Rubio: Hamas cannot be involved in governing Gaza

[Twiglets1]

US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said that Hamas “cannot be involved in governing Gaza in the future”. Speaking during a press conference, Rubio also said that the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) “cannot play a role in Gaza”, describing it as a “subsidiary of Hamas”.

Rubio said on Friday that Israel had to be at ease with the nations contributing to a future international security force in Gaza, after reports that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposed Turkish involvement.
“We haven’t formed that force yet, so there’s still work going on,” Rubio told reporters at a military coordination centre in southwestern Israel.

Rubio also added that more countries are ready to normalise relations with Israel but the decision would await a broader regional agreement. The US secretary of state said that a sustained end to the war would encourage more countries to join the Abraham accords, under which the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco normalised ties with Israel in 2020.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/oct/24/aid-gaza-israel-palestine-benjamin-netanyahu-hamas-ceasefire-west-bank-middle-east-live-news

I have no problem with saying Hamas cannot be a part of Gaza, I have a huge problem with him conflating the UN with Hamas - that’s just him channeling Netanyahu. Anyway how about the Palestinian people (who have suffered so much), having a say in what will happen to their land and their lives??

It's good that we agree on something at least, Missy.

As for the US conflating UN agencies with Hamas, I believe the US is bigger than Netanyahu or any of his ministers and can make up their own minds about things. It seems to me that the US are running things now and if they say UNRWA “cannot play a role in Gaza” then that seems pretty definite.

I hope the Palestinian people will eventually have a say in what will happen to their land and lives but it won't be for a while, realistically. They won't be given the opportunity to vote for Hamas to carry on leading them, for example. The next priority is for Phase 2 of the peace plan to be completed.

Phase two
Negotiations to begin on the disarmament of Hamas, steps to ensure Israel's full withdrawal from Gaza and the de-radicalisation of the enclave, which has been under Hamas rule since 2007. This phase also offers Hamas leaders amnesty and safe passage out of Gaza and into exile.

It also provides for the creation of an international stabilisation force made up of US, Arab and European personnel to maintain security in Gaza. Also provided in this phase is the training by Egypt and Jordan of a Palestinian police force and the creation of a council of independent Palestinian technocrats to run the day-to-day affairs of Gaza under international supervision.

https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/10/13/gaza-peace-plan-three-phases-explained/

The problem for me being I don’t trust the US - not under the current bonkers president and his cronies anyway.

I doubt they are bothered about what individuals like you and I think of them tbh

Phase two sounds ok, hopefully there won’t be barriers to it.

Yes it does.

I guess a lot can still go wrong, despite both sides signing the peace plan.

I'm taking comfort from the fact that phase 1 is still holding, despite arguments and accusations from both sides.

Well the did, hamas.. and look what happened

The world should be bothered. Our western leaders and the leaders from the rest of the Middle East need to stand up to Trump and stand up for Palestine. This is the chance to make sure these poor people aren’t sold down the river after all they’ve endured.

He's right.

I’m not sure this war will end up benefiting the people of Gaza in any way @MissyB1

But that’s isn’t why Hamas started it anyway… they started it for their own selfish reasons & I don’t believe the wellbeing of the people of Gaza is their priority (or anyone’s, sadly).

Sounds positive, especially Palestinian civilian leadership to run the day to day affairs of Gaza. Weak institutions is what allows groups like Hamas to thrive. I really hope that Palestinian society has a chance to stabilise and allow civil society to step forward. Maybe, in time with a stable government the two state solution can be discussed again.

The rest of the world could ensure a positive future for the Palestinian people, it’s about making the right and brave choices though isn’t it? Unfortunately bowing down to the alter of the US will almost certainly be a priority. And I don’t care who started it, Palestinians were not truly free before October 7th, and they should finally be allowed to be so now.

What would you change in phase 2? Apart from the UNRWA you mentioned below

Wasn’t the UN providing aid part of the initial peace agreement? I’m hoping this isn’t the US encouraging/suggesting the GHF should be used instead. Such a dangerous precedent to set in conflict zones.

No I believe the GHF have already packed up and gone.

Not sure who it will be but there are other agencies providing aid and the UN have been discredited in some people’s eyes (appreciate others think they are impartial but it’s probably what the US thinks that matters).

Agree
Trumps place at the table, or rather at the head of it, is a huge concern !

Hamas didn’t go about achieving a free Palestine the right way so I doubt they have helped the cause. And yes a lot of countries are bowing down to the US now in the West & Middle East because whether you like Trump or loath him, at least he seems to have achieved a ceasefire when no one else could.

I don't like Trump but at least the fighting has ended at the moment. If Hamas remains and rearms then around we go.

There are so many problems in the world let the plan go ahead and in time and after deradicalised maybe Palestinians will elect a more moderate useful leadership. Currently from the scenes as released it would be more Hamas 🙄