U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Monday that Washington does not consider the Israeli strike in Gaza, which targeted a member of a Palestinian armed movement, a violation of the U.S.-backed ceasefire.
اضافة اعلان
Israel said the strike, conducted on Saturday, targeted a member of Islamic Jihad who was allegedly planning an attack on Israeli forces.
In a statement on Sunday, Islamic Jihad denied the claim, saying:
"The Israeli army’s assertion that Al-Quds Brigades operatives in Al-Nuseirat were planning imminent action is false and a fabrication used to justify aggression and breach of the ceasefire."
Speaking aboard President Donald Trump’s plane en route to Asia, Rubio emphasized:
"We do not consider this a violation of the ceasefire."
He added that Israel retains its right to self-defense under the agreement mediated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, which also facilitated the release of the remaining living hostages in Gaza earlier this month.
"They have the right if there is an imminent threat to Israel, and all mediators agree on that," Rubio said, according to Reuters.
Rubio noted that the ceasefire in Gaza, still in effect between Israel and Hamas after a two-year conflict, relies on commitments from both sides, and called on Hamas to speed up the return of the remains of hostages who died in captivity.
The Israeli strike occurred shortly after Rubio left Israel, following his visit aimed at consolidating the ceasefire.
