US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has visited Israel as President Trump pushes a plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza, sparking international condemnation. Scholars of international law say the proposal would be ethnic cleansing and a war crime.
Rubio met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, amidst chaos in the Middle East over Trump’s plans. The US secretary of state is under pressure to clarify the president’s vision for transforming Gaza into an American-owned “Riviera of the Middle East”.
The plan has been met with rejection from Arab leaders and Palestinian officials, who consider it impractical. Scholars say the forced expulsion of Palestinians would be a war crime.
Rubio has suggested that Trump’s idea is a negotiating tactic to provoke Arab leaders into taking more responsibility for the Palestinians. However, Trump has doubled down on the plan, saying he intends to move forward with it.
The international community has denounced the plan, with over 47,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since 2023. The forced expulsion of Palestinians would be ethnic cleansing and a war crime, according to international law scholars.
Rubio’s visit comes as Israel and Hamas negotiate a cease-fire agreement. He plans to meet with Arab leaders to discuss ending the war in Ukraine and other regional issues.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/us/politics/marco-rubio-israel-gaza.html