U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, visit the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest prayer site, in Jerusalem’s Old City, Sunday Sept. 14, 2025. (Nathan Howard/Pool Photo via AP)

As global condemnation grows over Israel’s latest military offensive in Gaza, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Jerusalem on Sunday to reaffirm Washington’s strong alliance with Israel. His visit comes at a time when both nations face mounting international scrutiny and as the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens.

Following a joint visit to a key site in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described U.S.-Israel relations as “as durable as the stones in the Western Wall,” according to the BBC. While Rubio echoed the strength of the partnership, he acknowledged before departing the U.S. on Saturday that President Trump is frustrated with Israel over its recent airstrike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar.

Rubio’s two-day visit is widely seen as a show of support for Israel ahead of a United Nations debate on recognizing a Palestinian state—an initiative Israel strongly opposes, the Associated Press reports.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s hospitals reported that at least 13 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in Israeli airstrikes on Sunday. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed it had launched multiple rounds of attacks on Gaza City in the past week, targeting over 500 sites, according to the BBC.

Rubio said he would emphasize President Trump’s growing impatience with the ongoing war in Gaza during meetings with Israeli officials, per The New York Times.

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