WASHINGTON
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that Washington wants to see an increase in humanitarian aid flowing into the Gaza Strip, including areas still under Hamas control.
“We want to continue to see the flow of aid increase into those parts of Gaza that are still under Hamas control,” Rubio told reporters at a news conference at the State Department.
He said a ceasefire is currently in place, and large-scale hostilities have subsided compared to earlier phases of the war, but significant challenges remain.
Rubio said the focus is on fully implementing phase one of the ceasefire to transition to phases two and three.
He said there is “relative peace right now, for the most part,” despite alleged violations, adding that maintaining compliance requires “daily, constant follow-up and nurturing.”
“That is why we are in such a hurry, and I say as a priority, to get to this point where we have the stabilization force in place, overseen by the board of peace and ultimately, a Palestinian technocratic entity that can increase in its capability to provide governance,” he said.
Rubio was asked about plans for an international stabilization force (ISF), particularly the role for Pakistan.
“We're very grateful to Pakistan for their offer to be a part of it,” he said. “I think we owe them a few more answers before we can ask anybody to firmly commit.”
He said the US wants to first announce a “board of peace” and a Palestinian technocratic body to handle daily governance in Gaza.
“Once that's in place, I think that will allow us to firm up the stabilization force, including how it's going to be paid for, what their rules of engagement are, what their role will be in demilitarization and so forth,” he said.
A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas took effect Oct. 10.
The first phase included a halt to hostilities, partial Israeli withdrawal, hostage-prisoner exchanges and the entry of full humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave.
The second phase, as envisioned in US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, requires the deployment of an ISF, disarmament of Hamas, full Israeli withdrawal and the formation of a "technocratic" Palestinian committee to temporarily rule Gaza.
On moving toward the second phase of the ceasefire deal, Rubio said: “We got to complete phase one to get to phase two. That's why we're working every day to get there.”
Palestinians have accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire, which halted a two-year war that has killed more than 70,000 victims, mostly women and children, and injured north of 170,000 since October 2023.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said at least 395 Palestinians have been killed and 1,088 wounded in Israeli attacks since the truce took effect.