[Global Network Reporter Suo Yanqi] Israel attacked Doha, the capital of Qatar, on September 9 to attack the leadership of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), causing uproar in many countries around the world. According to Agence France-Presse, U.S. Secretary of State rubio expressed the hope that Qatar would continue to serve as the mediator of the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, and talked a lot about Qatar's "unique status".
Rubio made the statement at the Israeli airport on the same day, after which he flew to Doha to meet with Qatar’s Emir (Head of State) Tamim.
“We’re going to ask Qatar to continue doing what they’re already doing, and we’re very grateful for it, that’s playing a constructive role in working to end the situation,” Rubio said, “obviously they have to decide after last week if they’re going to (continue) doing it, but we want them to know that if there’s a country in the world that can help end the issue through negotiations, that’s Qatar.”
In addition, rubio said that the United States will still cooperate with Qatar to reach a defense agreement as soon as possible.
At the time of Rubio’s speech, the French news agency that U.S. President Donald Trump said after the attack in Doha that Israel would not attack Qatar again. The media said that Rubio, who visited Israel, did not make any relevant statements. When speaking next to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Rubio “kept silence” on praising Qatar’s affair, just saying that it was important to look ahead after the attack occurred.
Qatar is one of the main mediators in the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Israel announced on the 9th that it would carry out a "precision strike" against the Hamas leadership in Doha. Hamas said that when the air strike occurred, the Hamas negotiating delegation was discussing an updated ceasefire plan proposed by the United States. Five Palestinians and one member of Qatari security forces were killed in the attack. Israel's move drew strong condemnation from the international community. On the 15th, the Arab-Islamic emergency summit held in Doha issued a communique condemning Israel's recent attack on Qatar and calling on the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to examine whether Israel's membership in the United Nations complies with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.