Israel Sets Gaza "On Fire" As Top US Diplomat Warns "Savages Like Hamas"
Israel unleashed a massive new bombing campaign on Gaza City on Tuesday after visiting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio backed the ally's goal of eradicating Hamas and warned that only days may be left for a diplomatic solution.
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Israel launched an intensive bombing offensive on Gaza City Tuesday as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio endorsed Israel's mission to eliminate Hamas, suggesting diplomatic solutions may have only days remaining.
"Gaza City is on fire," declared Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz early Tuesday, adding firmly: "We will not relent and we will not back down until the mission is accomplished."
Residents reported devastating, continuous bombardment throughout Gaza City, which has already been largely reduced to ruins during nearly two years of Israeli military operations following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks.
"We can hear their screams," recounted Ahmed Ghazal, a 25-year-old resident of the devastated area.
During his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Rubio offered strong support for Israel's military campaign targeting Gaza City. As he departed Israel, Rubio emphasized the urgency of the situation: "We think we have a very short window of time in which a deal can happen. We don't have months anymore, and we probably have days and maybe a few weeks to go."
While Rubio stated that a diplomatic solution requiring Hamas to disarm remained America's preference, he qualified: "Sometimes when you're dealing with a group of savages like Hamas, that's not possible, but we hope it can happen."
After meeting with families of hostages held in Gaza, Rubio acknowledged Hamas' strategic advantage. "If there were no hostages and no civilians in the way, this war would have ended a year and a half ago," he remarked at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport.
A hostage families' representative group expressed terror for their loved ones' safety following Netanyahu's order for intensified strikes, stating: "He is doing everything to ensure there is no deal and not to bring them back."
Despite Israel conducting airstrikes against Hamas leaders in Qatar just a week earlier, Rubio's next destination was Qatar, which he hoped would maintain its mediator role. "We want them to know that if there's any country in the world that could help end this through a negotiation, it's Qatar," Rubio stated.
President Donald Trump assured that Netanyahu would not strike Qatar again, though both Rubio and Netanyahu declined to make similar commitments.
European nations, unlike the United States, have unsuccessfully urged Israel to halt its new Gaza offensive, warning of worsening humanitarian conditions. The UN recently determined one million people in Gaza face famine—a finding Israel disputes.
Mahmud Bassal, Gaza civil defence agency spokesman, confirmed to AFP that intense bombing continued in Gaza City early Tuesday "and the number of deaths and injuries continues to rise." He added that Israeli forces were also targeting Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, after civil defence reports of 49 deaths from Israeli strikes on Monday.
AFP cannot independently verify details from the civil defence agency or Israeli military due to media restrictions and access limitations in Gaza.
Rubio's visit comes one week before France hosts a UN summit where several Western countries, frustrated by perceived Israeli inflexibility, plan to recognize Palestinian statehood.
Rubio dismissed statehood recognition as "largely symbolic," while Netanyahu—whose government strongly opposes such actions—warned of possible "unilateral steps" in response. Far-right members of Netanyahu's cabinet have advocated annexing the occupied West Bank to prevent Palestinian statehood, prompting protests from the United Arab Emirates, which normalized relations with Israel five years ago.
Netanyahu characterized Rubio's visit as a "clear message" of American support for Israel, calling Trump "the greatest friend that Israel has ever had."
The October 7 Hamas attack resulted in 1,219 deaths, primarily civilians, according to AFP's tally of official figures. Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed over 64,900 people, also mostly civilians, based on Gaza health ministry figures considered reliable by the United Nations.
Of the 251 hostages taken by Palestinian militants in October 2023, 47 remain in Gaza, with 25 believed dead according to the Israeli military.