Jerusalem, Feb 16 (EFE).- Secretary of State Marco Rubio Sunday reaffirmed that the United States was committed to eliminate Palestinian Islamist Hamas group from Gaza as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the “gates of hell” would open if all hostages were not released freed.
Rubio said the US was standing behind Israel, “a nation that has always sought peace but will not allow itself to be intimidated or destroyed by its enemies,” for which “you can always count on us.”
He said President Donald Trump was “strongly and deeply committed” to securing the captives’ freedom and eliminating threats posed by Iran-backed groups.
“President Donald Trump… is a tremendous friend of Israel. There has been no stronger ally for Israel in the White House than President Trump,” he said.
Speaking alongside Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Rubio emphasized the t efforts between Washington and Netanyahu’s government to bring home the 73 remaining hostages held in Gaza, 70 taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, and three who were already in the enclave.
Rubio said the US was “not resting, not being silent, not forgetting, until all of them are home,” stressing that ensuring their release was the top priority.
The top US diplomat addressed broader regional challenges, pointing to Iran as “the single greatest source of instability in the region,” linking it to Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, and Yemen’s Houthis.
“Behind every terrorist group, behind every act of violence, behind every destabilizing activity, behind everything that threatens peace and stability for the millions of people who call this region home, is Iran.”
He vowed there could “never be a nuclear Iran…that could then hold itself immune from pressure and from action. That can never happen. The president’s been clear about that as well.”
Later, after meeting with Rubio, Netanyahu asserted that “President Trump and I are working in full cooperation and coordination between us,” including the possibility of resuming military operations if the hostages were not freed.
“I want to assure everyone who is now listening to us…We have a common strategy, and we cannot always share in details this strategy with the public, including when the gates of hell will be opened, as they surely will if all our hostages are not released, until the last one of them.”
Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to “war objectives.”
“We will eliminate Hamas’s military capability and its political rule in Gaza. We will bring all our hostages home, and we will ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel. The unequivocal of the United States in Gaza will help us achieve these objectives faster and set us on a path for a different future.”
Rubio unequivocally shared the goal. “Hamas cannot continue as a military or government force. And frankly, as long as it stands as a force that can govern, a force that can ister, or a force that can threaten by the use of violence, peace becomes impossible. They must be eliminated. It must be eradicated.”
During his visit, Rubio also met with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, discussing efforts to expand the Abraham Accords and encourage more countries to relocate their embassies to Jerusalem.
Israel considers Jerusalem, including its eastern part, occupied in 1967 and unilaterally annexed in 1980, as its indivisible capital, a stance rejected by most of the international community.
Currently, only the US, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, and Paraguay have embassies in the city.
Negotiations for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, originally set to begin on Feb. 3, remain stalled, with Hamas yet to engage in talks. EFE
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