Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Israel the place he’ll meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu Monday, as leaders of Arab and Islamic international locations additionally put together for an emergency summit.
A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Jerusalem right now, holding talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu practically one week after Israel struck Doha, the capital of Qatar, in an assault concentrating on senior Hamas leaders.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
The assault killed at the least six individuals, none of whom was a senior Hamas chief, and has put the U.S. in a troublesome place between its sturdy assist of Israel and a key ally within the Gulf. President Trump appeared to handle that balancing act in feedback yesterday with a warning to Israel.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Qatar has been a really nice ally. So, Israel and everyone else, we now have to watch out. Once we assault individuals, we now have to watch out.
MARTÍNEZ: Rubio’s go to additionally comes as Israel has intensified its offensive into Gaza Metropolis and is gearing as much as occupy it. Becoming a member of us now’s NPR’s Carrie Kahn from Tel Aviv. Carrie, Secretary of State Rubio arrived in Israel Sunday. What’s he telling the Israelis?
CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE: He and Prime Minister Netanyahu met this morning, after which they held a information convention. Each reiterated the sturdy alliance between the U.S. and Israel, and each repeatedly said that the tip of the conflict would require Hamas’ whole defeat and elimination and the return of all of the hostages useless and alive. Here is Secretary of State Rubio.
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MARCO RUBIO: As a lot as we might need that there can be a type of a peaceable, diplomatic solution to finish it, and we’ll proceed to discover and be devoted to it, all of us must be ready for the chance that that is not going to occur.
KAHN: Rubio was requested a couple of instances if that meant that the U.S. was approving of Israel’s present offensive to occupy all of Gaza Metropolis and displace the practically million residents there. He didn’t deal with that. Each males had been requested concerning the Israeli strike on Qatar, and Netanyahu was defiant and mentioned he wouldn’t rule out future strikes. He mentioned Israel will hit, quote, “terrorists wherever they’re.”
MARTÍNEZ: OK. So what’s Qatar saying concerning the assault and perhaps any doable retaliation in opposition to Israel?
KAHN: In Doha right now, Qatar has convened an emergency regional summit of Arab and Muslim heads of states to debate a response, which it says should be sturdy and decisive of that assault. In remarks yesterday forward of the assembly, Qatar’s prime minister referred to as on the worldwide group to, quote, “abandon double requirements and punish Israel for its crimes.” He additionally added that Qatar’s efforts to mediate an finish to the conflict in Gaza will proceed, nevertheless it can’t host Israeli negotiators if it is being hit by Israeli warplanes. And NPR obtained a draft copy of the summit’s remaining assertion, which, as of now, doesn’t embody concrete measures in opposition to Israel.
MARTÍNEZ: OK. Now, you talked about Gaza. What is the scenario there now, contemplating that Israel is transferring forward with plans to take over Gaza Metropolis?
KAHN: The weekend has been lethal. In response to well being and hospital officers in Gaza, greater than 70 individuals had been killed by Israeli airstrikes and assaults. Yesterday, simply in Gaza Metropolis alone, 35 individuals had been killed. Evacuation orders for the town proceed with the navy telling individuals to get out and transfer south to what they are saying are both humanitarian zones or empty areas with water and companies accessible. The issue with that’s, first, individuals do not have cash or transportation to maneuver out. And zones within the South are already severely overcrowded with out sufficient fundamental companies, based on U.N. businesses. Most of these websites, too, have been attacked by Israel. Air strikes in Gaza Metropolis are intensifying, and Israel has been leveling tall buildings all through the town, a couple of dozen in little greater than per week. Israel says Hamas makes use of the excessive rises however has but to offer proof of that.
MARTÍNEZ: That is NPR’s Carrie Kahn in Tel Aviv. Carrie, thanks for the replace.
KAHN: You are welcome.
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