Rubio vows Washington's 'unwavering support' for Israel amid genocidal war on Gaza
Iran Press TV
Monday, 15 September 2025 5:19 PM
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting the occupied territories, pledged Washington's "unwavering support" for Israel amid its genocidal war on the besieged Gaza Strip.
"You can count on our unwavering support and commitment to see [it] come to fruition," Rubio told reporters while standing next to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in occupied al-Quds on Monday.
Rubio said he would discuss with Netanyahu Israeli plans to seize Gaza City, the territory's largest urban center, and the regime's moves to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.
The top US diplomat also criticized plans by Western nations to recognize a Palestinian state, claiming they "emboldened" the Hamas resistance movement.
"They're largely symbolic... the only impact they actually have is it makes Hamas feel more emboldened," he said.
Netanyahu described Rubio's visit as a "clear message" of US support for Israel, praising President Donald Trump as the "greatest friend that Israel has ever had."
In response, the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement said the visit reaffirmed "the bias and full partnership of the current US administration in the occupation's crimes against our people, land, and holy sites."
Rubio later posted that the visit showed his belief in occupied al-Quds being what he called the "eternal capital" of Israel.
In a controversial departure from global consensus, Trump moved the US embassy to al-Quds in 2018.
Until Trump's first term, US leaders had shied away from issuing overt statements backing Israeli control of the occupied al-Quds.
Rubio's visit coincided with an emergency summit in Qatar of Arab and Islamic states, convened in response to Israel's attack on Hamas leaders in Doha last week.
Qatar, along with Egypt and the United States, has led mediation efforts between Israel and Palestinian resistance groups for a ceasefire.
Trump has refrained from offering clear support for Qatar, despite its hosting the largest US air base in the region and lavishing favors on him, including gifting a luxury jet.
The top US diplomat's visit comes as the Israeli forces forcibly displace more Palestinians from Gaza City into the overcrowded al-Mawasi area, where basic services are scarce and diseases are spreading.
Witnesses said that Israeli strikes from the air and the ground hit several areas in Gaza, spreading panic and prompting thousands of Palestinians to flee encampments established in streets and open areas.
Gaza authorities say at least 350,000 people have fled their homes, while 1,600 residential buildings and 13,000 tents have been destroyed, since August 11, the day after Netanyahu announced plans to take control of Gaza City.
Dozens more were killed in the besieged strip on Monday as the Israeli military continues with its genocidal campaign against civilians in the coastal enclave.
This comes as the humanitarian crisis is worsening across Gaza, with rising deaths from malnutrition and aid seekers being increasingly targeted by the regime forces.
The death toll from the Israeli genocide since October 2023 has surpassed 64,900, with nearly 165,000 others injured.
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