Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not ruled out further strikes on Hamas leaders following last week's attack in Qatar, saying they would not have immunity wherever they are.
Speaking at a Jerusalem press conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Netanyahu asserted that every country has the right to defend itself beyond its borders.
Israel's decision to target Hamas leaders in Qatar, a close US ally, has incited international backlash and criticism from US President Donald Trump, who stated that such incidents should not happen again in Qatar. Hamas reported that six individuals were killed in the strike, but leadership members survived.
Despite the disapproval, Netanyahu articulated that the operation was conducted independently by Israel, clarifying to journalists, We did it on our own. Period. In response to inquiries regarding damage to US relations in the region, Rubio claimed that the US maintains strong relationships with our Gulf allies.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of a significant summit among Arab leaders, who have shown support for Qatar, as the Qatari Prime Minister called for the international community to halt double standards and to hold Israel accountable.
Netanyahu's remarks emerge at a precarious time when Arab leaders are uniting to rally against the strikes, emphasizing the tense atmosphere surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The potential escalation of military actions by Israel adds to the existing humanitarian crisis as the UN warns that intensifying offensives will plunge civilians into deeper disaster.
