By MATTHEW LEE and SAMY MAGDY, Related Press
JERUSALEM (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Monday that Hamas should be eradicated and all hostages launched for there to be peace in Gaza, setting apart requires an interim ceasefire in favor of a direct finish to the battle.
Rubio had come to Israel searching for solutions from Netanyahu about how Israel meant to proceed in Gaza and assess curiosity in Qatar retaining a mediating position after Israel attacked Hamas leaders in Doha. The 2 mentioned after their talks that the one technique to peace is the whole destruction of Hamas and the return of all hostages dwelling and useless.
“So long as they’re round, there will probably be no peace on this area as a result of they don’t seem to be brokers of peace. They’re brokers of barbarism,” Rubio mentioned of Hamas.
The feedback got here as Israel on Monday continued assaults on Gaza Metropolis, which it goals to take over saying it’s Hamas’ final stronghold. Israel ordered the evacuation of one other high-rise constructing, one of many tallest in Gaza Metropolis. In current days the Israel army destroyed a number of high-rises, accusing Hamas of placing surveillance tools in them.
Airstrikes in a single day killed at the least 12 individuals, together with kids, mentioned well being officers at Shifa Hospital, the place the our bodies had been introduced.
Rubio’s go to proceeded regardless of U.S. President Donald Trump’s anger at Netanyahu over the Israeli strike in Doha, which he mentioned the USA wasn’t notified of beforehand. The Doha assault, which killed at the least six individuals, additionally seems to have ended makes an attempt to safe an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and the discharge of hostages.
Regardless of feedback by Trump that he wasn’t “thrilled” after Israel’s strike, there seemed to be little daylight between the U.S. and Israel after Rubio and Netanyahu met. “Your presence right here in Israel at the moment is a transparent message that America stands with Israel. You stand with us within the face of terror,” mentioned Netanyahu.
When requested by a reporter about how the U.S. will deal with Israel’s assault in Doha, Rubio didn’t instantly reply, saying the U.S. was centered on what occurs subsequent and that it’s going to proceed to encourage Qatar to play a job within the talks.
Rubio downplayed U.S. issues about Israel’s newest operations in Gaza Metropolis, repeating a number of occasions that Trump is decided to see the battle come to an finish and that requires the destruction of Hamas.
And Netanyahu gave no indication that Israel would again down from its strikes on high-rise and different buildings in Gaza Metropolis the place it says Hamas fighters are hiding.
Issues over a recognition of a Palestinian state
One among Rubio’s causes for visiting Jerusalem now was to indicate help for Israel because it expects to face rising worldwide condemnation of the warfare on the upcoming United Nations Common Meeting session, at which a lot of European international locations and Canada have mentioned they intend to acknowledge a Palestinian state over fervent U.S. and Israeli objections.
Rubio mentioned the statehood recognition is definitely counterproductive to peace efforts and prompt that such proclamations are self-serving.
“They’ve actually no influence by any means in bringing about bringing us any nearer to a Palestinian state. The one influence they really have is it makes Hamas really feel extra emboldened,” he mentioned. “It’s really served as an obstacle to peace.”
Netanyahu additionally strongly opposes the popularity of a Palestinian state.
Israel presses forward with offensive in Gaza Metropolis
One of many in a single day strikes hit a tent with a household in western Gaza Metropolis, killing seven individuals, mentioned hospital workers. A separate strike hit two neighboring homes.
“It was one other evening of horror. … The state of affairs is tragic and getting worse daily,” mentioned Mohammed Saber, a resident in Gaza Metropolis.
Israel has been urging Palestinians in Gaza Metropolis to go south. However there’s little house for individuals to shelter in what Israel referred to as a humanitarian zone, and lots of households don’t have cash to go away.
Nonetheless many individuals have moved. On Monday, photos confirmed a gradual stream of Palestinians strolling and driving alongside the slender street by the ocean that Israel designated a secure hall.
The warfare in Gaza started when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing round 1,200 individuals, principally civilians, and abducting 251. There are nonetheless 48 hostages remaining in Gaza, of whom Israel believes that 20 are nonetheless alive.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at the least 64,871 Palestinians, based on Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t say what number of had been civilians or combatants.
Magdy reported from Cairo. Related Press author Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
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