In an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation” Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the escalating conflict in Gaza, emphasizing the U.S. commitment to dismantling Hamas while acknowledging the urgent need for a ceasefire and hostage release.
Margaret Brennan pressed Rubio on the discrepancy between President Biden’s stated desire to end wars and Israel’s expanded ground operation in Gaza. Rubio clarified that the U.S. supports “the destruction of Hamas, the ending of Hamas” and a future for Gaza “free of Hamas and full of opportunity.” He condemned the October 7th attacks as “one of the most vile series of attacks, kidnappings, rapes, murders, and hostage taking that we’ve ever seen.”
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However, Rubio also acknowledged the suffering of civilians and affirmed the U.S.’s active engagement in securing a ceasefire and the release of hostages. “We are actively engaged… in trying to figure out if there is a way to get more hostages out through some ceasefire-type mechanism,” he stated, noting Ambassador Witkoff’s ongoing efforts.
Brennan questioned whether the U.S. was asking Israel to slow its military push, and inquired about the collapse of a potential hostage deal following a reported Israeli strike on a hospital.
Rubio avoided directly answering whether the strike derailed the deal. Instead, he reiterated that “this war could end immediately… if Hamas surrenders and gives up their weapons and demilitarizes and releases all the hostages.” He placed the blame for the continued conflict squarely on Hamas.
The interview then shifted to the issue of Iran’s nuclear program. Brennan asked Rubio to clarify the U.S. policy, specifically whether Iran would be allowed to enrich uranium at any level for civilian purposes. Rubio asserted that “if you’re able to enrich at any level, you now are basically able to enrich at weapons grade very quickly.” He emphasized that “the end goal here is simple: Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”
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Rubio conveyed that President Biden prefers a peaceful resolution through negotiation, highlighting the president’s desire for peace. However, he also delivered a firm message: “Iran is never going to have the capability, they’re never going to have a nuclear weapon. It’s not going to happen.”
The interview highlighted the delicate balance the U.S. is attempting to strike between supporting Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas, mitigating civilian casualties, and preventing further regional escalation, while also navigating the complexities of nuclear proliferation with Iran.
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