Rubio says Hamas must be eradicated, casting further doubt on shaky ceasefire in Gaza

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio endorses Israel's war aims in Gaza, raising doubts about the shaky ceasefire's future.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday (February 16, 2025) fully endorsed Israel's war aims in the Gaza Strip, saying Hamas “must be eradicated” and throwing the future of the shaky ceasefire into further doubt.

Mr. Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem at the start of a regional tour, where he is likely to face pushback from Arab leaders over President Donald Trump's proposal to transfer the Palestinian population out of the Gaza Strip and redevelop it under U.S. ownership.

Mr. Netanyahu has welcomed the plan, and said he and Mr. Trump have a “common strategy” for Gaza's future. Echoing Mr.Trump, he said "the gates of hell would be open” if Hamas does not release dozens of remaining hostages abducted in its Oct 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war.

Their remarks came just two weeks before the first phase of the ceasefire is set to end. The second phase, in which Hamas is to release dozens of remaining hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, has yet to be negotiated.

Mr. Rubio said Hamas “cannot continue as a military or government force”.

“As long as it stands as a force that can govern or as a force that can administer or as a force that can threaten by use of violence, peace becomes impossible,” Mr. Rubio said. "It must be eradicated.”

Such language could complicate efforts to continue talks with Hamas, which, despite suffering heavy losses in the war, remains intact and in control of Gaza.