US Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted the goals of the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip, saying that Hamas “must be eliminated” and threw the future of the shutdown ceasefire in more doubt.

Rubio met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in West Jerusalem on Sunday at the beginning of a regional tour, where he is likely to face a reaction from Arab leaders US President Donald Trump’s proposal To remove the Palestinian population from the Gaza Strip and redevelop it under the ownership of the United States, a plan that human rights organizations described as ethnic cleansing.

“The president was also very bold, not the same tired ideas of the past but something new,” Rubio told reporters.

Netanyahu welcomed the plan, in reference to it as “bold”, and said that they and Trump have a “joint strategy” for the future of Gaza.

Trump, he said: “The doors of hell will be open” if the enthusiasm of the remaining dozens of the remaining prisoners that were kidnapped in its attack on October 7, 2023 and which preceded the war.

The leaders of the leaders came just two weeks ago from The first stage of the ceasefire In the Israeli war on Gaza, which killed more than 61,700 Palestinians, it is scheduled to end. The second stage – in which Hamas will launch dozens of remaining prisoners in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, and has not yet been negotiated with a permanent truce and withdrawing the Israeli forces.

Rubio said Hamas “could not continue as a military or governmental force.”

“As long as it stands as a force that can control or as a force that can be managed or as a force that can threaten the use of violence, peace becomes impossible,” said Rubio. “It must be eliminated.”

This language may complicate the efforts made to continue the talks with Hamas, which, despite its severe losses in the war, is still intact and controlling Gaza.

The American Middle East envoy, Steve Whitkov, said on Sunday that the talks in the second stage of the ceasefire will continue this week, after he made “very fruitful and constructive” calls with Netanyahu, as well as the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahma Thani, and the director of Egypt for intelligence . “

“[We spoke about] The second stage sequence, put sites on both sides, so that we can understand … Where are we today, then the conversations this week continues in a local must be determined so that we can know how to reach the end of the second stage successfully, “Witkev said.

The former US diplomat Nabil Khoury said that Rubio had broken with the traditional preparation of American diplomats to meet first with the Israeli government and then the Palestinian Authority, which has some control in the occupied West Bank.

“Rubio does not do so. Therefore, this wanders in the Palestinian Authority despite all the amenities and all the cooperation and cooperation granted by the Israeli government.”

Khoury added: “The next station after Israel will be Riyadh and perhaps the United Arab Emirates,” on the pretext that this fits “Trump’s vision … which rebuild Gaza minus the Palestinian population.”

Osama Hamdan, Hamas spokesman, told Al -Jazeera that the Israeli plans to force the Palestinians to leave Gaza not new and has been expressed before, including during the first and second murids.

Trump “has no idea about resisting the Palestinians. Hamdan said he has no idea how the Palestinians are linked to their homeland,” noting that “it is not real estate. It is a homeland.”

He added that every time Israeli officials talk about “the elimination” of Hamas, the group has become “stronger” only.

With Trump, “We will end the job”

After meeting with Rubio, Netanyahu said that Israel and the United States are determined to thwart Iran’s nuclear aspirations and “aggression” in the Middle East.

“Behind every terrorist group, behind all violence, is behind every destabilization activity, behind everything that threatens peace and stability for millions of people calling this region to the home is Iran.”

Netanyahu said that Israel has dealt with a “strong blow” for Iran over the past 16 months since the war in Gaza began against Hamas and said that with the support of Trump “I have no doubt that we can end the job.”

He said that Israel was the weakest Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah and hit hundreds of goals in Syria to prevent a new front backed by Iranians from opening up against Israel.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it had made an atmosphere early on Sunday to people who approached its forces in southern Gaza.

Hamas, the Ministry of Interior, said that the strike was killed by three policemen while they were securing to enter aid truck near Rafah, on the Egyptian border.

Hamas said the attack was “a serious violation” of the ceasefire and accused Netanyahu of trying to sabotage the deal.

Hamdan told Al -Jazeera that Netanyahu and his government’s actions indicate “a ceasefire in danger”, but Hamas will do its best to continue the agreement.

He said, “I will be clear in this.” If Netanyahu decides to attack Gaza again, it will not be that [easy] for him “.