Top US diplomat Rubio discusses Iran and Gaza hostages with Israeli PM Netanyahu By Reuters

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to express Washington’s support for its ally and the two discussed Iran and Israel hostages in Gaza, the State Department said.

Rubio’s call with Israel was the first since the administration of Republican President Donald Trump took office on Monday. Both Trump and his Democratic predecessor, former President Joe Biden, were supporters of Israel during the Gaza and Lebanon wars.

“Maintaining strong US 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 “relentlessly” to free the remaining hostages in Gaza, the State Department added.

The latest bloodshed in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict erupted in 2011. On October 7, 2023, Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking nearly 250 hostages, according to Israeli data.

Israel’s subsequent military offensive against Gaza has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which Israel has accused of genocide and war crimes. The attack displaced almost the entire population of Gaza and triggered a famine crisis.

A cease-fire agreement came into effect on Sunday, leading to the release of some Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Rights groups have criticized the worsening humanitarian crisis from Israel’s military offensive. Washington has stepped up its support, saying it is helping its allies defend against Iran-backed militant groups, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The Secretary announced that the Foreign Office “is eager to address the concerns raised by Iran and pursue opportunities for peace.”