The United States ends the defense deal in Qatar, where the Gaza crisis is intensifying mediation talks

Foreign Minister Marco Rubio said early on Tuesday that the United States and Qatar were about to finish the Defense Cooperation Agreement, as it frames the Middle East ally as the “only country in the world” that mediate between Israel and Hamas.

The Minister’s comments came while leaving Jerusalem, where he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting was held against the background of the Israeli air strikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar last week, in addition to its intensive bombing of Gaza City.

Rubio, who is now heading to Qatar on a quick visit, admitted Doha’s anger at the Israeli air strikes, and Fox News told an exclusive interview in Jerusalem: “We understand that they are not happy with what happened.”

Speaking to reporters, Rubio reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Qatar’s fuel as an ally, saying that Doha could play a “major role” in ensuring that the terrorist group Hamas “has been disarmed as a threat.”

Exclusively: Rubio says that the United States Alliance for Israel is still firm and he is heading to Qatar amid a violent reaction to Doha strikes

“We believe that Qatar can play a very major role in it. So, we go there. We have a close partnership with the Qataris,” Rubio said.

Rubio says that Israel is a strike on the Syrian military headquarters “is likely to be a misunderstanding.”

Rubio said that if any country in the world can mediate an agreement between Israel and Hamas, “Qatar is.”

Journalists are raising their hands, such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the oath, and the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, held a joint press conference in the Prime Minister’s office, during Rubio’s visit in Jerusalem, Monday, September 15, 2025. (Nathan Howard/Pool Photo via AP)

“They are the ones who can do this. Now, I don’t know whether they can after what happened, but I think they can. If anyone can, they can. There is no other country in the world that can play this role. We hope they can.”

Smoke rises from an explosion, claimed by an Israeli strike, in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. (UGC via AP)

Al -Amin warned that the diplomacy window with Hamas was narrowing, saying: “We no longer have months … we may have days, perhaps a few weeks.”

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“So, it is an essential moment – an important moment,” said Rubio. And again, our preference, our first choice, is that this ends through a summit in which Hamas says, “We will advise the bird. We no longer form this threat. We will solve it. We will release every hostage. ”