US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani before leaving for a visit to Israel, the Associated Press reported, quoted by BTA.
The agency believes that this shows how the Trump administration is trying to balance ties between its key Middle East allies days after Israel attacked the leadership of the Palestinian movement “Hamas“ in Doha.
Despite tensions between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Rubio will arrive in Israel on Sunday for a two-day visit.
Rubio and Vice President J.D. Vance met with Al Thani at the White House. Trump and special envoy Steve Witkoff later dined with the Qatari guest in New York.
The AP notes that the Trump administration is trying to strike a delicate balance between the two key regional allies after Israel moved its fight with “Hamas“ to the Qatari capital, where the group's leaders had gathered to discuss a US proposal for a ceasefire in the nearly two-year war in Gaza, in which Qatar is acting as a mediator.
Trump himself distanced himself from the strike, saying it “does not serve Israel's or America's goals“, and promised Qatar that such an incident would not happen again.
In a potential sign of Trump's displeasure with Netanyahu, Rubio will meet in Israel with the families of hostages still being held by “Hamas,“ many of whom oppose Israel's new plans to occupy Gaza City. Rubio will "emphasize that the return of their relatives remains a top priority," the State Department said.
"I think this is an emergency trip designed to show some solidarity after the attacks in Doha," said Aaron David Miller, a former U.S. diplomat who worked on Israeli-Palestinian and broader Middle East issues under six secretaries of state from 1978 to 2003.
"They're trying to navigate a delicate balance, showing irritation but not in any way imposing any meaningful action against Israel," Miller added.
During the trip, Rubio will "convey America's priorities in the conflict between Israel and Hamas" and broader Middle East security issues, reaffirming the US commitment to Israeli security“ with an emphasis on the Trump administration's commitment “to combat anti-Israeli actions, including unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state“, the State Department said.