Rubio discusses with Egyptian Foreign Minister measures to prevent Hamas from governing Gaza
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State (photo: Getty Images)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a conversation regarding the events in the Gaza Strip. The two parties discussed efforts to prevent the return of Hamas's control in the enclave, according to the US State Department and Reuters.
As reported by the US Department of State, Rubio expressed gratitude to Egypt's Foreign Minister for Cairo's mediation efforts in securing the release of hostages and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, the US official thanked the Egyptian side for its actions in continuing humanitarian aid shipments throughout the Palestinian enclave.
"He also reinforced the importance of holding Hamas accountable," the State Department relayed Rubio's words.
The department added that the US Secretary of State reiterated the importance of close cooperation to advance post-conflict planning to ensure Hamas can never govern Gaza or threaten Israel again.
Trump's initiative to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip
This call from the US Department of State came after President Donald Trump proposed that Egypt and Jordan accept more Palestinians.
Recently, Trump discussed with King Abdullah II of Jordan a potential plan to build housing and relocate over 1 million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to other countries.
The initiative emerged after Israel and the Hamas group, with the involvement of mediators, reached a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip in January, which also involved the release of Israeli hostages.
Jordan and Egypt oppose Trump's idea
As Reuters notes, over the past weekend, both Jordan and Egypt rejected Trump's comments about accepting Palestinians from Gaza.
Trump's proposal wasn't mentioned in the US State Department's statement regarding the conversation between Rubio and the Egyptian Foreign Minister on January 28.
The day before, the US Secretary of State had a phone call with King Abdullah II of Jordan, and again, the US State Department did not mention the President's remarks on the relocation of Palestinians.
Additionally, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called Trump's proposal to relocate Palestinians from the war-torn Gaza Strip to Jordan and Egypt unacceptable.
