Netanyahu Vows to “Open the Gates of Hell” on Hamas in Meeting with Rubio
In a Joint Press Conference, Netanyahu and Rubio Discuss Iran, Hezbollah, Syria, and the Fate of Hamas.
Watan-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday praised the United States’ unwavering support for Tel Aviv, calling President Donald Trump “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in White House history.” His remarks came during a press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is visiting Israel on his first tour of the region.
During the press conference, Netanyahu stated that Israel and the United States have a strategic plan in place, including a timeline for when the “gates of hell” would open if Hamas does not release all hostages, without providing further details.
On Lebanon and Hezbollah
Speaking about Lebanon, Netanyahu emphasized the need for Hezbollah’s disarmament, stating that he prefers this to be carried out by the Lebanese army. He also reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire in Lebanon.
On Syria
Addressing the situation in Syria, Netanyahu said he discussed the future of Damascus with Rubio following the collapse of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. He warned that “any force in Syria that believes it can threaten Israel is gravely mistaken.”
The Israeli prime minister also highlighted Iran as the most significant issue in his discussions with the U.S. Secretary of State, stressing that, in partnership with Washington, “we will finish the job on Iran.” He added that Israel and the United States stand together in confronting Iranian threats.
“No Better Ally”
For his part, Rubio stated during the press conference that he does not believe Israel has a better ally than Trump. He added that the U.S. president has made it clear that Hamas cannot continue as a political and military force.
Rubio also called for the release of all Israeli hostages but did not comment on the timeline for the second phase of the Gaza agreement negotiations.
The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized that Washington will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, describing Tehran as the primary source of regional threats and claiming that the Iranian people are victims of their own regime.
Regarding Syria, Rubio called the collapse of the Assad regime an important development and stressed that the U.S. would not allow another destabilizing force to take its place.
