US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure Qatar and Gulf allies on Monday following last week’s Israeli attack on Doha, hours before the opening of an Arab-Islamic summit in the Qatari capital.

Addressing a press conference in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Rubio said Washington is in constant contact with its Gulf allies, and still counts on Qatar’s role to reach a Gaza ceasefire and hostage swap deal between Israel and Hamas.

The US will continue to encourage Qatar to play a “constructive mediating role” in efforts to secure a Gaza deal.

Washington remains focused on “what happens now” in the conflict, he said, stressing that Qatar could help broker an outcome that goes beyond ending hostilities.

“We are focused on what happens next,” Rubio said. “What role could Qatar play possibly in reaching an outcome here that leads not just to the end of these hostilities, not just to the release of all of the hostages - both living and deceased, not just the disarmament and elimination of Hamas, but also a better future for the people of Gaza.”

The top American diplomat also said that international efforts to recognize a Palestinian state "embolden Hamas” and make it harder to end the war.

He added the US has strong relationships with its Gulf allies and that it is a “fundamental fact” that the people of Gaza deserve a peace that cannot happen until all Israeli hostages are released.

“Hamas can no longer continue to exist as an armed element that threatens the peace and security, not just of Israel but of the world,” he claimed.

An emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Qatar is set to open on Monday to address last week’s Israeli attack on Doha, which killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer.

A final statement is expected amid calls for joint military cooperation between Arab and Islamic countries and a boycott of Israel.