‘Israel-US relations as durable as the Western Wall’ – State Secretary Rubio visits Israel regarding Gaza War, hostages, end of Hamas

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel on Sunday morning for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the war in Gaza – their first meeting since Israel’s airstrike on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, last week.

Rubio and his wife Jeanette and were greeted by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee at Ben Gurion International Airport

Shortly after his arrival, Rubio visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem with Huckabee and Netanyahu, where the three placed notes containing prayers into the cracks of the wall. Following a prayer led by Mordechai Suli Eliav, CEO of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, Rubio, Huckabee, and Netanyahu took a tour of the Western Wall tunnels. 

After the tour, Netanyahu said Israel-U.S. relations are “as strong and durable as the stones of the Western Wall that we just touched.” 

“I think his visit here is a testimony to the durability, the strength of the Israeli-American alliance, that is as strong and durable as the stones of the Western Wall that we just touched,” the prime minister told reporters at the visit.

The Western Wall had been cordoned off for security purposes ahead of the visit of the dignitaries, who were accompanied by their wives and a press gaggle. Before departing the site, Rubio signed the Western Wall guest book: “May peace arise over this Holy Land and the entire world.” 

Speaking in Washington before his departure, Rubio told reporters that the United States was “not happy” about the Israeli strike in Qatar, but affirmed that it would not “change the nature of our relationship with the Israelis, but we are going to have to talk about it.” 

“President Trump wants Hamas defeated, he wants the war to end, he wants all 48 hostages home, including those that are deceased, and he wants it all at once,” Rubio said prior to his departure. 

Rubio is expected to focus on Israel’s current strategy for defeating Hamas in Gaza City, as well as the fate of the 48 remaining hostages. 

The U.S. diplomat posted a photo of himself speaking to reporters before boarding the flight to Israel, where he said his focus would be on “securing the return of hostages, finding ways to make sure humanitarian aid reaches civilians, and addressing the threat posed by Hamas.” 

On my way to Jerusalem. My focus will be on securing the return of hostages, finding ways to make sure humanitarian aid reaches civilians, and addressing the threat posed by Hamas.

Hamas cannot continue to exist if peace in the region is the goal. pic.twitter.com/60DWTkLSfC

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) September 13, 2025

“Hamas cannot continue to exist if peace in the region is the goal,” Rubio stated. 

Israeli media reported that Rubio and Netanyahu may also address Israel’s plans to extend sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria in response to the UN General Assembly vote on the issue of Palestinian statehood.

Rubio’s visit comes as the IDF prepares to take control of Gaza City, where many high-rise buildings – once used by Hamas to track IDF movements and potentially for sniper positions – have already been destroyed ahead of the ground incursion.

The IDF has been instructing residents of Gaza City to evacuate the ahead of the start of the ground operation. As of Saturday evening, the IDF estimates that around 280,000 residents have already moved out of the city, with several hundred thousand still remaining.