Israeli Strikes Devastate Gaza City as Rubio Visits; Qatar Summit Called

Israeli forces demolished at least 30 residential blocks in Gaza City on Sunday, forcing thousands to flee, Palestinian officials said, as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived to discuss the future of the conflict.Israel has announced plans to capture Gaza City — where nearly one million displaced Palestinians have been sheltering — as part of its stated goal of destroying Hamas. The military has stepped up bombardments, calling the city the group’s last stronghold.Hamas’ political bureau, which has engaged intermittently in ceasefire and hostage-release talks, was hit in an Israeli airstrike last Tuesday in Doha, drawing wide international condemnation. In response, Qatar said it will host an emergency Arab-Islamic summit on Monday to chart the next steps.Rubio, speaking before his meetings with Israeli officials, said Washington’s immediate priority is securing the release of the 48 hostages believed to remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are thought to be ...

• 15 Sep 2025