Amid a new escalation in the Middle East, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Israel. The top diplomat for American President Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, will travel to Israel this weekend as tensions among U.S. allies in the Middle East intensify, following Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar and the expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank. Deputy State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated that Rubio will depart on Saturday, September 13, 2025, to visit Israel before accompanying President Donald Trump on his scheduled visit to the UK next week. Pigott noted that Rubio’s visit aims to emphasize the shared goals of Washington and Israel to ensure Hamas never governs Gaza again and to return hostages captured during the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel that triggered the Israel-Gaza war. Discussions will also address the recognition of Palestine by various countries.