UPDATE 2 - Qatar’s emir, US secretary of state discuss strategic partnership, Israeli attack in Doha

UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS, CHANGED HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By Mohammad Sio

ISTANBUL (AA) - Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met in Doha on Tuesday and discussed their countries' strategic partnership, the Israeli attack on Doha, and the ongoing war in Gaza, Qatar's Foreign Ministry said.

Spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said the talks also covered last week’s Israeli strike on Doha. “Our relations with the US are strategic, particularly on the defense level,” Ansari said in a statement published by Al Jazeera.

He emphasized Qatar's determination to defend its sovereignty and take measures to prevent a repeat of such an attack.

Ansari added that Doha values the support shown by Arab and Islamic countries in solidarity with Qatar following the Israeli strike.

He also asserted that Washington had prior knowledge of the attack 50 minutes before it occurred, but added, "We do not deal with media reports; we communicate directly with the US."

“The message to Netanyahu is that violations of international law without accountability will not continue,” Ansari said.

On the possibility of negotiations, the spokesperson said talks “do not seem realistic now, because Netanyahu wants to assassinate anyone who negotiates with him and bombs the mediating state.”

Rubio made a short visit to Qatar on Tuesday, a week after an Israeli airstrike on the capital, Doha.

A video aired by American media showed the top diplomat meeting with Qatar’s Emir Tamim and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman.

Prior to his arrival from Israel, Rubio said that Washington and Doha are close to finalizing an enhanced defense cooperation agreement.

“We have a close partnership with the Qataris,” Rubio told reporters before departing Tel Aviv for Doha. “In fact, we have an enhanced defense cooperation agreement, which we've been working on, and we're on the verge of finalizing.”

Speaking on Qatar’s role in mediating a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, Rubio said, “We're going to ask Qatar to continue to do what they've done.”

His visit came a day after an emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, which condemned and expressed solidarity with Qatar following last week’s Israeli attack that killed five Hamas members as the group was discussing a US proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange.

Qatar, along with Egypt and the US, has been mediating to end the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, where almost 65,000 people have been killed since October 2023.