Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “open the gates of hell” in Gaza if Hamas does not release all hostages, emphasizing a joint US-Israeli strategy against the Palestinian militant group.
Speaking alongside visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday, February 16, Netanyahu stated that while the details of their strategy could not be fully disclosed to the public, Israel would act decisively if the hostages were not freed.
“We will eliminate Hamas’s military capability and its political rule in Gaza,” the statement read. “We will bring all our hostages home, and we will ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.”
Netanyahu highlighted the strong support from the United States, which he said would help Israel achieve its objectives more swiftly. He also mentioned discussions with Rubio regarding US President Donald Trump’s vision for Gaza’s future.
Trump recently proposed that the United States take control of Gaza and transform it into a luxury destination, the “Riviera of the Middle East,” while relocating the territory’s two million Palestinian residents to other countries, including Egypt and Jordan. The proposal has sparked widespread global criticism.
Rubio acknowledged the controversy surrounding Trump’s plan but defended it as a bold and visionary approach. He stressed that the ongoing cycle of conflict in Gaza could not continue and reiterated that Hamas must be eliminated as both a military and political force.
“The first priority for Trump is that the hostages held in Gaza since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack need to come home,” Rubio said.
