Rubio says Qatar has played ‘very helpful’ role in hostage talks

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praises Qatar’s role in the currently stalled hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

“I know that Qatar is a source of controversy among some. When it comes to this negotiation, they’ve been very helpful. They’ve put a lot of time and energy into this, and frankly, they’ve expressed their own frustrations with Hamas,” Rubio says during an interview with Fox Radio.

“I think the moment of truth has to arrive, however, where there have to be consequences if Hamas continues to disagree,” he adds, without elaborating.

Rubio laments an “anti-Israel narrative building internationally” that is “emboldening Hamas.”

He briefly nods at the Arab countries that signed onto a declaration organized by France this week that called for Hamas to disarm and give up its control of the Strip — something the US and Israel have repeatedly called for.