Written by Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to reaffirm Washington's support for its ally, and they also discussed the issue of Iran and Israeli hostages in Gaza, the US State Department said.
It was Rubio's first phone call with Israel since the administration of Republican President Donald Trump took office on Monday. Trump and his predecessor, former Democratic President Joe Biden, were supporters of Israel during its wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
The State Department said in a statement that Rubio emphasized that “maintaining the United States’ steadfast support for Israel is a top priority for Trump.”
The ministry added that Rubio told Netanyahu that Washington would continue to work “tirelessly” to help free the remaining hostages in Gaza.
The latest bloodshed in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage, according to Israeli statistics.
The Gaza Health Ministry says the subsequent Israeli military assault on Gaza led to the deaths of more than 47,000 Palestinians, while also leading to accusations of genocide and war crimes, which Israel denies. The attack displaced almost the entire population of Gaza and caused a hunger crisis.
The ceasefire went into effect on Sunday and led to the release of some Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Human rights groups criticized the escalating humanitarian crisis due to the Israeli military attack. Washington has maintained its support, saying it is helping its ally in its defense against Iranian-backed armed groups, including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“The Minister also conveyed that he looks forward to addressing the threats posed by Iran and pursuing opportunities for peace,” the State Department said.
