‘Savage Terrorists Don’t Normally Agree to Things’: Rubio Reaffirms Objectives of Freeing All Hostages and Dismantling Hamas

Latest Developments

‘Hamas Needs To Cease To Exist’: Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed on September 15 during a two-day visit to Israel that Washington and Jerusalem were united in seeking an end to the war in Gaza by defeating Hamas and securing the release of all Israeli hostages. “At the end of the day, no matter what has happened or happens, the objective remains the same,” he said. “Hamas needs to cease to exist as an armed element that can threaten the peace and security of the region, and the people of Gaza deserve a better future. But that better future cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated.” He added that while everyone would like to see a negotiated end to the conflict, “we have to be prepared for the fact that savage terrorists don’t normally agree to things like that,” and that “ultimately, a concise military operation to eliminate [Hamas]” would be necessary.
Encouraging Qatar To Play a Constructive Role: Despite President Donald Trump expressing frustration over Israel’s airstrike in Qatar, Rubio said that the United States is focused on “what happens next, what role can Qatar play … in reaching an outcome,” adding, “we’re going to continue to encourage Qatar to play a constructive role in that regard.” Rubio’s visit comes less than a week after Israel bombed a compound in Doha in which Hamas leaders were holding a meeting. Before leaving for Israel, Rubio met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the White House and is expected to stop in Doha after departing the Jewish state.
Most Gaza Aid Stolen in Transit: Rubio stressed that during his meetings with Israeli officials, he would also discuss ways to ensure humanitarian aid reached Gazan civilians. UN data on aid deliveries to Gaza in August show widespread interception of aid trucks during transit, including forcefully by armed actors. All but two of 2,309 truckloads collected by the World Food Programme were intercepted.

FDD Expert Response

“While Western and Arab countries continue to embolden Hamas, Secretary Rubio cut through the diplomatic doublespeak. The era of short-term truces is over. Israel is committed to defeating Hamas and returning its hostages with U.S. support. The only question left: Will Hamas surrender and allow for a better future for Palestinians, or will it die in a pointless last stand?” — Mark Dubowitz, CEO

“The terror organization Hamas has brought Gaza to ruin, waging a war it can never win. Rubio understands what most Israelis have known since October 7, 2023: Israeli families, homes, and communities will not be safe from Hamas until Israel delivers a decisive defeat and the terror organization finally agrees to surrender and return the hostages.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

“Qatar has long argued that its relationship with Hamas allows it to facilitate diplomacy. If there was a time when that argument had teeth, that time is long gone. Nearly two years into the October 7 war, dozens of hostages remain in captivity, and the fighting in Gaza shows little sign of slowing. Continuing to give Qatar a seat at the negotiating table is unlikely to produce the outcomes that the Trump administration is rightly seeking to achieve.” — Natalie Ecanow, Senior Research Analyst