US Secretary of State Marco Rubio backs Israeli strike on Islamic Jihad terrorist in Gaza

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday defended Israel’s decision to strike a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist in Gaza despite the fragile ceasefire.

"Israel didn't surrender its right to self-defense. Obviously, the ceasefire is based on obligations on both sides," Rubio told media representatives as he joined U.S. President Donald Trump on board Air Force One. 

"Israel has a right to self-defense, terrorist activity is an imminent threat to Israel," Rubio continued. Washington’s top diplomat argued that “all mediators agree” that the Israeli military’s strike was legitimate and they "don't view [the strike] as a violation of the ceasefire," which was reached earlier this month. 

The Israeli strike reportedly took place in the town of Nuseirat located in central Gaza after the Israeli military had identified what it assessed as an “imminent terrorist attack.” The IDF’s Southern Command stated that it “will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat.” 

Nuseirat, which is a Hamas stronghold, remains one of very few areas in Gaza where Israeli forces have largely avoided entering for the past two years due to fears that such actions would jeopardize the lives of Israeli hostages that were previously believed to be hidden there.

Israeli forces deployed in Gaza are currently instructed to remain behind the so-called yellow line, which runs long the coastal enclave from north to south. The elimination of the PIJ terrorist reportedly took place adjacent to the yellow line, which Gazan terrorists are not allowed to cross without explicit permission from Israel and the mediating nations. 

Earlier this month, Trump successfully pressured Hamas to release all the remaining 20 living hostages. However, the Jihadist group has so far failed to return all of the 28 deceased hostages, which it is obligated to do under the Trump Gaza plan. Rubio told media reporters that the ceasefire mediators would "also like to see Hamas speed up the return of hostage bodies."

Two of the remaining 13 deceased hostages still in Gaza are American citizens. Rubio who met with the families of the hostages during his recent visit to Israel, vowed that Washington would not stop its efforts "until all remains [are] returned" home to the Jewish state. 

Former Israeli Ambassador to Germany, Jeremy Issacharoff, recently assessed that the Trump administration is concerned and frustrated that Hamas is delaying the implementation of the first phase of Trump’s Gaza plan, which requires the return of all remaining living and deceased Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The Israeli diplomat argued that the terrorist group is likely deliberately stalling the return of the remaining deceased hostages. 

“I think that Hamas could well have more knowledge about the location of the deceased hostages, and they might be using this to increase the time span [so] that they can resuscitate their power,” Issacharoff warned. 

U.S. President Donald Trump warned Hamas on Saturday that the terrorist group has 48 hours to return the bodies of the remaining hostages in Gaza. 

“We have a very strong PEACE in the Middle East, and I believe it has a good chance of being EVERLASTING,” Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social . “Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other Countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action,” the president warned. 

On Monday evening, Hamas returned the remains of fallen IDF soldier and hostage, Ofir Tzarfati. While Trump’s deadline expired, Hamas has still not returned all the remaining deceased hostages as stipulated in the Gaza deal. 

Israel warned on Monday that it is considering harsh measures in response to Hamas’ ceasefire violation concerning the failure to return all living and deceased hostages. 

"This constitutes a clear violation of the agreement by the terrorist organization Hamas. Prime Minister Netanyahu will hold a security consultation with the heads of the defense establishment to discuss Israel’s response to these violations," the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem stated.