Amid the ongoing Gaza war, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed for Israel on Saturday to discuss the latest developments and regional security. According to a State Department statement, the visit will “underscore America’s priorities regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict and reaffirm Washington’s commitment to Israel’s security.” The visit follows Israel’s controversial airstrike in Qatar earlier in the week, targeting Hamas leaders during peace talks. The move angered Qatar and other key US allies. Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Thani has since met with former President Donald Trump and also held talks at the White House with Rubio and Vice President JD Vance.