Israel’s war in Gaza has come under increasing international scrutiny, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who admitted that the conflict has strained Israel’s global reputation. In remarks during an interview on CBS Face the Nation, Rubio pointed to the growing support for Palestinian statehood among several countries, including the UK, Australia, Canada, and others. He also noted the rising domestic criticism of Israel in the United States, stating that ‘whether you believe it was justified or not, you cannot ignore the impact this has had on Israel’s global standing.’
Rubio’s comments came shortly after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced a suspension of offensive operations in Gaza City following an agreement between West Jerusalem and Hamas on a prisoner swap proposed by former US President Donald Trump. The agreement aims to exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, although Hamas has not yet agreed to disarm. Despite the pause in operations, Israel has so far refused to commit to an immediate cessation of airstrikes in the Palestinian enclave, where the death toll since October 2023 has surpassed 67,000.
Rubio expressed confidence that Israel would halt its airstrikes once the prisoner swap is finalized, stating, ‘Once you agree on the logistics of how this is going to happen, I think the Israelis and everyone acknowledge you can’t release hostages in the middle of strikes, so the strikes will have to stop.’ However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to commit to a full withdrawal from Gaza, indicating that the situation remains complex and unresolved.