US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has fully supported Israel's war aims in the Gaza Strip, saying Hamas "must be eradicated". The US secretary of state met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday at the start of a regional tour, his first since taking office. Mr Rubio and Mr Netanyahu said the two countries would work together to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions.
The United States and Israel have expressed their firm commitment to thwarting Iran's nuclear ambitions and its "aggression" in the Middle East.
At a joint press conference in Jerusalem, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they had held productive talks on a number of issues.
"Iran is the single greatest source of instability in the region. Behind every terrorist group, behind every act of violence, behind every destabilizing activity, behind every development that threatens peace and stability for millions of people who call this region home, there is Iran. And when I say Iran, I mean the leaders, the ayatollahs. I think it's important to emphasize over and over again that whether we're talking about Hamas or Hezbollah, whether we're talking about destabilization in Syria, or the militias in Iraq, we should always think that Iran is behind it. And there can never be an Iran that possesses nuclear weapons. That can never happen," declared the chief of US diplomacy.
"Israel and America stand shoulder to shoulder in confronting the Iranian threat. We agree that the ayatollahs must not have nuclear weapons, and we also agree that Iran's aggression in the region must end. Over the past 16 months, Israel has dealt a powerful blow to Iran's terrorist branches. Under the strong leadership of President Trump and with your unwavering support, I have no doubt that we can and will finish the job we started," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has begun a Middle East tour starting in Israel, during which Arab leaders are likely to express concerns about President Donald Trump's proposal to transfer the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip to other countries and redevelop it under US leadership. He will later visit the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
The US diplomat said President Trump had presented a "bold" plan for the future of Gaza. He also stressed that the Trump administration was "very clear" that Hamas cannot continue as a military or governing force in the territory.
“President Trump has also been very bold about his vision of what the future of Gaza should be. Not the same tired ideas of the past, but something that is bold. And that idea may have shocked and surprised a lot of people, but we can’t continue in the same cycle for too long and not have a solution. On Hamas, the president has been very clear. Hamas cannot continue as a military or governing force in that territory. And frankly, as long as it remains as a force that can govern or as a force that can direct or as a force that can threaten to use violence, peace becomes impossible,” Mr. Rubio said.
"Israel is determined to achieve all the war objectives we set after the horrific attack of October 7, the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust. We will eliminate Hamas' military capability and its political rule in Gaza. We will bring all the hostages home and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel," declared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The statements come just two weeks before the end of the first phase of a ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hamas. The second phase, in which Hamas would release dozens of remaining hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, has yet to be negotiated.
Hamas, which the United States, Britain and Western countries have declared a terrorist organization despite suffering heavy losses in the war, still appears to be in control of Gaza.
The Israeli military, meanwhile, said it carried out an airstrike early Sunday on people who approached its forces in southern Gaza. Hamas said the attack was a “serious violation” of the ceasefire and accused Netanyahu of trying to sabotage the deal.
The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and in which the militant group took 250 hostages. Israel's counteroffensive has killed 48,200 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to local authorities, who do not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties./ VOA (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
