Praying Together at the Western Wall
Israel Launches Airstrike on Doha, Qatar, the Ceasefire Mediator
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on the 14th (local time) that the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Israel demonstrates the strong alliance between the two countries.
According to AP, Reuters, and other news agencies, Prime Minister Netanyahu made these remarks after praying at the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, in the Old City of East Jerusalem, together with Secretary Rubio and Mike Huckabee, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
Prime Minister Netanyahu called Secretary Rubio a "great friend" and emphasized that the relationship between Israel and the United States is "as strong and solid as the Western Wall we just touched." This wall is a holy site for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. According to dpa, the visit by a high-ranking U.S. official to this location can be interpreted as a show of support for Israel.
On September 9, Israel launched an airstrike on Doha, Qatar, the mediator of the ceasefire, claiming it was to eliminate the leadership of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has drawn international criticism.
Secretary Rubio, who is scheduled to stay in Israel until the 16th, told reporters before his departure that U.S. President Donald Trump is also dissatisfied with the airstrike on Qatar, but this incident will not affect the relationship between the United States and Israel. He also stated that he would discuss with Israeli leaders how this airstrike might impact efforts to end the Gaza war and the release of hostages.
Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip continues. After declaring its intention to seize Gaza City, a densely populated area in the northern Gaza Strip, to eliminate Hamas, Israel has intensified attacks, focusing on high-rise buildings in the area.
Foreign media, citing local hospitals and other sources, reported that Israeli attacks on university buildings, areas near hospitals, and residential buildings have resulted in at least 13 deaths and dozens of injuries.
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