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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United Kingdom’s upcoming recognition of a Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip and West Bank will have “no impact whatsoever” on achieving a lasting two-state solution to the long-standing conflict.
Currently in Israel, Rubio downplayed the importance of several European nations’ plans to support Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly later this month.
During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Rubio remarked, “These things that countries are doing at the United Nations … are largely symbolic. They have really no impact whatsoever in bringing us any closer to a Palestinian state.”
He further argued that the decisions by France, Britain, Australia, Belgium, and Canada to support Palestinian statehood complicate efforts for negotiators seeking to resolve the Israel-Hamas conflict. Many of these countries have also expressed a desire to prevent Hamas from remaining in control of Gaza post-conflict, although the question of governance and reconstruction remains unresolved.
Rubio stated, “The only impact it actually has is it makes Hamas feel more emboldened.”
President Donald Trump is expected to visit the U.K. this week, with Rubio accompanying him. The president has previously clashed with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding Israel’s actions in the ongoing war and Palestinian statehood.
In July, Trump echoed Rubio’s sentiments, asserting, “You could make a case that you’re rewarding Hamas if you [recognize Palestinian statehood]. I don’t think they should be rewarded. I’m not in that camp.”
Numerous Western leaders have criticized Israel’s proposed ground operations in Gaza City, one of the remaining areas of the strip not under Israel Defense Forces control, and one of the most densely populated regions in the enclave.
Despite this, Trump has continued to support Netanyahu and Israel’s military actions in response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terrorist attack that escalated tensions in the region.
However, Trump has also voiced frustration over an Israeli military strike in Qatar, a U.S. ally, which targeted senior Hamas officials residing there.
TRUMP AND RUBIO WORK TO REPAIR RELATIONS WITH QATAR FOLLOWING ISRAELI STRIKE
On Monday, Netanyahu asserted that the IDF is “still getting the final reports” on the operation but denied it “failed,” despite speculation regarding the effectiveness of the strike. Hamas confirmed the deaths of five of its members but claimed that its senior leadership survived.
Last week, Trump mentioned that he had attempted to prevent the strike after learning it was imminent, but it was too late. Following the strike, he communicated with Israeli and Qatari officials, and he and Rubio met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani last Friday.
