US backs Israel's goal to eradicate Hamas, says Marco Rubio during Jerusalem visit

Jointly addressing the media with Netanyahu, Rubio said: "As far as the President’s been clear on the ongoing issues in Gaza, and that is that every single hostage, both living and deceased, needs to be home immediately."

He said: "Hamas can no longer continue to exist as an armed element that threatens the peace and security not just of Israel but of the world, and that the people of Gaza deserve a better future, one that cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated and until all of the hostages – both living and deceased – are home."

He said: "And he remains committed firmly to that objective, and that’s what we seek to talk about today, have talked about today, and will continue to talk about, and that is the road forward on how to achieve those things.  Those objectives remain.  Those objectives remain in place."

He described the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel as 'an act of unparalleled barbarism'.

"Hamas needs to cease to exist as an armed element that can threaten the peace and security of the region, and the people of Gaza deserve a better future.  But that better future cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated," Rubio said.

He said: "That’s what the President wants to see happen, and that’s what you can count on – on our unwavering support and commitment to see it come to fruition."

Rubio visited Israel just days after IDF targeted Hamas leaders in Qatar, an episode that further triggered tension in the region.

When asked if the strikes had deteriorated the US ties with Gulf nations, Rubio said: "We have strong relationships with our Gulf allies.  We work very closely with them on a number of things.  We’ve been engaged with them.  We’ve been engaged with them consistently before what happened and after what happened."

Qatar is a major US ally, and it has been playing the role in brokering diplomatic efforts to end the war in Gaza.

The country has served as a mediator for indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel.

No senior leaders killed, claims Hamas

Hamas reported that six people had been killed, including the son of one of its exiled leaders from the Gaza Strip – but added that its senior negotiators and top officials had all survived.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has condemned the deadly Israeli military offensive in Gaza City that occurred this past weekend, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Monday.

The situation “is having an appalling impact on civilians enduring suffering and starvation,” he told journalists in New York.

“The United Nations condemns the deadly escalation of the Israeli military offensive which took place over the weekend across Gaza City, with scores of people reportedly killed or injured,” he said.

“We reiterate our call for the protection of civilians and humanitarian personnel and full respect for international law.”

70,000 more uprooted

In a post on X on Sunday, the head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said that 10 of its buildings in Gaza City had been hit in the past four days alone, including seven schools and two clinics which were being used as shelters.

Almost 70,000 displaced people have headed south in the past few days, while UN partners counted 150,000 movements from north to south this past month.

Partners further reported that one third of malnutrition treatment facilities in Gaza City have shut down due to forced displacement orders, while the Ministry of Health today reported 425 deaths overall due to malnutrition and starvation in Gaza, about a third of which were children.