Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas leaders “will not have immunity, wherever they are,” not ruling out further strikes after last week’s attack on Qatar. He spoke at a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stressing that “every country has the right to defend itself even beyond its borders.”
The attack on Hamas in Qatar – a close US ally – sparked international outrage and criticism from US President Donald Trump, who had earlier assured Qatar that “such a thing would not happen again on their soil.” Netanyahu said the operation was carried out solely by Israel, without US involvement.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has continued its offensive in Gaza, with the demolition of homes in Gaza City and warnings of ground operations west of the city. The UN has warned that intensifying fighting in an area where famine has already been declared will push civilians towards an "even deeper catastrophe."
The Netanyahu-Rubio meeting took place against the backdrop of an Arab summit in support of Qatar and just days before the UN General Assembly, where US allies – including Britain, France, Canada, Australia and Belgium – are expected to recognize the state of Palestine. This has heightened debate within Israel, where the right wing is calling for the full annexation of the West Bank.
Israel has built over 160 settlements with about 700,000 Jews in the lands occupied since 1967, where about 3.3 million Palestinians also live today. The settlements are considered illegal under international law.
