U.S.-Israel tensions rise amid Gaza operation plans and Middle East backlash

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top leadership in Jerusalem.

(NBC)- Tensions between Israel, the United States, and the broader Middle East escalated this week as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top leadership in Jerusalem. The visit comes at a critical moment, following a fatal Israeli strike against a Qatari negotiating team in Doha last week that has drawn widespread condemnation from across the region.

At the same time, Israeli media reports indicate the military is preparing for a major ground incursion into Gaza City. For weeks, Israel has been laying the groundwork for such an operation, urging civilians to evacuate to designated humanitarian areas like Al-Mawasi. Yet hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are believed to remain in Gaza City, despite repeated evacuation calls.

The looming assault has heightened fears among the families of Israeli hostages still believed to be held in Gaza. Many relatives worry that a large-scale offensive could put their loved ones at even greater risk.

Meanwhile, Qatar is pressing Arab and Islamic nations to take a harder line against Israel. At a summit on Monday, Qatari officials called for the wider region to formally condemn Israel and reconsider normalization deals with the Jewish state.

Despite mounting international pressure, Israel appears determined to press ahead with its Gaza operation—an action that analysts warn could spark further global protests and deepen the diplomatic rift between Israel and its neighbors.