Netanyahu says those slamming Israel over Qatar attack showing ‘immense hypocrisy’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there is “immense cynicism and hypocrisy” in criticism of Israel over the strike in Qatar targeting Hamas, standing alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, despite US President Donald Trump being among those slamming Israel over the news.

Netanyahu points out UN Resolution 1373, which was approved post-9/11 and says no country can harbor or give safe haven to terrorists.

He stresses that the US “acted very boldly against the terrorist havens that were given to al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. The terrorist haven that was given to the chief terrorist [Osama] Bin Laden in Pakistan.”

“You don’t have such sovereignty when you are effectively giving a base to terrorists,” he says.

Netanyahu seems to acknowledge that Israel did not succeed in killing Hamas leaders, but says Israel still sent a message to terrorists with the strike.

“It didn’t fail because it had one central message and we considered it before we launched it, and that is, you can hide, you can run, but we’ll get you.”

Asked about anger from Gulf allies over the strike, Rubio says, “some fundamentals still remain that have to be addressed, irrespective of what has occurred.”

He says hostages are still being held and Hamas still exists, and must be eliminated.

“They all still have to be addressed,” he says, adding that the US will focus on solving those issues.

Rubio calls the wave of recognition of a Palestinian state “an impediment to peace” that emboldens Hamas.

Netanyahu also says high-rise buildings being knocked down in Gaza are Hamas strongholds.

He says the world should “get their priorities and facts right” on Gaza, and that Israel will continue doing what it can to get them out of harm’s way.