US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sunday for a key official visit. This comes just days after Israeli forces targeted Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, amid ramped-up military operations in the Gaza Strip.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shared big news on Sunday: They took out Yousef Mahmoud Muhammad Jumaa, a top Hamas commander. Jumaa played a direct role in the brutal October 7, 2023, massacre at Kibbutz Alumim, where 22 people lost their lives. He also helped plan and launch several attacks on Israeli targets during the ongoing war.
Before leaving Washington, Rubio addressed the Qatar strike head-on. He made it clear the US doesn’t approve of it, but stressed it won’t shake the strong US-Israel alliance. “It’s not going to change our relationship with the Israelis, but we’ll have to talk about it—especially how it affects truce efforts,” Rubio said. During his trip, he plans to press Israeli leaders on their plans for Gaza’s future.
Israeli sources say the Doha operation didn’t hit the highest-ranking Hamas figures. Those leaders had met in Qatar to talk about a US-supported ceasefire deal.
Rubio also laid out President Donald Trump’s stance: Trump wants Hamas crushed, the war over, all 48 remaining hostages back home—including the deceased ones—and he wants it all done quickly. “We’ll discuss how last week’s events impact getting that done soon,” Rubio added.
On the ground in Gaza, tensions are high. IDF’s Arabic spokesperson, Col. Avichay Adraee, warned Gaza City residents Sunday morning to evacuate near the Al-Kawthar Tower. The IDF says Hamas has packed the area’s high-rises with spy gear, bombs, and lookout posts.
IDF estimates show over 250,000 people have fled Gaza City in recent days as operations intensify.
On a positive note, aid is flowing in. Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT)—an IDF unit handling civilian matters in Gaza and beyond—reported that nearly 2,000 aid trucks crossed into Gaza from the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings last week. Plus, more than 1,200 trucks with food and supplies entered through Israel.
Remember, the conflict kicked off on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacks killed around 1,200 people and led to 252 hostages taken from Israeli communities near Gaza. Of the 48 hostages still held, about 20 are thought to be alive.
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