Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held discussions over the phone regarding efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, as well as Israel’s renewed military offensive in Gaza.
According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the conversation covered regional developments, with Rubio reaffirming Washington’s “unwavering support for Israel and its policies.”
Israel intensified its air and ground operations in Gaza this week, officially ending a two-month ceasefire, as reported by IANS citing Xinhua News Agency. On March 26, Netanyahu issued fresh warnings, threatening to escalate military action unless Hamas released the remaining hostages.
“The longer Hamas refuses to release our hostages, the harsher our response will be,” Netanyahu declared in a parliamentary session.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue, with Egypt putting forward a new ceasefire proposal aimed at reviving stalled negotiations between Israel and Hamas, according to Egyptian security sources cited by Xinhua.
The ceasefire, initially agreed upon on January 19, collapsed on March 18, prompting Israel to resume strikes across Gaza and launch expanded ground operations in the territory’s southern, northern, and central regions.