On Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed that peace in the Gaza Strip could be “threatened” if Israel moves forward with annexing the West Bank. He also ruled out U.S. cooperation with the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency for rebuilding the damaged coastal area.
His comments came just after members of Israel’s parliament, leaning right, gave preliminary approval to a proposal aimed at symbolically enforcing a Jewish state law on Palestinian Authority territories.
Rubio gave his remarks while visiting a civil-military coordination center in southern Israel, which oversees the ceasefire situation. He mentioned, “There are elements trying to embarrass me,” reflecting on his relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu during his vice-presidential tenure.
He added, “We don’t think it’s going to happen… it also threatens this whole process.” There was a clear sense that he finds the current legislation not likely to be effective, but its implications for peace discussions are significant.
“If something like that were to happen, many countries involved might not want to engage anymore,” he warned. “This is a threat to the peace process and everyone knows that. But I’m not getting into Israeli politics; we’re focused on peace and security.”
Meanwhile, JD Vance criticized the recent Knesset vote, labeling it a “very stupid political stunt.” He reiterated that the Trump administration’s policy is that the West Bank will not be annexed by Israel, emphasizing that this stance will remain unchanged.
The center Rubio toured comprises both civilians and military personnel, including around 200 U.S. troops, focused on Gaza’s stabilization and rebuilding efforts.
“The United Nations is on the ground, and if they do well, we’d be glad to work with them,” he stated. However, he criticized UNRWA, saying it has become closely aligned with Hamas.
Despite various allegations against UNRWA regarding its ties to Hamas, the International Court of Justice recently stated that Israel must permit the agency to deliver humanitarian support in Gaza. Since March, Israel has prohibited the group from transporting supplies; nonetheless, UNRWA continues to manage health facilities and provide other essential services.
Ultimately, Rubio concluded that real progress hinges on creating a Gaza where people can envision a hopeful future rather than engaging in violence. “If we don’t reach that point, there can be no peace,” he asserted. “We can’t have peace with those who aim to destroy us. We all understand this.”
