U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani as negotiations continue for a potential Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul reports.

Washington

Israel and Iran have agreed a ceasefire after a twelve day conflict. Meanwhile, Israel strikes in Gaza continue with the humanitarian crisis deepening.

Middle East Conflict

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently met with the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, at the State Department. Though the precise agenda of the meeting is not disclosed, Qatar's role in facilitating negotiations concerning a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas suggests possible discussions on related diplomatic matters. Previously, Qatar was instrumental alongside the United States and Egyptian negotiators in brokering a ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas.

The meeting featured a brief public appearance outside of the State Department's Treaty Room but without any statements to the press. Following this engagement, Rubio is scheduled to travel to London for discussions with European and Ukrainian officials regarding efforts to end the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The outcomes of these meetings could influence the Trump administration's involvement in the ongoing peace talks between the conflicting sides.



Rubio meets with Qatar's prime minister

Welcome back. We are following Secretary of State Marco Rubio's moves today. Moments ago, he met with Qatari's Prime Minister at the State Department. Later, he heads to London for another meeting. So let's bring in CBS News correspondent Chanel Call, who is following the story for us from the newsroom. Good to see you, Chanel. What do we know about Marco Rubio's meeting today? Well, Samuko, that meeting just got underway at about 11.30 a.m. Eastern time, and it happened at the State Department's Treaty Room. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meeting today with Qatari Prime Minister, and moments ago, the two actually came outside to the cameras. As you see here, they took a quick photo. Notably, they did not say anything, and then they went back inside. And while we have not been told exactly what this conversation will be focused on, we know, Mugo, that Qatar has been a really central part of negotiations on a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Qatar, alongside the U.S. and Egyptian negotiators, they did help to broker that ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas that took effect back on January 19th. Now, after this meeting, Rubio is also set to head to London. He and other American leaders, they will be meeting with European and Ukrainian officials to discuss an end to the war with Russia and Ukraine. This Mugo could be a key deciding factor on whether or not the Trump administration remains involved in those peace talks. And while this meeting right now in Qatar is, as I mentioned, a closed-door meeting, the State Department is expected to hold some kind of briefing. So hopefully, we will learn more about what happened between the two sides.

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