranking Hamas members and a member of the Qatari security forces, appears to have paused mediation efforts.
Mr. Rubio later met with families of the hostages, who aired concerns that Israel’s latest offensive could doom their loved ones and called on the Trump administration to swiftly resume negotiations, according to a statement from the main group representing relatives of the captives.
Israel destroyed another high-rise building in Gaza City as it moved ahead with its offensive. Video footage showed the explosion and the tower’s collapse. Later, people could be seen scrambling up a mound of gray ruins.
In recent days, Israel has destroyed multiple high-rises after evacuation warnings. It accused Hamas of putting surveillance equipment in them, without providing evidence.
Airstrikes overnight and into Monday killed at least 18 people, including children, according to local hospitals.
Mr. Rubio downplayed U.S. concerns about Israel’s latest operations in Gaza City, and Mr. Netanyahu gave no indication that Israel would let up on its offensive.
One of Mr. Rubio’s reasons for visiting was to show support for Israel as it expects to face growing international condemnation of the war at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session. A number of European countries and Canada have said they intend to recognize a Palestinian state over fervent U.S. and Israeli objections.
Some Israeli politicians have hinted that Israel may respond by annexing part of the West Bank. Mr. Rubio said statehood recognition is counterproductive to creating a state through negotiations and suggested that such proclamations are self-serving.
“The only impact they actually have is it makes Hamas feel more emboldened,” he said. “It’s actually served as an impediment to peace.”
Israel and the Palestinians have not held serious or substantive peace talks since Mr. Netanyahu returned to office in 2009.
The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have since been released in ceasefires brokered in part by Qatar or other deals.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 64,871 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t say how many were civilians or combatants. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, says women and children make up around half the dead.