Speaking during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on September 15, Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized that Israel does not exclude carrying out additional airstrikes against Hamas leadership regardless of their location.
The Israeli leader’s remarks came at a time when leaders of Arab and Muslim countries were holding a summit to support Qatar following Israel’s September 9 strike on the capital, Doha. For his part, Rubio said the only way to end the conflict in Gaza is for Hamas to release all hostages and surrender. While the U.S. hopes to resolve the conflict through diplomacy, Rubio stressed: “We must prepare for the possibility that this will not happen.”
At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Hamas not to move Israeli hostages held in Gaza in an attempt to obstruct Israel’s military operations.
Trump noted: “I hope Hamas leaders understand what they will face if they do so. This is an act of brutality against humanity, rarely witnessed before. Do not let this happen, or everything will be off the table. Release all the hostages now!”
Trump’s warning came less than a week after Israel killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security official in an attempt to assassinate a senior Hamas leader in Doha, Qatar. Those targeted were reportedly involved in ceasefire negotiations and a prisoner-exchange proposal backed by the U.S. President himself.
At the same time, Trump expressed his “deep dissatisfaction” over Israel’s attack on Qatar and said he would issue a full statement. The U.S. leader stressed that the decision to strike Hamas leaders in Qatar was made solely by Prime Minister Netanyahu, not by him.
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