Secretary of State Marco Rubio to talk with Netanyahu amid tensions in Middle East

"A MARTINEZ, HOST: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Jerusalem today, holding talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nearly one week after Israel struck Doha, the capital of Qatar, in an attack targeting senior Hamas leaders. MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: The attack killed at least six people, none of whom was a senior Hamas leader, and has put the U.S. in a difficult position between its strong support of Israel and a key ally in the Gulf."

"President Trump appeared to address that balancing act in comments yesterday with a warning to Israel. SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Qatar has been a very great ally. So, Israel and everybody else, we have to be careful. When we attack people, we have to be careful."

"CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE: He and Prime Minister Netanyahu met this morning, and then they held a news conference. Both reiterated the strong alliance between the U.S. and Israel, and both repeatedly stated that the end of the war would require Hamas' total defeat and elimination and the return of all the hostages dead and alive. Here's Secretary of State Rubio. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) MARCO RUBIO: As much as we may wish that there would be a sort of a peaceful, diplomatic way to end it, and we'll continue to explore and be dedicated to it, we all have to be prepared for the possibility that that's not going to happen."

Marco Rubio traveled to Jerusalem to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid regional tensions following an Israeli strike on Doha that killed at least six people. The strike heightened U.S. diplomatic strain between strong support for Israel and relations with Qatar. President Trump warned Israel to exercise caution in its actions. Rubio and Netanyahu emphasized that ending the war requires Hamas' total defeat and the return of all hostages, dead and alive. Israel has intensified its offensive into Gaza City and is preparing to occupy parts of the city, raising concerns about mass displacement of residents.

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