What did Marco Rubio say about the Israel-Hamas conflict?

Reuters reported that President-elect Donald Trump will choose Florida Senator Marco Rubio as his secretary of state.

Rubio – a staunch Trump ally – is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee. The Secretary of State is the chief diplomat of the U.S. government, responsible for managing international relations, implementing foreign policy, and overseeing the State Department.

The person who takes over the role after Antony Blinken will have to deal with a full range of responsibilities, including managing relations with China and Russia and managing conflicts and tensions in the Middle East.

Rubio has been outspoken about the Israel-Hamas conflict and his support for Israel following the October 7, 2023 attack, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 251 hostage in the Palestinian camp became the enclave of Gaza, from where Hamas mainly operates.

Israel retaliated and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to eradicate Hamas. According to Gaza's Ministry of Health, over 42,792 people have been killed in Gaza since then, including 16,765 children.

Newsweek examines what the man expected to take the lead in stabilizing the region has said about the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“Complete annihilation of Hamas in Gaza”

In October 2023, Rubio said on X, formerly Twitter, that Israel had “no choice but to seek the complete destruction of Hamas in Gaza.”

He said that “this tragically necessary effort will come at a frightening price,” adding: “The cost of failing to permanently eliminate this group of sadistic savages is even more frightening.”

There is a threat of a “full-blown war” between Hezbollah and Israel

Rubio warned that there was a risk of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Back in May, the senator warned: “Israel absolutely has to deal with this at some point, even though there is a real danger of an all-out war with Hezbollah, which is far more militarily challenging and destructive.”

“I think we should also expect and understand what Israel needs to do,” he continued.

He said he didn't believe Israel or Hezbollah wanted a war, but that “unfortunately they could still get one because of the situation they find themselves in,” according to a Jewish Insider report at the time.

Give Israel “the military materials it needs”

In October 2023, Rubio wrote about eliminating Hamas.”

“Israel has no choice but to eliminate Hamas. And America’s role is to provide Israel with the military material it needs to accomplish that task,” Rubio said, arguing for continued U.S. support for Israel.

Newsweek has reached out to the Israeli prime minister's office for comment via an online form.

“Islamic Republic” is source of violence in the Middle East

Rubio has blamed the cause of “violence, conflict, suffering and instability in the Middle East” on a criminal Islamic Republic regime, which Rubio said has “oppressed the Iranian people for nearly 25 years.”

The Islamic Republic of Iran is a theocratic state in which political power is guided by Islamic principles and overseen by religious leaders, with a Supreme Leader as the highest authority, balancing both religious and republican elements in governance.

Newsweek the Iranian government emailed for comment.

Lives against a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas

Rubio has consistently spoken out against a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. In October 2023 he stated: “A “ceasefire” now would prolong the war. Hamas would use it to steal humanitarian aid, move its fighters to better fighting positions, move hostages to new hiding places and arm their rocket launchers for attacks inside Israel.”

In a post in April, Rubio said: “The next time you hear the 'ceasefire' crowd referred to as 'peace activists,' remember how many of them cheered the launch of hundreds of drones and missiles into Israel. They don’t want a ceasefire. They want Israel destroyed.”

Newsweek emailed the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs seeking comment.

Newsweek Rubio's office emailed Rubio's office seeking comment outside of normal working hours.

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