Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel Sunday amid escalating regional friction over former President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to relocate Gaza’s Palestinian population and rebuild the enclave under U.S. control. With Arab leaders fiercely opposing the plan, Rubio’s diplomatic tour seeks to balance Israel’s security priorities with mounting international pressure for a sustainable postwar framework.
The fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains intact despite an Israeli airstrike killing three Hamas officers in southern Gaza early Sunday. Tensions loom as March deadlines approach for hostage negotiations, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning of renewed military action. “Hamas has guns,” Rubio emphasized last week, urging Arab nations to confront militants directly.
“If regional countries can’t resolve this, Israel will have to act—and we’re back to square one,”he declared.
Key challenges include:
- Arab rejection of mass Palestinian displacement, deemed a potential violation of international law
- Netanyahu’s refusal to allow mobile homes into Gaza, stalling aid
- U.S. shipments of 2,000-pound bombs resuming despite Biden’s earlier pause over civilian safety
Egypt and Jordan remain steadfast against accepting refugees, fearing economic collapse and regional unrest. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia insists any Gaza reconstruction must include steps toward Palestinian statehood—a red line for Israel. With Trump eyeing expanded Abraham Accords, Rubio’s meetings in the UAE and Saudi Arabia could prove pivotal. As Arab mediators draft counterproposals, the stakes for Middle East stability have never been higher.
