Marco Rubio Vows U.S. Backing for Israel, Calls for Hamas’ Elimination

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged America’s “unwavering support” for Israel during a visit to Jerusalem on Monday, underscoring the Biden administration’s determination to stand by its ally as the war in Gaza rages on. Speaking alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Rubio insisted that peace in the region could only be achieved if Hamas was dismantled.

“The people of Gaza deserve a better future, but that better future cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated,” Rubio said, adding, “You can count on our unwavering support and commitment to see that come to fruition.”

Netanyahu, in turn, welcomed Rubio’s presence as a “clear message” of U.S. solidarity, praising President Donald Trump as Israel’s “greatest friend ever.”

Debate Over Palestinian Recognition

During his remarks, Rubio criticized recent moves by several Western countries to formally recognize a Palestinian state, warning that such steps embolden Hamas rather than encourage peace. “They’re largely symbolic,” he said, “and their only real effect is to make Hamas feel more emboldened.”

Rubio also confirmed that discussions with Netanyahu would include Israel’s military push to seize Gaza City and controversial proposals to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. Such measures, Israeli officials argue, are intended to prevent the eventual creation of a Palestinian state.

The secretary added that Trump wants the conflict “finished with”—a resolution that would involve the release of hostages and neutralizing Hamas as a military and political threat.

Complications After Qatar Strike

Efforts to advance U.S.-backed ceasefire talks were complicated last week when Israel carried out a surprise strike in Qatar targeting Hamas leaders who had gathered to discuss Washington’s proposals. The attack shocked the Trump administration and angered Doha, a key mediator in the conflict and host to America’s largest air base in the region.

Despite the tensions, Rubio opened his trip with a symbolic appearance at the Western Wall alongside Netanyahu, calling the U.S.-Israel partnership “stronger than ever.” He later described Jerusalem as Israel’s “eternal capital,” reaffirming Trump-era policy that broke with decades of U.S. diplomatic precedent.

Humanitarian Toll in Gaza

Meanwhile, the fighting continues to devastate Gaza. On Monday, Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that 17 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes, most of them in Gaza City. With restricted media access and widespread destruction, independent verification of casualty figures remains difficult.

According to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza—whose statistics are considered credible by the United Nations—Israel’s campaign has killed at least 64,871 people, the majority civilians. The war, sparked by Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,219 Israelis, has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents. Conditions in the overcrowded coastal strip have deteriorated sharply, with food, clean water, and medicine in critically short supply.

The ministry said many residents are being forced into the already overwhelmed Al-Mawasi area, where disease is spreading amid dire humanitarian conditions.

Regional and Domestic Reactions

The conflict has widened diplomatic rifts. European powers including Britain and France have pushed for recognition of Palestinian statehood, while the United States has resisted such moves, fearing they could undermine Israeli security. Washington instead continues to focus on military and diplomatic support for Netanyahu’s government.

At home, critics of Netanyahu are increasingly vocal. Families of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza accuse him of blocking potential deals for their release, calling him the “main obstacle” to an agreement.

Controversial Tunnel Project

Rubio’s itinerary also included attending the inauguration of a new archaeological tunnel beneath East Jerusalem’s Silwan neighborhood, designed to connect directly to Jewish holy sites. The project has raised alarm among Palestinians, who fear it could weaken the foundations of their homes and deepen Israeli encroachment in contested areas.

Local community spokesman Fakhri Abu Diab, whose home was demolished by Israeli authorities, condemned the U.S. role, saying, “Instead of siding with international law, the United States is going the way of extremists and the far right and ignoring our history.”

Rubio dismissed such criticism, describing the site as “one of the most important archaeological sites in the world,” while avoiding direct comment on the political sensitivities surrounding the project.