US-Egyptian joint effort needed to stop Hamas in Gaza: US Secretary of State
Last Updated on January 30, 2025 6:51 am
New US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellatif, where they discussed the latest situation in Gaza. During this time, he told Egypt that a joint US-Egyptian effort is needed to block Hamas’s return to rule in Gaza.
The Times of Israel reported this in a report on Wednesday (January 29).
According to a statement from the US State Department, Rubio praised Egypt’s role in the hostage-swap deal and humanitarian aid in Gaza.
He said, “Hamas must be held accountable. A post-war plan must ensure that Hamas can never rule Gaza or threaten Israel.”
The Trump administration wants Egypt’s cooperation in finding a lasting solution to the Gaza crisis. In particular, discussions are underway between Washington and Cairo on what the administrative structure of post-war Gaza will be. Although Egypt has already rejected Trump’s offer to accept Gaza refugees outright, it is unclear whether the country agrees in principle with the United States on the removal of Hamas from Gaza.
Meanwhile, criticism of US policy in the Middle East is growing. In particular, the Trump administration’s proposal to evacuate Gaza and its attempt to make a unilateral decision on the future of Palestine have raised concerns in the Arab world. While Egypt and other regional powers are willing to work with the United States, they want a long-term solution that does not ignore the interests of the Palestinians.