The US secretary of state is now meeting with several members of Israeli PM’s cabinet
Marco Rubio held a one-on-one meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in West Jerusalem, and now they’re in an expanded meeting that includes some members of the Netanyahu cabinet, including the defence minister, the Foreign Minister, and the Minister for strategic affairs.
This visit comes as Israel has not yet negotiated for phase two of the ceasefire deal that is set to begin in two weeks on March 1.
However, reports within Israeli media indicate that Benjamin Netanyahu is interested in extending phase one of the 42-day phase. He wants to extend it rather than move on to phase two because he wants to release more captives without committing to the remainder of the deal.
There are a lot of moving parts within Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. You have people in his coalition who could leave, toppling the government because of this deal; they said that Netanyahu promised them a return to the fighting.
Netanyahu says Israel and Trump have ‘common strategy’ on Gaza
Netanyahu has said Trump is the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House. He made the remarks during a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in West Jerusalem.
Netanyahu said he discussed with Rubio “the bold vision” of Trump for Gaza’s future, adding that he and Trump are working in full cooperation and coordination on the situation in Gaza. He stressed that Israel is determined to achieve war objectives in Gaza.
Iran ‘the single greatest source of instability in the region’: Rubio
The US secretary of state has just addressed the news media. Here are some of his main points:
- He said Trump has been clear about Hamas: “Hamas cannot continue as a military or government force.” He then stated the group must be “eliminated” and “eradicated”.
- Rubio said the US and Israeli goals in Lebanon “are aligned”, adding that a strong Lebanese state “can take on and disarm Hezbollah”.
- He called Iran “the single greatest source of instability in the region”.
- Rubio accused Iran of backing groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah and being responsible for destabilising Syria and causing violence in the occupied West Bank.
- “There can never be a nuclear Iran,” he said, adding that it could lead to Iran holding itself “immune from pressure and from action”.
Netanyahu’s actions suggest Gaza ceasefire ‘in jeopardy’: Hamas spokesperson
Osama Hamdan, a senior spokesperson for the Palestinian group, has spoken to Al Jazeera. Here are some of his main points:
- The attack on policemen guarding Palestinian trucks in the southern Gaza Strip is a “clear violation” of the ceasefire.
- Reported Israeli plans to force Palestinians out of Gaza are not new and have been voiced before, including during the first and the second intifadas.
- Trump “has no clue about the resistance of the Palestinians. He has no clue about how the Palestinians are connected to their homeland,” Hamdan said, adding, “It’s not real estate. It’s a homeland.”
- Every time Israeli officials have talked about the “elimination” of Hamas, the group has become “stronger”.
- Netanyahu and his government’s actions suggest “the ceasefire is in jeopardy” but Hamas will do its best to continue with the agreement.
- “I will be clear in this: If Netanyahu decides to attack Gaza another time, it will not be [easy] for him.”
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