Rubio defends Israel’s war on Gaza, endorses forced displacement

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reinforced Washington’s full support for Israel’s assault on Gaza, declaring that “Hamas must be eliminated. It must be eradicated.” He insisted that Hamas could not continue to exist as a military or political entity.

Rubio praised Donald Trump’s stance on Gaza, calling it “very bold” and “unambiguous,” despite the fact that the US president’s proposal to forcibly remove Palestinians from the enclave has drawn widespread condemnation.

He also attempted to shift blame for instability in the region onto Iran, claiming it was the driving force behind conflicts in Lebanon, the West Bank, Syria, and Iraq.

The secretary of state repeated Washington’s long-standing opposition to Iran’s nuclear programme, insisting that Tehran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

He also condemned Hamas for holding captives and the remains of deceased individuals, calling it an example of their “sick depravity,” while ignoring Israel’s ongoing detention of thousands of Palestinian prisoners, including children.