Abdelrahman
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stark warning to Hamas, promising to unleash severe consequences if all remaining hostages are not freed. During a recent address, he emphasized his alignment with the Trump administration’s policies regarding the ongoing situation in Gaza.
After a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Netanyahu conveyed the strong collaboration between Israel and the United States. He stated, “We have a unified strategy, though we cannot disclose every detail, especially regarding the potential escalation—this will happen if our hostages are not released, down to the last individual.”
Just last week, Trump urged Israel to end its ceasefire with Hamas should the group fail to return all hostages by Saturday, shortly after Hamas hinted at an indefinite delay in the next round of releases. Subsequently, the group agreed to proceed with releasing three hostages, allowing Israel to maintain the ceasefire.
Following this development, Trump expressed his support for any action Israel may take if the deadline for hostages lapses. Netanyahu also spoke with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff over the weekend, announcing plans to send a negotiation team to Cairo to continue discussions, with his security cabinet set to convene to determine the next course of action.
In a Sunday interview on Fox News, Witkoff expressed encouragement about advancing to the second phase of the ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement, which includes the prospect of releasing Israeli soldiers held by Hamas and ultimately ending the conflict. He acknowledged the complexities involved, stating that phase two includes ensuring Hamas is not part of the governing body in Gaza.
Netanyahu reiterated his endorsement of Trump’s ambitious plans for Gaza, noting discussions with Rubio on fostering collaboration to turn this vision into reality. Trump has proposed relocating the Gazan population to Egypt and Jordan to facilitate significant redevelopment efforts, recommendations met with opposition from these nations and other Arab countries. Rubio, on his inaugural visit to the Middle East as Secretary of State, is expected to visit Saudi Arabia and the UAE next, likely encountering skepticism toward Trump’s proposals.
Rubio emphasized the necessity of eliminating Hamas to achieve sustainable peace, contending that its presence as a governing and violent entity makes lasting peace elusive. Meanwhile, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich revealed preparations in conjunction with the U.S. to facilitate the relocation of Gazans from the region, outlining two pivotal steps: securing countries willing to accept displaced individuals and orchestrating a substantial logistical effort for their movement.
He declared, “There’s no reason for Gazans to remain in their territory over the next decade or so,” suggesting that operations to commence this movement would begin gradually in the upcoming weeks.
### Netanyahu’s Stance on Iran
Additionally, Netanyahu affirmed Israel’s commitment alongside the U.S. to counter threats from Iran, highlighting Rubio’s agreement on the need to mitigate Iranian aggression in the region. Netanyahu asserted that Israel has dealt a significant blow to Iran’s network of terror and is determined to eliminate this threat with American support.
Rubio described Iran as “the foremost source of instability in the area” and stressed the urgency of addressing this issue, insisting that a nuclear Iran is unacceptable. Following these discussions, Israel’s Defense Ministry confirmed the arrival of a substantial shipment of MK-84 heavy aerial bombs from the U.S., a release prioritized during the Trump administration. Defense Minister Israel Katz noted that the arrival of these munitions is a critical enhancement for the Israeli Air Force and reinforces the robust alliance between Israel and the United States.
