JERUSALEM — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel on Sunday as the country’s military escalated airstrikes in northern Gaza, killing at least 13 Palestinians and flattening multiple high-rise buildings.
Rubio’s visit comes days after Israel’s strike in Doha, Qatar, which killed six people and derailed efforts for a ceasefire. His two-day trip is intended both as a show of U.S. support for Israel and as an effort to clarify the path forward in Gaza.
Rubio Meets Netanyahu in Jerusalem
Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem, joined by their spouses and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
Netanyahu praised Rubio’s arrival:
“His visit here is a testament to the durability and strength of the Israeli-American alliance. It’s as strong and durable as the stones of the Western Wall,” Netanyahu said.
On Friday, Rubio and President Donald Trump met Qatar’s prime minister in an attempt to ease tensions following the Israeli strike in Doha. The Trump administration is now juggling relations with both Israel and Qatar, two key regional partners, amid international criticism of Israel’s actions.
Mounting Airstrikes in Gaza
Local hospitals reported that at least 13 Palestinians were killed on Sunday in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza.
- One strike hit a tent in Deir al-Balah, killing six members of the same family, including three children.
- Strikes also targeted a vehicle near Shifa hospital and a roundabout in Gaza City.
- The military destroyed several high-rise towers, including the Kauther tower in the Rimal neighborhood, often less than an hour after issuing evacuation warnings.
Residents accused Israel of pursuing a “scorched-earth policy” that could lead to another Nakba, the 1948 mass displacement of Palestinians. Israel, however, insists that Hamas uses civilian areas for military infrastructure.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The Gaza Health Ministry said two more Palestinians died of malnutrition-related causes in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 277 adults and 145 children since the start of the war.
Israel’s defense body overseeing aid said over 1,200 trucks carrying food entered Gaza in the past week, but humanitarian workers warn it is far below what is needed.
Meanwhile, Israel repaired one of Gaza’s three water pipelines, boosting water supply to 14,000 cubic meters daily, yet shortages remain severe as families queue for days to secure drinking water.
Background: War and Rising Death Toll
The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251 hostages.
Since then, Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 64,871 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Around 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents have been displaced, and vast sections of major cities have been reduced to rubble.
Internationally, pressure is mounting as the U.N. General Assembly prepares for a contentious debate on Palestinian statehood, which Netanyahu opposes. Meanwhile, Arab and Islamic foreign ministers are meeting in Doha to coordinate their response to Israel’s strike in Qatar.
Rubio’s visit underscores Washington’s balancing act between Israel and Arab states amid deepening conflict, soaring civilian casualties, and intensifying calls for accountability on the world stage.
