Rubio vows ´unwavering support´ for Israel, calls for Hamas' elimination

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on a visit to Israel on Monday, vowed Washington's "unwavering support" to Israel in its offensive in Gaza and called for Hamas' eradication, reported Xinhua.

"The people of Gaza deserve a better future, but that future cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated," Rubio told reporters at a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

"You can count on our unwavering support and commitment to see it come to fruition," he added.

Netanyahu hailed Rubio's visit as "a clear message" of Washington's support for Israel.

Rubio denounced moves by several Western governments to recognize a Palestinian state, saying such decisions were "largely symbolic" and only served to "embolden" Hamas. "They have really no impact whatsoever about bringing us any closer to a Palestinian state. The only impact they actually have is it makes Hamas feel more emboldened," he said.

Before the meeting, Rubio said the talks with Netanyahu would address Israel's "goals and objectives" for its military operation in Gaza.

Asked about Gulf anger over last Tuesday's Israeli air strike in Doha, which killed six people including a Qatari security officer, Rubio said: "We are focused on what happens next." The strike, aimed at a Hamas negotiation team involved in Gaza truce talks, apparently failed to hit its targets.

Rubio's visit came as Israel pressed on with its assault on Gaza City, carrying out strikes and bombing another high-rise building on Monday after destroying dozens in recent days, while the military prepared to further escalate the offensive with a larger-scale ground assault.

Israeli strikes killed at least 34 people over the past 24 hours, mainly in Gaza City, the Hamas-run Gaza health authorities said. That brought the total death toll from Israeli strikes and gunfire since October 2023 to 64,905, it said.

The authorities added that three more people had died from famine and malnutrition in the past day, raising the toll from hunger-related causes to 425, including 145 children.