US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to back Israeli demands for the dismantling of the Hamas terror organization as a condition for ending the war in the Gaza Strip, even as he emphasized the Trump administration’s desire to conclude the conflict that has lasted nearly two years.

Rubio arrived in Israel Sunday morning, days after President Donald Trump vented his frustrations with the Netanyahu government over its attack last week on a Hamas gathering in Qatar.

Speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Saturday before departing for Israel, Rubio said that his trip was meant to highlight the “very strong” relationship between the US and Israel, while noting the White House’s disagreements with Israel regarding last Tuesday’s Doha bombing.