Israel’s security cabinet is set to convene on Monday (17 February) to discuss the next phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, following high-level talks between United States US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as reported by The Hindu.
The meeting comes as Hamas and Israel continue implementing the 42-day ceasefire agreement, which nearly collapsed last week.
Rubio, currently on his first Middle East visit as Secretary of State under President Donald Trump, has emphasised the US stance on Hamas and Iran, reinforcing Washington’s commitment to Israeli security.
Standing alongside Netanyahu, he declared, “Hamas cannot continue as a military or a government force… they must be eliminated.”, as reported by The Hindu.
Netanyahu echoed this stance, warning that if all hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza were not freed, “the gates of hell will be opened.” The statement comes a day after Hamas released three Israeli hostages in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners, marking the sixth swap under the ceasefire agreement, which was mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.
Rubio’s visit follows Trump’s recently outlined proposal for Gaza’s future, which reportedly involves relocating Gazans to Jordan or Egypt. However, this plan has faced strong opposition from key Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, both of whom support the establishment of a Palestinian state as a long-term solution.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reiterated on Sunday that the creation of a Palestinian state is “the only guarantee” for lasting peace in the region. Saudi Arabia has also rejected Trump’s proposal, maintaining that any diplomatic normalisation with Israel would require clear steps toward a two-state solution.
Following his visit to Israel, Rubio is set to travel to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as part of the US push for a broader Middle East diplomatic agreement. However, Trump’s Gaza plan has complicated efforts to secure Saudi recognition of Israel, with Riyadh insisting on progress toward Palestinian statehood before any formal ties can be established.
