Rubio reveals reaching a "defense agreement" with Qatar and discusses Gaza negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Qatar and the United States are nearing the final touches on an enhanced defense cooperation agreement, following an attack by "Israel" last week that targeted leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas" in Qatar and was met with widespread condemnation.

The attack on Qatar had particular sensitivity given that it is a close ally of the United States and hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East. Qatar has been hosting ceasefire talks and playing a mediating role, alongside Egypt, since the outbreak of the Gaza war nearly two years ago.

Rubio urged Qatar, while departing Tel Aviv for Doha, to continue its role as a mediator between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in the ongoing war in Gaza, stating that there is a "very short window of time to reach an agreement."

Rubio added, "If there is a country in the world capable of helping with mediation, it is Qatar. They are the ones who can do it," according to what was reported by Reuters.

Rubio said, "We have a close partnership with the Qataris. In fact, we have an enhanced defense cooperation agreement that we are working on, and we are about to finalize it."

Qatar described the Israeli attack as cowardly and treacherous, but affirmed that it would not deter it from fulfilling its mediating roles alongside Egypt and the United States.

During a visit in May, Trump assured Qatar that Washington would protect it in the event of an attack. The U.S. President stated after the attack that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not inform him in advance about it.

Netanyahu threatened yesterday, Monday, in a press conference with Rubio to attack Hamas leaders "wherever they are," coinciding with an extraordinary Arab-Islamic summit following the Israeli attack on Qatar.

Trump expressed his displeasure with the Israeli attack, describing it as a unilateral act that does not serve American or Israeli interests.

Trump sought to reassure the Qataris that such an attack would not be repeated during a meeting with the Qatari Prime Minister in New York on Friday.