Netanyahu, Rubio reaffirm US-Israel coordination on Gaza, Iran
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu at a joint press conference in Jerusalem, Feb. 16, 2025.
Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jerusalem, reaffirmed that Israel and the US are working in "full cooperation" on matters concerning the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu described his discussion with Rubio as "very productive," highlighting US President Donald Trump's "bold vision for Gaza's future." The proposal includes relocating Gaza's Palestinian population to neighbouring countries and transforming the enclave into the "riviera" of the Middle East, according to Xinhua news agency.
Expressing gratitude for the US’s "unequivocal" support of Israel’s policies in Gaza, Netanyahu stressed the alignment between his administration and Trump's. However, he noted that certain strategic details must remain undisclosed, particularly regarding potential military actions. "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," he said.
Addressing US-Israel cooperation on Iran, Netanyahu emphasised that both nations "work shoulder to shoulder" to counter Tehran’s nuclear program and regional activities. He reiterated that Iran "must not have nuclear weapons" and that its "aggression in the region has to be rolled back."
Rubio echoed Netanyahu’s stance on Gaza, insisting that the hostages held there "need to come home, they need to be released. That must happen. It's not optional." He further asserted that Hamas "cannot continue as a government or military force," arguing that the group's presence makes peace "impossible."
"It must be eradicated, it must be eliminated," Rubio stated.
He also defended Trump's vision for Gaza, calling it "something new" that demands "courage and vision."
Rubio arrived in Israel late on Saturday, marking his first Middle East visit since assuming office, amid widespread rejection and condemnation of Trump’s Gaza proposal from regional states.
With IANS inputs