The radical Palestinian movement Hamas should never again be allowed to rule in the Gaza Strip, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a telephone conversation with United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“The Secretary and the President also discussed the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the importance of Hamas releasing all hostages, including American citizens,” the State Department press service said in a statement.
“The Secretary thanked the President for the UAE’s humanitarian assistance to Gaza and stressed the need to ensure that Hamas can never again rule Gaza or threaten Israel. They also noted their support for an end to hostilities in Lebanon,” the document said.
On February 10, Trump demanded that Hamas release all hostages by noon on February 15. If the people held in the Gaza Strip are not released, he stressed, then all agreements will be cancelled and “all hell will break loose.” The president did not specify what exactly the US might do in such a case. On the evening of February 11, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the army would resume military operations in the Strip if Hamas did not release the hostages within the established deadline.