STORY: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday (September 15) called on Qatar to continue to play a constructive role in resolving the Gaza conflict, speaking in Jerusalem on the same day that Arab leaders were meeting in Doha to respond to an Israeli strike.

Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his office in Jerusalem, Rubio said Qatar could help reach the goals of releasing all 48 hostages still held in Gaza, disarming Hamas and building a better future for Gazans.

Netanyahu, who has not backed down an inch since the Doha strike drew widespread condemnation, said he did not rule out further strikes on Hamas leaders.

While diplomacy was unfolding in Jerusalem and Doha, Israeli forces were continuing their assault on Gaza City,

Israel's nearly two-year-long campaign against Hamas has killed more than 64,000 people in Gaza, according to local authorities. It was prompted by the militant group's attack on Israel in October 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken hostage, according to Israeli figures.

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Rubio urges Qatar to to stay constructive on Gaza after Israel's attack against Hamas leaders

VIDEO SHOWS: U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO AND ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IN JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE, ADDRESSING THE ISSUES OF ISRAEL'S ATTACK AGAINST HAMAS LEADERS IN QATAR, GAZA WAR AND IRAN

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: JERUSALEM (SEPTEMBER 15, 2025) (GPO - Access all)

1. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO AND ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU ENTERING ROOM, TAKING PODIUM TO ADDRESS JOURNALISTS

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SAYING:

"Mr. Secretary Marco, your visit to our eternal and undivided capital, Jerusalem, is a powerful affirmation of a powerful bond."

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAYING:

"We are focused on what happens now, what happens next. What role can Qatar play possibly in reaching an outcome here that leads not just to the end of this hostilities, not just to the release of all of the hostages, both living and deceased, not just the disarmament and elimination of Hamas, but also a better future for the people of Gaza, which isn't possible as long as Hamas exists, which isn't possible as long as 48 hostages are being held. And so we're going to continue to encourage Qatar to play a constructive role in that regard."

4. RUBIO AND NETANYAHU ADDRESSING JOURNALISTS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAYING:

"We have strong relationships with our Gulf allies. We work very closely with them on a number of things. We've been engaged with them. We've been engaged with them consistently before what happened and after what happened. And ultimately, the point we will make to everybody is that some fundamentals still remain."

6. RUBIO AND NETANYAHU

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SAYING:

"I've said repeatedly that Israel's decision to act against the Hamas terrorist leadership in Qatar was a wholly independent decision by Israel. It was a decision taken by me and our top security chiefs. It was conducted by us and we assume full responsibility for it because we believe the terrorists should not be given a haven. And the people who planned the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust cannot have immunity. So we did it on our own, period."

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME, MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SAYING:

"Well, we're still getting the final reports. I'll tell you what the impact of the strike is: We sent a message to the terrorists. You can run, but you can't hide. We'll get you."

9. RUBIO AND NETANYAHU

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SAYING:

"And America has no better ally than Israel. It's obvious that Israel has no better ally than America."

11. NETANYAHU ADDRESSING RUBIO

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SAYING:

"We will continue to act together with great force and great determination to protect our countries and I may add, protect our common civilization."

13. RUBIO AND NETANYAHU

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAYING:

"As far as the president's been clear on the ongoing issues in Gaza, and that is that every single hostage, both living and deceased, needs to be home immediately. Hamas can no longer continue to exist as an armed element that threatens the peace and security, not just of Israel, but of the world. And that the people of Gaza deserve a better future, one that cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated and until all of the hostages, both living and deceased, are home."

15. RUBIO AND NETANYAHU LISTENING TO JOURNALIST'S QUESTION

16. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAYING:

"We have to remember who we're dealing with here, and that is a group of people that have dedicated their lives to violence and barbarism. And when you're confronting that hard reality, as much as we may wish that there be a sort of a peaceful, diplomatic way to end it, and we'll continue to explore and be dedicated to it, we also have to be prepared for the possibility that that's not going to happen."

17. JOURNALIST ASKING RUBIO REGARDING ALLY COUNTRIES INTENDING TO DECLARE RECOGNITION OF A PALESTINIAN STATE

18. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAYING:

"These things that people are doing in these different countries, are doing at the United Nations, first of all, they're largely being done because of their own domestic politics. Second of all, they're largely symbolic. They have really no impact whatsoever in bringing about, bringing us any closer to a Palestinian state. The only impact they actually have is it makes Hamas feel more emboldened. It makes other elements like Hamas feel more emboldened. It actually has made it harder. It's actually served as an impediment to to peace."

19. RUBIO AND NETANYAHU

20. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO, SAYING:

"We've cooperated and were involved together just a few weeks ago on the issue of Iran and Iran's desire to possess not just nuclear weapons but short and mid range missiles with the capability of threatening our presence here in this hemisphere, in this region. And of course, the safety and security of the Jewish state. But I would venture to say a threat that actually extends well beyond that to the kingdoms of the Gulf and eventually even into Europe. In fact, some of the missiles they're trying to develop now can already range countries in Europe. And so a nuclear Iran governed by a radical Shia cleric that possesses not just nuclear weapons potentially, but the missiles that could deliver those weapons far away is an unacceptable risk, not just for Israel, not just for the United States, but for the world. And that is why we, the president, continues with our campaign of maximum pressure and will continue to be maximum economic pressure on Iran until they change course."

21. ISRAELI AND AMERICAN OFFICIALS SITTING IN FRONT OF JOURNALISTS

22. VARIOUS OF RUBIO AND NETANYAHU LEAVING STAGE