Rubio Visits Israel as Trump’s Gaza Plan Stirs Tensions
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel late Saturday as tensions rise over President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza and redevelop the territory under American control. The visit, Rubio’s first as the nation’s top diplomat, comes as Israel and Hamas negotiate an extension of the fragile ceasefire that has temporarily halted fighting.
President Trump first suggested on January 25 that Egypt and Jordan should absorb displaced Palestinians, a plan both nations immediately rejected. On February 4, following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, the US president expanded the proposal, calling for the permanent resettlement of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents and for the US to oversee the rebuilding of the enclave into what he called the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Days later, he asserted that displaced Palestinians would not have a right to return.
The proposal has sparked international condemnation, with scholars of international law labeling it ethnic cleansing and a human right violation. King Abdullah II of Jordan, after a White House meeting with President Trump and Rubio, rejected any forced displacement of Palestinians. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also denounced the plan, stating that Palestinians “must remain” on their land.
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Despite the global backlash, Netanyahu called the president’s proposal “revolutionary” and suggested it deserved further study. However, he has stopped short of fully endorsing it, as some Israeli officials question its feasibility. While members of Netanyahu’s far-right coalition have embraced the plan, the Israeli government remains primarily focused on securing US support for resuming military operations if the ceasefire collapses.
Arab nations are working on a counterproposal that would allow for Gaza’s reconstruction without the forced displacement of its residents. Egypt has warned that any mass Palestinian exodus into its territory could undermine its nearly 46-year-old peace treaty with Israel. Saudi Arabia, which President Trump hopes to bring into the Abraham Accords, has signaled that it will not normalize ties with Israel without a clear path toward Palestinian statehood.
Rubio, who will also visit Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has framed the American plan as a pressure tactic designed to push Arab states into taking a more active role in Gaza’s future. In a radio interview last week, he suggested that President Trump’s proposal was meant to stir regional leaders into action. “If someone has a better plan, and we hope they do, if the Arab countries have a better plan, then that’s great,” Rubio said. He also suggested that Arab nations should consider deploying forces to Gaza to combat Hamas, warning that if they fail to act, “Israel is going to have to do it and then we’re back to where we’ve been.”
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which has held for several weeks, remains fragile. Last week, Hamas released three Israeli hostages, including a dual US citizen, in exchange for 369 Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli government, under pressure from both Washington and its own public, is seeking assurances that additional hostages will be freed before considering the next phase of negotiations. Netanyahu has signaled readiness to resume military operations should the ceasefire break down, even if dozens of hostages remain in captivity.
Rubio’s visit is expected to shape the US response to the ongoing crisis. He will meet with Netanyahu on Sunday before traveling to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. His itinerary notably excludes Egypt and Jordan, both of which have refused to accept any influx of Palestinian refugees. It is unclear whether he will speak with any Palestinian leaders while in the region. Arab heads of government, facing domestic opposition to the American president’s idea, are scrambling to present a viable alternative before the ceasefire deadline in early March.
