Author: Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to reiterate Washington’s support for its ally, and the two also discussed Iran and Israeli hostages in Gaza, the State Department said.
Rubio’s conversation was the first with Israel since Republican President Donald Trump’s administration took office on Monday. Both Trump and his predecessor, Democratic former President Joe Biden, were supporters of Israel during its wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
Rubio noted that “maintaining steadfast United States support for Israel is a top priority for Trump,” the State Department said in a statement.
Rubio told Netanyahu that Washington would continue to work “tirelessly” to free the remaining hostages in Gaza, the State Department added.
The latest bloodbath in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking around 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
The ensuing Israeli military assault on Gaza has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, the Gaza health ministry says, while also leading to accusations of genocide and war crimes that Israel denies. The attack displaced almost the entire population of Gaza and caused a hunger crisis.
The ceasefire came into effect on Sunday and led to the release of some Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Human rights groups have criticized the growing humanitarian crisis caused by the Israeli military offensive. Washington has maintained its support, saying it is helping its ally defend against Iran-backed militant groups, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“The minister also conveyed that he looks forward to addressing the threats posed by Iran and seeking opportunities for peace,” the State Department said.
