Rubio Announces Major U.S. Deal to Return Hostages
Rokna Political Desk: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that ongoing peace talks are now centered on securing the release of hostages in exchange for Israel’s withdrawal from parts of Gaza. He expressed optimism that the new agreement could pave the way for the swift return of all hostages to their homes.
According to Rokna, citing The New York Times, as Israel and Hamas enter a new round of negotiations, Rubio told NBC on Sunday that Washington hopes for “a rapid agreement” that will lead to the release of all hostages in return for Israel’s limited pullback from sections of Gaza.
The Secretary of State stressed that the upcoming round of discussions surrounding President Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war “will be more challenging,” as it will address issues such as the disarmament of Hamas and the establishment of a new governing authority in Gaza — one that would exclude the Palestinian militant group from any future political role in the enclave.
When asked whether the two-year war had effectively ended, Rubio replied, “Well, not yet; there’s still work to be done.” He added that Hamas had agreed to the President’s framework for the release of hostages.
Rubio’s remarks come a day before a new round of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas is scheduled to take place in Cairo, Egypt. Ron Dermer, a close aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is expected to lead the Israeli delegation. However, according to The New York Times, Hamas officials declined to comment on who will represent the group in the Cairo talks.
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