Marco Rubio visits Israel to press for hostages’ release and second phase of Gaza truce

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio touched down in Israel on Saturday night for his first visit to the Jewish state since being confirmed in his position.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar greeted Rubio on the tarmac at Ben-Gurion International Airport and the two men were set to tour the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met one-on-one at the latter's office in Jerusalem late Sunday morning. Following this, they were to convene for an expanded session, after which both leaders were expected to address the media with statements.

The American diplomat is slated to meet with other high-ranking officials, including President Isaac Herzog and opposition leader Yair Lapid.

“Secretary Rubio’s engagements with senior officials will promote U.S. interests in advancing regional cooperation, stability and peace,” State Department Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a press statement ahead of the visit.

“The trip will center on freeing American and all other hostages from Hamas captivity, advancing to Phase II of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and countering the destabilizing activities of the Iranian regime and its proxies,” the statement continued.

Rubio's trip follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip, after which the coastal area would be turned over to American control for reconstruction.

On Thursday, Rubio said in an interview that any plan allowing Hamas to rule Gaza would be unacceptable to Israel and ineffective in resolving the conflict. He added that Trump was willing to take the lead on rebuilding Gaza, as no other viable plans have been proposed.

Rubio's trip also comes amid Israel’s ceasefire agreement with the Hamas terrorist group and the release of hostages held in the Strip. The truce is “tenuous” because Hamas is a terrorist organization responsible for violence against civilians, Rubio told journalist Chris Cuomo by phone on NewsNation on Tuesday.

The secretary of state on Monday described Hamas as an “evil” and “monstrous” organization that must be wiped out.

“This is an evil organization. Hamas is evil. It’s pure evil. These are monsters. These are savages. That’s a group that needs to be eradicated,” he said during an interview on talk radio channel SiriusXM Patriot.

Rubio will also travel to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over the next three days.