Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revealed to families of hostages during a meeting on Friday that "we need to do some serious rethinking" in response to the latest collapse of ceasefire negotiations in Gaza. This statement comes amid a growing humanitarian crisis and an escalating death toll, as reported by American media outlet Axios, which cited two individuals present at the US State Department meeting.
According to Anadolu Agency, six months into US President Donald Trump's return to the White House, his administration is facing increasing pressure both domestically and internationally to reassess its Gaza strategy. The ongoing conflict has shown no signs of resolution and has deteriorated the humanitarian conditions in the region. The recent negotiations fell apart after Hamas rejected the proposed terms, leading to Israel's withdrawal from the discussions.
An Israeli official informed Axios that President Trump has consistently supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's actions in Gaza, even suggesting more aggressive measures. During a statement made in Scotland, Trump indicated that it might be time for Israel to intensify its efforts against Hamas.
Israeli officials are uncertain if Trump's comments were intended as a negotiating tactic or as approval for increased military action. Despite international appeals for a ceasefire, the Israeli military has continued its offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of over 59,700 Palestinians, predominantly women and children. The ongoing attacks have devastated the region and caused significant food shortages.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice regarding its actions in the enclave.
Rubio has criticized the current truce-for-hostage strategy, which began under the Biden administration and persisted under Trump. He suggested that it might be time to explore more comprehensive solutions, stating, "We need to come to the president with new options."
Previously, Trump and senior envoy Steve Witkoff successfully negotiated a ceasefire in January, only for it to collapse when Israel resumed military actions in March. Although there are internal doubts about the phased truce model, Trump has publicly supported it, with the release of US citizen Edan Alexander being the only significant achievement, accomplished by circumventing Netanyahu.
The US and Israel are increasingly isolated from traditional Western allies, facing mounting criticism. France, Germany, and the UK issued a joint statement condemning the situation, declaring: "The humanitarian catastrophe that we are witnessing in Gaza must end now."