WASHINGTON

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that Washington is "troubled" by the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, stressing the need to deliver aid into the enclave.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a NATO informal foreign ministers meeting in Antalya, Türkiye, Rubio said he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the day.

"The President (Donald Trump) talked about this in a speech the other day -- that the people of Gaza deserve a better future than what they’ve had under Hamas," Rubio said. "We think that the elimination of Hamas is what achieves peace."

"We’re troubled by the humanitarian situation there. Both the Israelis, with American backing and support, have offered a plan to deliver aid that doesn’t get diverted or stolen by Hamas," he added.

The State Department’s readout of the call between Rubio and Netanyahu, however, made no mention of Gaza. Instead, it said the secretary stressed the "deep U.S. commitment to its historic relationship with Israel and the ironclad U.S. support for Israeli security."

Rubio and Netanyahu also discussed Syria and their shared "mutual commitment to make sure Iran never possesses a nuclear weapon," according to the readout.

Rubio's remarks came as the American-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced plans to begin aid deliveries to the besieged enclave within two weeks.

The initiative has drawn criticism from the UN and humanitarian groups, who argue it may be inadequate, place civilians at risk and potentially contribute to forced displacement.

"I’ve heard criticisms of that plan. We’re open to an alternative if someone has a better one, but we are for all the aid we can get without Hamas being able to steal it from people," said Rubio.

State Department deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott, said Washington welcomed the GHF’s launch as a "creative solution" to an urgent crisis.

Asked who will fund it and what role the US will play, Pigott referred questions to the foundation.

Since March 2, Israel has kept Gaza crossings closed to food, medical and humanitarian aid, deepening an already humanitarian crisis in the enclave, according to government, human rights, and international reports.

The Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, killing nearly 53,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.