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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio supported Israel’s objective of “eradication” from Hamas to Gaza, casting a doubt in Washington’s commitment to a fragile ceasefire agreement that he has Helped the broker last month.
Speaking alongside the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday in Jerusalem, Rubio struck a hard position, clearly indicating that the rest Israeli hostages In Gaza, “need to be released” and that the Palestinian militant group could no longer govern the broken enclave.
“Hamas cannot continue as military or government force[in Gaza]. . . They must be eliminated, [they] Must be eradicated, “said Rubio.
Rubio also referred to the recent comments from US President Donald Trump on the abolition of a large part of the Gaza population in order to redevelop the territory, calling it as “daring” vision of his future and to assert that elsewhere “Same cycle. . . will repeat again and again ”.
The plan, which envisages countries like Egypt and Jordan in Palestinians, was rejected by most of the Arab leaders, who would be repugnant to be considered as accomplices of the forced displacement of the Palestinians, and fearing that it threatens regional stability and their own security.
The United States, as well as Egypt and Qatar, helped to mediate an initial 42-day truce to the Gaza conflict. Until now, 19 Israelis and 5 Thai foreign workers have taken the hostage during the October 7, 2023 attack in Hamas against the Jewish state, alongside hundreds of Palestinian prisoners of Israeli prisons. The truce is about to enter its fifth week.
More than 70 Israelis remain in captivity, 14 of which should be released in the next two weeks under the terms of the ceasefire agreement-although Israeli and American officials now insist that the deadline is accelerated .
“We are not in favor of waiting for weeks and weeks,” Rubio told CBS News, adding that the United States wanted to see an indefinite number published “as soon as possible”.
Negotiations on a second stage have not yet started and are two weeks late, in the midst of mutual recriminations between Israel and Hamas for alleged violations. A second phase would probably require a permanent end to war, the total withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages.
Steve Witkoff, the Middle East envoy of Trump, told Fox News on Sunday that the talks would take place during the coming week in an indefinite place in order to “go to the end of phase 2 successfully ».
The Netanyahu office said until after an appeal from Witkoff, the Prime Minister would finally summon his security firm on Monday to discuss a second phase plan. The longtime Israeli leader has repeatedly called for a “total victory” over Hamas.
Standing alongside Rubio, Netanyahu reiterated that Israel was still attached to all its war objectives in Gaza, in particular by “eliminating” the military capacities of Hamas and the political regime on the territory and bringing all the hostages.
“President Trump and I are working in full cooperation and coordination,” said Netanyahu.
“We have a common strategy, and we cannot always share the details of this strategy with the public – including when the doors of hell [on Hamas] Will be open, as they will surely do if all our hostages are not released, “he added.
Netanyahu also stressed what he described as the “daring vision of Gaza” of Trump, telling Rubio that the two countries “would work together to ensure that the future becomes a reality”.
Additional James Politi report in Washington
