Hamas has ‘short window of time’ for Gaza deal, says Rubio

US Secretary Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Hamas has a limited time to accept a ceasefire deal in Gaza.

“The Israelis have begun to take operations there. So we think we have a very short window of time in which a deal can happen,” Rubio told reporters as he departs Israel heading to Qatar.

He added: “We don’t have months any more, and we probably have days and maybe a few weeks to go...Our number one choice is that this ends through a negotiated settlement where Hamas says, ‘We’re going to demilitarise, we’re no longer going to pose a threat’.”

Rubio also said that Qatar is the only country in the world that can mediate in the conflict.

His statements came after he had met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday. During his visit, he backed  the Israeli offensive in Gaza City and Israel’s stated goal of eliminating Hamas.