Rubio says Hamas 'emboldened' by Palestinian state moves

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio charged Monday that Hamas was emboldened by moves by Britain, France and other US allies to recognise a Palestinian state.

"They're largely symbolic - they have really no impact whatsoever about bringing us any closer to a Palestinian state. The only impact they actually have is it makes Hamas feel more emboldened," Rubio said at a joint news conference in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Rubio said that at times in the past, Hamas "walked away from agreements that they actually had tacitly agreed to, but then they see the sort of international support they believe they're getting".

Rubio's statements came less than a week after Israel launched a strike on Hamas officials meeting in Qatar's capital, Doha, reportedly including the group's chief ceasefire negotiator.