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 said every country had 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 claimed that six people were killed but asserted that its leaders survived the attack.
Netanyahu's comments follow days after the White House stated Trump had assured Qatar that such a thing will not happen again on their soil.
When pressed on whether the US had any involvement in the strike, Netanyahu told journalists: We did it on our own. Period. In response to queries about the potential damage to US relations in the region, Rubio stated that Washington maintained strong relationships with our Gulf allies.
Despite the tensions surrounding the attack, both Netanyahu and Rubio presented a united front, with Rubio commending the technological and cultural ties between Israel and the US, and Netanyahu declaring that Israel had no better ally.
The press conference arrives as Arab leaders convene to support Qatar, with the Qatari prime minister calling for the end of what he described as double standards and for action against Israel.
Qatar, which hosts a significant US airbase, has been instrumental in mediating negotiations between Hamas and Israel, being home to the Hamas political bureau since 2012.
Netanyahu assured Rubio of the durability of US-Israel relations while acknowledging complexities regarding regional dynamics, particularly in light of the intensified Israeli military operations in Gaza City.
As part of their discussions, topics likely included Israel's military plans in Gaza, ongoing settlement expansions in the West Bank, and the upcoming recognition of Palestinian statehood by several international allies at the forthcoming UN General Assembly session.
In recent days, the Israeli military has ramped up offensive operations in Gaza, leading to significant displacement as residents flee potential conflict zones ahead of predicted ground operations.
As Netanyahu and Rubio visited significant religious sites in Jerusalem, the latter also engaged in a highly symbolic pilgrimage, a traditional act of placing a note into the Western Wall, reflecting the steadfast ties between the two nations amidst geopolitical tensions.
Looking forward, both diplomats face pushback from various fronts, and the implications of Israel's military actions continue to evolve amidst the backdrop of regional unrest and humanitarian crises.
