In Jerusalem, State Sec Rubio affirms US-Israeli ‘common strategy’ as PM Netanyahu threatens Hamas with ‘Gates of Hell’

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog in separate meetings today in Jerusalem. 

The newly installed secretary affirmed the close partnership between the U.S. and Israel, confirming a “common strategy.” 

Netanyahu welcomed Rubio to Israel, calling him “my dear friend Marco.” He reiterated Israel’s commitment to freeing all the hostages, eliminating Hamas' military and governing capabilities, and ensuring that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel. 

"It's great to welcome you in Jerusalem with your delegation. It's great to welcome you in Jerusalem as Secretary of State of the United States,” Netanyahu said at the beginning of statements to the media. 

Netanyahu again called U.S. President Donald Trump “the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House.” 

“And the visit in Washington reflected that in every way, and your visit here reflects it in every way,” Netanyahu continued. 

The prime minister said that Rubio has “been a great supporter of Israel and a great champion of the US-Israel alliance.” 

“I have no doubt that your unwavering support will continue during your tenure as Secretary of State. And I also have no doubt that you'll be a voice of clarity and courage on the world stage for the values that we in Israel and you in America hold dear, the values of freedom for all those who cherish liberty,” he continued. 

Thank you @SecRubio for your ongoing tireless work on behalf of @POTUS @realDonaldTrump, to help bring all our hostages home from captivity in Gaza.

Thank you for your clear moral clarity on the need to eradicate terror and stand strong against the efforts of Iran and its… pic.twitter.com/aKyntXm8AD

— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) February 16, 2025

Netanyahu said the U.S. and Israel “stand shoulder-to-shoulder in countering the threat of Iran.” 

“We agreed that the ayatollahs must not have nuclear weapons and we also agreed that Iran's aggression in the region has to be rolled back,” the prime minister declared. 

Netanyahu stated that Israel “has dealt a mighty blow to Iran's terror axis” and added, “Under the strong leadership of President Trump, and with your unflinching support, I have no doubt that we can and will finish the job.”

He thanked Rubio for Trump's assistance in securing the release of three hostages. 

“These are hostages that Hamas refused to release only a few days earlier,” Netanyahu claimed, thanking Rubio “for America's unequivocal backing for Israel's policy in Gaza in moving forward.” 

“I want to assure everyone who is now listening to us, President Trump and I are working in full cooperation and coordination between us,” Netanyahu stated. “We have a common strategy and we can't always share in detail this strategy with the public, including when the gates of hell will be opened, as they surely will if all our hostages are not released, until the last one of them.” 

The prime minister also affirmed that “Israel is determined to achieve all the war objectives we set after the horrific attack on October 7th.” 

“We will eliminate Hamas's military capability and its political rule in Gaza, we will bring all our hostages home and we will ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.” 

Netanyahu said that he and Rubio “also discussed the situation in Syria after the collapse of Assad's regime, a collapse that was made possible by Israel's weakening of Iran's terror axis, especially the weakening of Hezbollah and the removal of Nasrallah.” 

“Israel will act to prevent any threat from emerging near our border in southwest Syria,” Netanyahu stated, also claiming that “Israel is committed to the ceasefire understandings that were reached in November. We expect the government of Lebanon to be equally committed to their fulfillment.” 

Rubio told Netanyahu, "It is an honor to be back here. I've been here many times before, as an American visiting and then as a member of the United States Senate, but now, for the first time, as the Secretary of State of the United States.” 

Calling Trump “a man that speaks clearly and unambiguously and makes clear his views on issues,” Rubio said, Trump “has made clear… the hostages need to come home.” 

“That must happen,” Rubio continued, “It's not optional.” 

Rubio stated that Trump “has been very bold about his view of what the future of Gaza should be. Not the same tired ideas of the past but something that is new and bold and something that frankly took courage and vision in order to outline.” 

“And it may have shocked and surprised many,” the secretary noted, “but what cannot continue is the same cycle where we repeat over and over again and wind up in the exact same place.” 

Rubio also affirmed that “Hamas cannot continue as a military or government force.” 

“As long as it stands as a force that can govern or a force that can administer or a force that can threaten by use of violence, peace becomes impossible. They must be eliminated. It must be eradicated,” he declared. 

Rubio addressed the issue of Iran and stated, “There can never be a nuclear Iran.” 

In closing, Rubio affirmed that the U.S. would continue to support Israel.

“You can always count on us.”