Monday, February 17, 2025 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “open the gates of hell” in Gaza if Hamas does not release all hostages, emphasizing a joint US-Israeli strategy against the Palestinian militant group.
Speaking alongside visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday,
February 16, Netanyahu stated that while the details of their strategy could
not be fully disclosed to the public, Israel would act decisively if the
hostages were not freed.
“We will eliminate Hamas’s military capability and its political rule in
Gaza,” the statement read. “We will bring all our hostages home, and we will
ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.”
Netanyahu highlighted the strong support from the United States, which
he said would help Israel achieve its objectives more swiftly. He also
mentioned discussions with Rubio regarding US President Donald Trump’s vision
for Gaza’s future.
Trump recently proposed that the United States take control of Gaza and
transform it into a luxury destination, the “Riviera of the Middle East,” while
relocating the territory’s two million Palestinian residents to other
countries, including Egypt and Jordan. The proposal has sparked widespread
global criticism.
Rubio acknowledged the controversy surrounding Trump’s plan but defended
it as a bold and visionary approach. He stressed that the ongoing cycle of
conflict in Gaza could not continue and reiterated that Hamas must be
eliminated as both a military and political force.
“The first priority for Trump is that the hostages held in Gaza since
Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack need to come home,” Rubio said.
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