US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warns that unless Hamas is disarmed and dismantled, lasting peace in Gaza is a delusion — and hostages remain forgotten victims in a skewed global narrative.
In a fiery and uncompromising interview with Fox Business host Larry Kudlow, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio laid down a clear red line: there will be no peace in Gaza or the region until Hamas is fully dismantled.
Rubio, who maintains near-daily communication with Israeli leadership, told Kudlow that while humanitarian concerns are important, they’ve become a global distraction from the real threats: hostages still held by Hamas, and the terror group’s continued existence.
“There’s a lot of attention on humanitarian issues — but very little on 20 innocent people rotting in Hamas tunnels, or on the fact that Hamas still wields power,” Rubio said. “That’s the core reason peace remains a fantasy.”
When asked about the possibility of Israel launching a full-scale military takeover of Gaza, Rubio clarified the U.S. position:
“It’s Israel’s call. The President has made clear — they’ll do what’s necessary for their security.”
Rubio detailed what he calls the “three-tier problem” plaguing Gaza:
- A humanitarian crisis that must be addressed without benefiting Hamas.
- Hostages held under inhumane conditions, barely surviving.
- The ongoing armed control of Hamas, which he labeled the ultimate barrier to peace.
“You can feed a million people, but if Hamas is still armed, we’re just feeding the next cycle of war,” Rubio warned. “This cannot happen again.”
He also noted that even Arab nations share the belief that Hamas must be neutralized.
“The Arab League has said it clearly — as long as Hamas exists as an armed group, there is no peaceful future.”
In closing, Rubio delivered a pointed message:
“The world is focusing on aid trucks and supplies — while human lives are wasting away underground, and a terror regime still runs Gaza. We must not forget: peace begins with the end of Hamas.”
