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Posted by Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to reiterate Washington’s support for its ally, and the two discussed the Iranian and Israeli hostages. Gaza, the State Department said.
The call was Rubio’s first with Israel since Republican President Donald Trump’s administration took office on Monday. Trump and his predecessor, former Democratic President Joe Biden, have both been supporters of Israel during its wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
Rubio emphasized that “maintaining strong United States support for Israel is a top priority for Trump,” the State Department said in a statement.
Rubio told Netanyahu that Washington would continue to work “hard” to help free the remaining hostages in Gaza, the State Department added.
The latest bloodshed in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
Israel’s subsequent military offensive on Gaza has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, Gaza’s health ministry said, leading to accusations of genocide and war crimes against Israel. they refuse. The attack displaced almost all of Gaza’s population and caused a famine.
The ceasefire began on Sunday and led to the release of some Israeli prisoners in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Rights groups have condemned the growing humanitarian crisis from Israel’s military offensive. Washington has maintained its support, saying it helps the alliance in its defense against Iran-backed militant groups including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“The Secretary also expressed his eagerness to address the threats posed by Iran and pursue opportunities for peace,” the State Department said.
