LONDON and JERUSALEM — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived on Sunday morning in Israel, the place he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to debate the warfare in Gaza.
“My focus might be on securing the return of hostages, discovering methods to verify humanitarian support reaches civilians, and addressing the risk posed by Hamas,” Rubio mentioned on social media forward of his flight to Israel.
He added, “Hamas can not live on if peace within the area is the objective.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his spouse Jeanette Dousdebes are greeted upon arival by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and his spouse Janet Huckabee, at Ben Gurion Worldwide Airport, close to Lod, Israel, Sept. 14, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
The secretary and his spouse, Jeanette Dousdebes Rubio, had been greeted upon arrival at Ben Gurion airport by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and his spouse, Janet Huckabee.
Rubio later met one-on-one with Netanyahu earlier than the 2 visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem, additionally known as the the “Wailing Wall,” one of many world’s most important spiritual websites for the Jewish folks. Whereas there, Netanyahu mentioned he and Rubio “buried a notice among the many stones.”
Rubio and Netanyahu toured the archaeological web site together with Netanyahu’s spouse, Sara, Rubio’s spouse, and Huckabee and his spouse.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his spouse Jeanette Dousdebes arrive at Ben Gurion Worldwide Airport, close to Lod, Israel, September 14, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
“I feel his go to here’s a testomony to the resilience and energy of the American-Israeli alliance, which is as sturdy and robust because the stones of the Western Wall that we simply touched,” Netanyahu mentioned of Rubio’s go to.
Netanyahu and Rubio, in keeping with the prime minster’s assertion, provided a joint prayer for the security of the hostages, in addition to a particular prayer honoring President Donald Trump, whom Netanyahu described as “a real good friend of the Jewish folks and the State of Israel.”
“Below President Trump, Secretary Rubio and their complete crew, this alliance has by no means been stronger, and we respect it very a lot,” Netanyahu’s assertion mentioned. “Not solely on behalf of the folks of Israel at present, but in addition on behalf of the generations of Jews who got here earlier than us, within the hope that we are going to rebuild our nation with associates such as you. Thanks, Marco.”
Throughout his conferences with Netanyahu and different Israeli officers, Rubio is anticipated to “convey America’s priorities within the Israel-Hamas battle and broader points regarding Center Japanese safety, reaffirming U.S. dedication to Israeli safety,” in keeping with the U.S. State Division.
Netanyahu and Rubio are additionally anticipated to debate the deliberate Israeli operation to grab management of Gaza Metropolis, the most important metropolis within the Gaza Strip, the State Division mentioned.
Israel final week issued an order calling for residents of town to evacuate, saying the Israeli army would function “with nice pressure” inside the metropolis.
