During a meeting in Jeddah on Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman that the United States is firm in its stance that Hamas should not have any involvement in a future resolution for Gaza, according to a statement released by the State Department.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce mentioned that Rubio took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the Crown Prince for hosting the US in discussions aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine and securing long-term peace.
The two officials also engaged in discussions about Yemen and the threat posed by Houthi militants to global maritime safety, American interests, and Saudi infrastructure. Additionally, Rubio shared his thoughts on Syria and outlined efforts to establish a government free from terrorism that would ensure stability in the country.
The two also talked about the reconstruction efforts in Gaza, with the Secretary of State thanking the Crown Prince for facilitating dialogue with Arab nations. He reaffirmed the US’s unwavering position that any resolution for Gaza must exclude any involvement from Hamas.
Earlier this week, Arab leaders endorsed a plan led by Egypt to establish a trust fund to finance Gaza’s reconstruction and support the return of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to the region.
At the conclusion of a summit in Cairo, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi confirmed the endorsement of this strategy. He explained that Egypt, in collaboration with Palestinian Arab representatives, had formed an administrative committee of independent experts to temporarily oversee Gaza. This committee would manage humanitarian assistance and governance while preparing for the PA’s return.
Egypt’s proposal aims to counter the plan put forward by former President Donald Trump, which suggested the relocation of Gazans to countries like Jordan and Egypt, while the US would take charge of Gaza’s reconstruction.
The White House, after the proposal’s endorsement, emphasized that it welcomes “input” from Arab nations that support the Egyptian plan, but reiterated that Hamas must not remain in control.
“President Trump has been clear that Hamas cannot continue to govern Gaza,” White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said. “While the president stands by his bold vision for a post-war Gaza, he welcomes input from our Arab partners in the region. It’s clear his proposals have driven the region to come to the table rather than allow this issue to devolve into further crisis.”
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