U.S., Israel reject calls for truce

As international anger rises, Rubio and Netanyahu stand firm, saying Hamas must be eliminated and all hostages released

- MATTHEW LEE AND SAMY MAGDY

AFTER AN ISRAELI airstrike destroyed a building, people examine the huge mound of rubble in Gaza City.

Israel and the United States showed a unified front Monday in the face of growing international anger over Israel's airstrikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar and its intensifying bombardment of Gaza City.

As Arab and Muslim leaders met in Doha to condemn Israel's attack last week in Qatar and new rounds of criticism were aired over Israeli plans to occupy Gaza City, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stood shoulder to shoulder in Jerusalem and downplayed the furor that had, at least for a short time, taken the Trump administration aback.

Rubio planned to pay a quick visit to Qatar on Tuesday, as the administration appears keen to ease tensions between its two close allies, before flying on to London to join President Trump on his state visit to Britain.

"We understand they're not happy about what happened," Rubio told Fox News. But "we still have Hamas, we still have hostages, and we still have a war. And all those things still have to be dealt with, and we are hopeful that Qatar and all of our gulf partners will continue to add something constructive."

There were no signs of U.S. frustration with Israel's latest actions, although Trump had made clear his displeasure with Israel's unilateral strike on Hamas in Qatar.