Background on Key Figures and Context
Israel is conducting a large-scale military campaign with the aim of capturing Gaza City, the largest urban center in the territory. This military operation comes after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s offensive to eliminate Hamas in Jerusalem.
Marco Rubio, a U.S. Senator, is a prominent figure in American politics known for his strong support of Israel. His recent visit to Jerusalem signifies the U.S.’s unwavering commitment to Israel amidst its ongoing conflict with Palestine. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump had previously criticized Israel for its September 9 bombing against Hamas leaders in Qatar, a close U.S. ally.
Intense Bombardment in Gaza City
Following Rubio’s meeting with Netanyahu, Israel intensified its bombardment of Gaza City on Tuesday, according to witnesses. This resulted in the destruction of three residences and left people trapped under rubble, as reported by AFP.
- Ahmed Ghazal, a 25-year-old resident, described hearing people’s cries amidst the intense bombardment.
- The U.S. Secretary of State, during his visit, emphasized that the people of Gaza deserve a better future but that this cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated.
- Netanyahu highlighted Rubio’s visit as a clear message that Washington supports Israel, praising Trump as “the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House.”
Rubio stressed that Trump wants the Gaza war to “end,” which would mean securing the release of hostages taken in Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack and ensuring that Hamas “no longer poses a threat.”
Military Campaign and Humanitarian Concerns
Israel’s large-scale military campaign aims to take control of Gaza City, the largest urban area in the territory. The United Nations previously determined that one million people in Gaza faced starvation due to the ongoing conflict, a claim Israel denies.
- Gaza’s Civil Defense spokesperson, Mahmud Bassal, reported that bombardments remain intense and the death toll continues to rise.
- Israeli forces also attacked Jan Yunis, a city in southern Gaza, according to Bassal.
- The Israeli military has not commented on the recent bombardments, and media restrictions in Gaza hinder independent verification of these claims.
As of now, over 64,900 people have died in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Health Ministry’s figures, which the UN considers reliable.
“Barbaric Animals”
Rubio’s Middle East trip comes a week before France leads a UN meeting where several U.S. allies, frustrated with Israel’s war conduct, plan to recognize a Palestinian state. Rubio described such recognition as “largely symbolic,” while Netanyahu, whose government opposes it, warned of “unilateral measures.”
- Throughout his visit, Rubio expressed pessimism about a “diplomatic solution” in Gaza, referring to Hamas as “barbaric animals.”
- Rubio met with families of hostages taken during the 2023 Islamist attack and visited the Western Wall with Netanyahu on Sunday.
- In a highly symbolic gesture, Rubio attended the opening of a religious pilgrim tunnel passing beneath the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan to holy sites.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Marco Rubio? Marco Rubio is a U.S. Senator known for his strong support of Israel.
- What is the purpose of Israel’s military campaign? The campaign aims to capture Gaza City, the largest urban center in the territory.
- What is the humanitarian situation in Gaza? The UN previously reported that one million people in Gaza faced starvation due to the ongoing conflict.
- What is Rubio’s stance on a Palestinian state? Rubio described recognition of a Palestinian state as “largely symbolic” and expressed pessimism about a diplomatic solution in Gaza.
