Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a joint appearance with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jerusalem on Sunday, emphasized the deepening cooperation between Israel and the United States concerning the ongoing issues in Gaza and Iran. Netanyahu described their conversation as “very productive,” noting that Israel and the U.S. were working closely on various strategic matters, particularly with regard to the Gaza Strip and Iran’s nuclear program.
A significant part of the discussion centered on U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial “bold vision for Gaza’s future.” The proposal suggests relocating Gaza’s Palestinian population to neighboring countries while transforming the Gaza Strip itself into a prosperous, Middle Eastern “riviera.” Netanyahu, expressing gratitude for the U.S.’s “unequivocal” support for Israel’s policies in Gaza, stated that he and Trump shared a common strategy, though some details could not be made public. He added, “we can’t always share the details of 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.”
Rubio, speaking alongside Netanyahu, underscored the importance of releasing hostages still held in Gaza, stressing, “They need to come home, they need to be released. That must happen. It’s not optional.” Rubio also strongly backed Trump’s stance on Hamas, arguing that the militant group should not remain in power in Gaza. “It must be eradicated, it must be eliminated,” he stated, pointing out that peace would remain elusive as long as Hamas governed the region.
The U.S.-Israel partnership also extended to the issue of Iran. Netanyahu reiterated that the two nations were united in their efforts to counter Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its destabilizing activities in the region. Both sides agreed that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons, and that Tehran’s regional aggression must be curbed.
Rubio’s trip to Israel marks his first visit to the Middle East since taking office. His comments come as Trump’s proposals for Gaza face significant rejection and criticism from neighboring states in the region, highlighting the controversial nature of the U.S. vision for Gaza’s future.
