Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to thwarting Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its influence in the Middle East, saying that he and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are working together to counter the threat.
Netanyahu stated that Iran must not have nuclear weapons and that its aggression in the region must be rolled back. He also emphasized the importance of containing Hamas, a Palestinian group that describes itself as part of the “Axis of Resistance” against Israel and US influence.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been ongoing since the Gaza war started 16 months ago. Israel has assassinated top leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, while Iran and Israel have exchanged limited retaliatory attacks. Netanyahu said Israel had dealt a significant blow to Iran since the start of the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s comments came after meeting with Rubio, who emphasized the need for careful strategy in addressing Syria’s future. The White House is still working on extending the 42-day ceasefire in Gaza into a second phase, and Israel’s security cabinet will meet on Monday to discuss the issue.
US President Donald Trump’s plan to take over Gaza has been met with concerns from Arab states and Palestinian fears of repeating the 1948 “Nakba”. Rubio described Trump’s vision as “bold” but also warned that if the same cycle repeats, it would lead to more instability.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/netanyahu-says-israel-working-full-coordination-with-trump-gaza-2025-02-16