DOHA: Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani discussed on Tuesday defense cooperation with top U.S. diplomat Marco Rubio during his visit to Doha after Israel's attack on Hamas political leaders in Doha last week, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson said.
The meeting comes hours after Rubio urged Qatar to continue its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza war, saying there was "a very short window of time in which a deal could happen."
"If any country in the world can help mediate it, Qatar is the one. They're the ones that can do it," Rubio said.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he did not did not rule out further strikes on Hamas leaders "wherever they are", as the heads of Arab and Islamic states held a summit to back Qatar.
Qatar called the Israeli attack "cowardly and treacherous," but said it wouldn't deter it from its role as a mediator, alongside Egypt and the United States.
"We have a close partnership with the Qataris. In fact, we have an enhanced defense cooperation agreement, which we've been working on, we're on the verge of finalizing," Rubio said.
*More to follow.*