US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s forthcoming visit to the Middle East will focus on regional developments, particularly the extension of the Gaza truce deal.
Rubio is expected to visit Israel, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia from February 15 to 18 as part of a six-day diplomatic tour centred on Israel, Gaza, and Iran’s “destabilising activities,” according to the US State Department.
“The key objectives of the trip will be securing the release of American and other hostages held by Hamas, advancing to Phase II of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, and countering the destabilising activities of the Iranian regime and its proxies,” the department stated.
His meetings with senior officials will focus on strengthening US interests by fostering regional cooperation, stability, and peace, the statement added.
Before heading to the Middle East, Rubio will travel to Munich on Thursday to attend the Munich Security Conference and the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
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The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East is shifting rapidly, with concerns mounting over the potential collapse of the ongoing Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Former President Donald Trump’s renewed calls for relocating Palestinians from Gaza under what he terms the “Gaza plan” have drawn widespread condemnation from the international community, including G7 and NATO nations.
Amid rising tensions, Hamas has caught both the US and Israel off guard by postponing the planned prisoner exchange, which was initially expected to take place last Saturday.
The group declared, “There would be no exchange of prisoners until Israeli forces ceased operations in Gaza.”
In response, Israel has warned that failure by Hamas to adhere to the agreed terms could lead to the cancellation of the ceasefire and hostage deal.
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