JERUSALEM (AFP) – Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said eliminating Hamas leaders would end the war in Gaza, as top United States (US) diplomat Marco Rubio said hours ahead of his visit to Israel that its strike against Hamas in Qatar would not derail their alliance.
“The Hamas terrorists chiefs living in Qatar don’t care about the people in Gaza. They blocked all ceasefire attempts in order to endlessly drag out the war,” Netanyahu said on X.
“Getting rid of them would rid the main obstacle to releasing all our hostages and ending the war.”
His comments came shortly after Rubio told reporters that while President Donald Trump was “not happy” about the Qatar strike, their alliance would be unaffected.
“It’s not going to change the nature of our relationship with the Israelis, but we are going to have to talk about it – primarily, what impact does this have” on the diplomatic efforts to bring about a truce in Gaza, Rubio added.
The talk of a ceasefire, still out of reach after months of failed negotiations, came with Israel intensifying its campaign in the Gaza Strip.
In recent days it has ramped up efforts to seize control of Gaza City, the territory’s largest urban area, telling residents to evacuate and blowing up numerous high-rise buildings it said were being used by Hamas.
While thousands of people have evacuated the city, according to the Israeli military and Hamas, many more remain.
As of late August, the United Nations (UN) estimated that around one million people were living in the city and its surrounding areas, where it has declared a famine it blamed on Israeli aid restrictions.
Bakri Diab, who fled western Gaza City for the south, said Israeli strikes continued there as well.
“Bombing happens here too – the south isn’t safe either,” said the 35-year-old father of four.
“All the occupation has done is force people to crowd into places with no basic services and no safety.”
Netanyahu and his government have defied international criticism throughout the nearly two-year war, but it continued to mount this week.
The UN General Assembly voted to back a revival of the two-state solution, in open defiance of Israeli opposition.
Israeli allies Britain and France, alongside several other Western nations, are set to recognise Palestinian statehood at a UN gathering this month out of exasperation at Israel’s conduct of the Gaza war and in the occupied West Bank.
London and Paris, joined by Berlin, also called for an immediate halt to Israel’s offensive in Gaza City.
Nevertheless, Israel retains the backing of its most powerful ally and biggest arms supplier, the US.
Ahead of Rubio’s visit, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the diplomatic chief would show “our commitment to fight anti-Israel actions including unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state that rewards Hamas terrorism”.
“He will also emphasise our shared goals: ensuring Hamas never rules over Gaza again and bringing all the hostages home.”
-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin