Secretary of State Marco Rubio backs Israel’s total war on Hamas as Trump pushes a radical Gaza takeover plan.
The Trump administration is all in on Israel’s war, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio making it clear that Hamas “must be eradicated” with no room for negotiation. As the first phase of the fragile ceasefire nears expiration, Washington is pushing a high-stakes endgame that could reshape the region permanently.
The U.S. has fully endorsed Israel’s demand that Hamas must not only be removed as a military force but also stripped of any governing power in Gaza. Netanyahu is on board, seeing Trump’s radical plan to relocate Palestinians and hand Gaza over to U.S. control as the key to his long-term security goals. Arab nations, however, are outraged, warning that such a move could destabilize the entire Middle East.
With 48,000 Palestinians killed in Israel’s relentless campaign, Hamas remains battered but far from defeated. The group still controls Gaza and continues to hold dozens of Israeli hostages. The question is whether Trump’s “common strategy” with Netanyahu will risk reigniting the war, with Hamas refusing to surrender and Israel’s right-wing government eager to continue the offensive.
Meanwhile, Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia are working on a counterproposal to prevent mass Palestinian displacement and the erasure of Gaza. The stakes are immense, as Egypt warns any forced relocation could unravel its peace treaty with Israel, a bedrock of U.S. influence in the region.
While Rubio bypasses Palestinian officials on his tour, Arab leaders are preparing for a major showdown at a February 27 summit. The fate of Gaza—and possibly the entire Middle East—now hinges on a high-stakes power play between Washington, Netanyahu, and the region’s Arab heavyweights.
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