U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Israel this weekend, the State Department announced Friday, in a visit unfolding at a tense moment in the region. The trip comes in the wake of an Israeli airstrike in Qatar targeting Hamas officials, which has stirred diplomatic friction among Washington’s regional partners.
Rubio’s engagement is intended to reaffirm U.S. support for Israeli security, address shared concerns over regional stability, and push back against moves toward unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state that might be seen as rewarding terrorism. He is expected to arrive in Israel Saturday, and times have not yet been confirmed for all his meetings.
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The State Department did not officially confirm every detail in media reports. Some accounts say that part of Rubio’s discussions will include legal actions facing Israel at international courts like the ICC and ICJ, and that he will meet with families of hostages. Others report he may address Israel’s operational objectives in Gaza.
Rubio’s visit comes just after the UN Security Council condemned the strike in Doha by Israel, with the U.S. among those supporting the condemnation. Qatar described the strike as a violation of sovereignty, saying it threatened ongoing mediation efforts.
After Israel, Rubio is also expected to travel to the United Kingdom, where he will meet with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. That portion of the trip is expected to cover U.S.-UK cooperation on Middle East security, Ukraine, Iran, and China.
