Top US diplomat Marco Rubio to fly to Israel on Saturday
9/12/2025 5:29:00 PM
The trip has been announced by State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, who said Rubio will then join President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Britain next week.
In Israel, the secretary of state will discuss the US and Israel’s shared goals of ensuring Hamas never rules Gaza again and returning all remaining captives, according to Pigott.
Rubio and Israeli leaders will also discuss “our commitment to fight anti-Israel actions including unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state that rewards Hamas terrorism, and lawfare at the ICC and ICJ”, Pigott said, referring to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza, and the ICJ is hearing a case on whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
In Israel, the secretary of state will discuss the US and Israel’s shared goals of ensuring Hamas never rules Gaza again and returning all remaining captives, according to Pigott.
Rubio and Israeli leaders will also discuss “our commitment to fight anti-Israel actions including unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state that rewards Hamas terrorism, and lawfare at the ICC and ICJ”, Pigott said, referring to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza, and the ICJ is hearing a case on whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.