US Secretary of State Marco Rubio promised “unwavering support” for Israel as he met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday amid scrutiny of last week's Israeli attack on Qatar.
Their meeting comes as Arab and Islamic leaders gather in Doha in a show of solidarity after the Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in the city caused great anger across the region.
Washington has been walking a fine line between its two Middle East allies since Israel launched the air strike in the Qatari capital, killing five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer.
But on Monday Mr Rubio expressed Washington's support for Israel's pursuit of the militant group.
“The people of Gaza deserve a better future, but that better future cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated,” he told reporters as he stood by Mr Netanyahu at a press conference in Jerusalem.
“You can count on our unwavering support and commitment to see it come to fruition.”
Mr Netanyahu responded by saying Israel and the US would continue to act together to protect their countries.
“Rubio's visit is a clear message that America stands with Israel in face of terror,” the Israeli leader said.
He also said US President Donald Trump “is the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House”.
Mr Rubio met with Mr Netanyahu one-on-one for about an hour and a half before starting a meeting that included aides, a US official told the AFP news agency.
Mr Netanyahu was unmoved when asked about the Doha strike and did not rule out further attacks on Hamas leaders “wherever they are”.
“We sent a message to terrorists: you can run but you cannot hide,” he said.
Despite US objections over the Qatar attack, Mr Rubio opened his visit to Jerusalem on Sunday with a symbolic show of support as he joined Mr Netanyahu at the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews are allowed to pray.
With Mr Rubio at his side, Mr Netanyahu said the Israel-US alliance has “never been stronger”.
Mr Rubio, a Roman Catholic, later posted that his visit showed his belief that Jerusalem is the “eternal capital” of Israel.
Until Mr Trump's first term, US leaders had shied away from such overt statements backing Israeli sovereignty over contested Jerusalem, which is also holy to Muslims and Christians.
But Mr Trump in 2018 moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, in a sharp break with most of the world.
Hamas called Mr Rubio's prayer stop on Sunday a “blatant assault on the sanctity” of the Al Aqsa Mosque, the Muslim sacred site, and a “flagrant violation of the historical and legal status quo in occupied Jerusalem”.
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High officials and delegates to the emergency Arab-Islamic leaders' summit to discuss the Israeli attack on Hamas on Qatari territory pose for a group photo in Doha on September 15. Reuters -
Sheikh Tamim, Emir Of Qatar, at the opening of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit to discuss the Israeli attack on Hamas officials on Qatari soil, in Doha. Reuters -
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, at the Arab and Islamic Emergency Summit in Doha. Eissa Al Hammadi / UAE Presidential Court -
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani attends the emergency Arab-Islamic leaders' summit in Doha, Qatar. Reuters -
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seated centre, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, standing centre, attend the opening of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit to discuss the Israeli attack on Qatar in Doha, Qatar. EPA -
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, is received in Doha by Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman, Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar. Hassan Al Menhali / UAE Presidential Court -
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim attend the emergency Arab and Islamic leaders summit in Doha. Reuters -
Sheikh Tamim delivers an address during the opening of the summit, which has been held after Israel launched an attack on the Qatari capital. AFP -
King Abdullah II of Jordan arrives in Doha. Qatar News Agency -
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his wife Emine Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan arrive in Doha. Qatar News Agency -
Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah with Sheikh Saoud, who is also Qatar's Minister of State for Defence Affairs. AFP -
Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman recieves Oman's Sultan Haitham in Doha. Qatar News Agency -
Morocco's Prince Moulay Rachid arrives in Doha for the summit. Qatar News Agency -
Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara arrives in Doha. Reuters -
Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman with US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack. AFP -
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani is welcomed in Doha by Sheikh Saoud. AFP -
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian is received in Doha by Sheikh Saoud. AFP -
Sudan's army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan is received by Sheikh Saoud. AFP -
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrives in Doha. AFP -
Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon is received in Doha by Sheikh Saoud. AFP
Mr Rubio's visit also comes a week before a French-led summit at the UN to recognise a Palestinian state, a prospect opposed by Mr Netanyahu's right-wing government.
The meeting in New York set for September 22 is being co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, with President Emmanuel Macron expected to formally recognise a Palestinian state.
Britain, France, Canada, Australia and Belgium have also said they will recognise Palestinian statehood at the event, although the UK said it could hold back if Israel takes steps to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and commits to a long-term peace process.
The US strongly opposes any move by its European allies to recognise Palestine, while Mr Netanyahu has said there will never be a Palestinian state.
On Monday, Mr Rubio criticised the European plans, claiming they encouraged Hamas.
“They're largely symbolic … the only impact they actually have is it makes Hamas feel more emboldened,” he said.
