The new top diplomat of the United States, Marco Rubio, has reiterated the nation’s “unwavering support” for Israel, just days into a fragile ceasefire in Gaza and amid a significant military operation in the West Bank.
As Israel continued its lethal campaign in Jenin, Mr. Rubio assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the ongoing support from the US.
Mr. Rubio communicated with Mr. Netanyahu from Washington last night to “highlight that maintaining the United States’ steadfast support for Israel is a top priority for President Trump,” stated State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
He also “congratulated the Prime Minister on Israel’s achievements against Hamas and Hezbollah and committed to working diligently to assist in freeing all remaining hostages in Gaza,” she added.
Marco Rubio assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Washington’s continued backing
Former US President Joe Biden had been advocating for a deal aligned with these principles for several months. Mr. Trump dispatched an envoy to facilitate the agreement before assuming office, although the Republican has since expressed doubt about the deal’s longevity.
In one of his initial actions as president, Mr. Trump lifted sanctions on extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank that had been imposed by Mr. Biden due to their assaults on Palestinians.
During his first term, Mr. Trump proposed a peace plan that his supporters labeled “the deal of the century,” which included substantial Israeli annexations in the West Bank.
‘Iron Wall’
While Mr. Rubio and Mr. Netanyahu discussed matters, Israel’s West Bank operation, named “Iron Wall,” continued its course.
The Israeli military reported that it has “neutralized over 10 terrorists,” while the Palestinian Ministry of Health indicated that the operation has resulted in 10 fatalities and 35 injuries.
“The situation is very difficult,” Kamal Abu al-Rub, the governor of Jenin, stated.
“The occupying army has bulldozed all roads leading to the Jenin camp and the Jenin government hospital… There are shooting and explosions,” he remarked, referring to the Israeli military.
Since the operation began on Tuesday, Israeli forces have detained approximately 20 individuals from nearby villages, he noted.
An AFP correspondent reported hearing gunfire and explosions emanating from the northern city’s refugee camp, a hotspot for militancy where Israeli forces have conducted repeated raids.
Qatari news channel Al Jazeera reported that its journalist Mohammed Al-Atrash was apprehended at his residence by Palestinian forces “to prevent him from covering the Israeli operation” in Jenin.
The Jenin raid aims to counter “hundreds of terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria (the occupied West Bank) and throughout Israel,” stated military spokesman Nadav Shoshani during a press briefing.
He mentioned that since the onset of the Gaza war, Israel has experienced “over 2,000 attempted terror attacks” from the West Bank, adding that the army has “eliminated around 800 terrorists.”
The foreign ministry of the Palestinian Authority accused Israel of “collective punishment” and claimed the raid is part of an Israeli strategy aimed at “gradually annexing the occupied West Bank.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged “maximum restraint” from Israeli security forces and expressed deep concern over the situation.
Violence has escalated across the occupied West Bank since the Gaza conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, following Hamas’s unprecedented assault on southern Israel.
As per the Palestinian health ministry, Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 848 Palestinians in the West Bank since the conflict began.
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During this same timeframe, at least 29 Israelis, including soldiers, have lost their lives due to Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations in the region, according to official Israeli figures.
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated the raid is intended to “eradicate terrorism” in Jenin.
He connected the operation to a larger strategy of countering Iran “wherever it sends its arms – be it Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, or the West Bank.”
The Israeli government has accused Iran, which supports militant groups across the Middle East, including Hamas in Gaza, of attempting to divert weapons and funding to militants in the West Bank.
In a separate conversation yesterday, Secretary of State Rubio discussed Iran with Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Along with Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza, they addressed “the threats posed by Iran and its proxies,” as stated in a press release.
Mr. Biden’s administration had sought a deal in which Saudi Arabia would recognize Israel in exchange for a defense agreement with the United States and assistance with a civilian nuclear program.
However, that agreement was put on hold following Hamas’s attack on Israel, which sparked war in Gaza.
