Netanyahu refuses to rule out additional strikes on Hamas leaders

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not dominated out additional strikes on Hamas leaders following final week’s assault in Qatar, saying they might not have immunity “wherever they’re”.

Talking at a press convention in Jerusalem with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Netanyahu mentioned each nation had the precise “to defend itself past its borders”.

Israel’s choice to focus on Hamas leaders in Qatar – a detailed US ally – drew worldwide outrage and criticism from US President Donald Trump. Hamas mentioned six folks have been killed however that its leaders survived.

Netanyahu’s feedback come days after the White Home mentioned Trump had assured Qatar “that such a factor is not going to occur once more on their soil”.

When pressed on whether or not the US had any involvement within the strike, Netanyahu instructed journalists: “We did it on our personal. Interval.”

In response to a BBC query about whether or not the strike had broken US relations within the area, Rubio mentioned Washington maintained “sturdy relationships with our Gulf allies”.

The pair introduced a broadly united entrance, even amid the obvious tensions, with Rubio praising the 2 international locations’ technological and cultural ties – and Netanyahu saying Israel had “no higher ally”.

Their assembly comes as Arab leaders maintain a summit in a present of help for Qatar. The Qatari prime minister urged the worldwide neighborhood to cease making use of “double requirements” and to punish Israel.

Requested later whether or not there have been any ensures Israel wouldn’t strike the nation once more, Trump mentioned twice that Netanyahu “will not be hitting Qatar”.

Qatar hosts a significant US airbase and has performed a key position in brokering diplomatic efforts to finish the warfare in Gaza, serving as a mediator of oblique negotiations between Hamas and Israel. It has hosted the Hamas political bureau since 2012.

In accordance with a State Division official, Rubio will journey on to Qatar following his Israel journey.

On Sunday, Netanyahu instructed reporters that the US-Israel relationship was as “sturdy because the stones within the Western Wall” whereas he and Rubio made a brief go to to the holy web site in Jerusalem’s Previous Metropolis.

Through the journey – on which they have been accompanied by US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee – Rubio wrote a observe and positioned it into the wall, a conventional ritual carried out by guests. The boys ignored reporters’ questions specializing in Israel’s strikes in Qatar.

Additionally thought to have been mentioned by Netanyahu and Rubio are Israeli navy plans to grab Gaza Metropolis and Israel’s continued enlargement of settlements within the occupied West Financial institution.

Over the weekend, the Israeli navy pressed forward with the demolition of residential buildings in Gaza Metropolis, and – in response to native media – is now poised to start floor operations within the Western neighbourhoods of town.

It has demanded that Gaza Metropolis’s residents depart and head south to a central space of the strip. The Israel Protection Forces (IDF) estimate about 250,000 Palestinians have fled, although tons of of 1000’s are believed to stay within the space.

Some say they can not afford to go south, whereas others say southern Gaza will not be protected as Israel has carried out air strikes there too. Some have mentioned they tried to go south however have been unable to pitch their tents, so returned to Gaza Metropolis.

“They’re asking us to depart our houses, as in the event that they’re asking us to go on a visit,” mentioned Gaza Metropolis resident Hafez Habous.

“Right here in Gaza we’ll die for one purpose: we merely don’t have any cash. We have now no tents, no makeshift shelters, and transport is unavailable.”

“In the event you communicate to a driver to go south he asks for 300 shekels,” he mentioned – the equal of about $90 or £65.

“How come? I do not even have 100. I do not even have cash for tomorrow’s meals. So how can we transfer south?”

The UN has warned an intensification of the offensive on an space the place a famine has already been declared will push civilians into an “even deeper disaster”.

Netanyahu and Rubio’s assembly comes forward of a UN Common Meeting session subsequent week, at which some main US allies – together with the UK, France, Canada, Australia and Belgium – are anticipated to recognise the State of Palestine.

This anticipated recognition has intensified debate inside Israel round the way forward for the West Financial institution, with extra hardline components of the federal government insisting annexation is the one option to stop a Palestinian state.

In late August, the Israeli authorities gave remaining approval for the E1 settlement venture east of Jerusalem, which might, in impact, break up the West Financial institution in two – dividing the Palestinian populations within the north and south.

Signing an settlement for the venture final Thursday, Netanyahu mentioned: “We’re going to fulfil our promise that there can be no Palestinian state. This place belongs to us.”

Earlier this month, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich unveiled his proposal for the annexation of roughly four-fifths of the West Financial institution.

Israel has constructed about 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews because it occupied the West Financial institution and East Jerusalem – land Palestinians need, together with Gaza, for a hoped-for future state – in the course of the 1967 Center East warfare. An estimated 3.3 million Palestinians stay alongside them.

The settlements are unlawful underneath worldwide legislation.

On Monday night, Rubio is about to go to the Metropolis of David archaeological park, which was established by a settler organisation within the Palestinian neighbourhood of Silwan, in occupied East Jerusalem.

He’ll attend the inauguration of the “Pilgrimage Highway”, a tunnel excavated beneath Palestinian houses that’s mentioned to mark the route of a Roman-era avenue taken by pilgrims to the Biblical temple that when stood on the location identified to Jews because the Temple Mount and to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary).

Critics say the Metropolis of David park is an try to politicise archaeology, on the expense of Palestinian residents.