Marco Rubio in Israel as IDF destroys extra Gaza Metropolis buildings

[ad_1] Watch: Enormous explosions as Israeli strikes hit residential buildings in Gaza Metropolis

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated US-Israeli relations have "by no means been stronger", as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits to debate the battle in Gaza following Israel's assault on Hamas members in Qatar.

He instructed reporters the connection was as robust and "sturdy because the stones within the Western Wall", whereas on the holy website in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Earlier, Rubio stated US President Donald Trump was sad with the Israeli strike on the important thing US ally, however harassed that the US-Israeli relationship was "very robust".

His go to comes as Israeli forces proceed to destroy residential buildings in Gaza Metropolis, forcing hundreds to flee forward of an anticipated floor offensive to grab the town.

"Clearly we're not glad about it, the president was not glad about it. Now we have to transfer ahead and determine what comes subsequent," Rubio stated earlier than he departed for Israel.

In his remarks at Joint Base Andrews, Rubio added that Trump's precedence remained the return of all hostages and an finish to the battle. Hamas members had been in Doha to debate the newest US proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza when Israel launched its strikes.

When requested whether or not the strike on Doha difficult Qatar's willingness to work with the US, Rubio stated "they have been good companions on numerous fronts".

Qatar - a key US ally within the area and the situation of a significant American air base - will host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit on Monday to debate subsequent strikes.

Doha has condemned Israel's assault as "cowardly" and a "flagrant violation of worldwide regulation".

On Sunday, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani urged the worldwide group to "abandon double requirements" and punish Israel for its "crimes".

Talking at a preparatory assembly forward of the summit, he added that Israel's practices wouldn't cease Qatar's efforts to mediate an finish to the battle in Gaza.

Netanyahu has stated the transfer in Qatar was "absolutely justified" as a result of it focused senior Hamas leaders who organised the 7 October 2023 assaults.

Some 48 Israeli hostages, of whom 20 are believed to stay alive, are being held by Hamas in Gaza. Their households have stated Netanyahu is the "one impediment" stopping their return and reaching a peace deal.

The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board wrote on social media that Israel's strike on Qatar final week reveals "each time a deal approaches, Netanyahu sabotages it".

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/1043/live/994dff10-9167-11f0-9445-855b018b8b05.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/1043/live/994dff10-9167-11f0-9445-855b018b8b05.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1043/live/994dff10-9167-11f0-9445-855b018b8b05.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/1043/live/994dff10-9167-11f0-9445-855b018b8b05.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/1043/live/994dff10-9167-11f0-9445-855b018b8b05.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/1043/live/994dff10-9167-11f0-9445-855b018b8b05.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/1043/live/994dff10-9167-11f0-9445-855b018b8b05.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/1043/live/994dff10-9167-11f0-9445-855b018b8b05.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visit the Western Wall" class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> Reuters Rubio and Netanyahu visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem

Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza Metropolis has drawn worldwide criticism, with the UN warning a navy escalation in an space the place famine has been declared will push civilians into an "even deeper disaster".

Footage from Sunday verified by the BBC confirmed bombs hitting the al-Kawthar tower. Native officers instructed Reuters that a minimum of 30 residential buildings had been destroyed. Israel stated it had accomplished 5 waves of air strikes on the town over the previous week, focusing on greater than 500 websites together with what it stated have been Hamas reconnaissance and sniper websites, buildings containing tunnel openings and weapons depots.

Israel has demanded that Gaza Metropolis's residents depart the town and head south and on Saturday the Israel Protection Forces (IDF) stated it estimated about 250,000 Palestinians had fled, although lots of of hundreds are believed to stay within the space. Hamas has referred to as on folks to not depart.

Some say they can't afford to go whereas others say southern Gaza just isn't secure both as Israel has carried out air strikes there too.

"The bombardment intensified in all places and we took down the tents, greater than 20 households, we have no idea the place to go," Musbah al-Kafarna, displaced in Gaza Metropolis, instructed Reuters.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/5deb/live/7a8beef0-9169-11f0-ad93-0969dd7e242d.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/5deb/live/7a8beef0-9169-11f0-ad93-0969dd7e242d.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5deb/live/7a8beef0-9169-11f0-ad93-0969dd7e242d.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/5deb/live/7a8beef0-9169-11f0-ad93-0969dd7e242d.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/5deb/live/7a8beef0-9169-11f0-ad93-0969dd7e242d.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/5deb/live/7a8beef0-9169-11f0-ad93-0969dd7e242d.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/5deb/live/7a8beef0-9169-11f0-ad93-0969dd7e242d.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5deb/live/7a8beef0-9169-11f0-ad93-0969dd7e242d.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters Displaced Palestinians, fleeing northern Gaza due to an Israeli military operation, move southward after Israeli forces ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the south, in the central Gaza Strip" class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> Reuters Palestinians proceed to flee Israel's bombardment of Gaza Metropolis, heading south

On Sunday, the Hamas-run well being ministry in Gaza stated the our bodies of 68 folks killed by the Israeli navy had arrived at its hospitals over yesterday.

Since UN-backed international meals safety specialists confirmed a famine in Gaza Metropolis on 22 August, the ministry has reported that a minimum of 144 folks have died from hunger and malnutrition throughout the territory. Israel has stated it's increasing its efforts to facilitate help deliveries and has disputed the well being ministry's figures on malnutrition-related deaths.

The Israeli navy launched a marketing campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October, through which about 1,200 folks have been killed and 251 others have been taken hostage.