Netanyahu and Rubio Vow to ‘Open the Gates of Hell’ Against Hamas as Hostage Crisis Continues

Netanyahu and Rubio Vow to ‘Open the Gates of Hell’ Against Hamas as Hostage Crisis Continues

Edited by:  Fern Sidman

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and  Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a forceful warning to Hamas, declaring that if the terror group does not release all remaining hostages, Israel and the United States will “open the gates of hell” against it, as reported on Sunday by The New York Post. The two leaders, who met in Jerusalem, emphasized their shared commitment to dismantling Hamas’ military and political presence in Gaza.

Netanyahu and Rubio stressed that their top priority remains securing the release of hostages still held by Hamas, as well as the remains of those who perished in captivity, as was noted in The New York Post report.  While they declined to disclose specific details about their strategy, their joint statement made it clear that Israel would not hesitate to act with overwhelming force if Hamas does not comply. “We can’t always share the details of this strategy with the public, including when the gates of hell will be opened, as they surely will if all our hostages are not released until the last one,” the leaders declared, as quoted by The New York Post.

Beyond the immediate hostage crisis, both Netanyahu and Rubio reaffirmed their commitment to eradicating Hamas entirely. “We will eliminate Hamas’ military capability and its political rule in Gaza. We will bring all our hostages home, and we will ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel,” they said, according to The New York Post report. Rubio further assured Netanyahu that the United States would back Israel through the second phase of negotiations, which aims to secure the release of all living hostages.

This second phase will also lay the groundwork for determining the future governance of Gaza following 18 years of Hamas control. While Israel has yet to identify a viable alternative to govern the territory, The New York Post report indicated that Rubio insisted Hamas must be entirely removed from power. “As long as it stands as a force that can govern or as a force that can administer or as a force that can threaten by use of violence, peace becomes impossible,” he asserted. “It must be eradicated.”

Despite Hamas’ demands to remain in power as part of ongoing negotiations, neither Israel nor the United States sees this as a viable option. Meanwhile, Netanyahu reiterated his endorsement of former President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to evacuate more than two million Palestinians from Gaza, allowing the U.S. to temporarily oversee and rebuild the territory before permitting their return, according to the information provided in The New York Post report.

Netanyahu expressed unequivocal support for Trump’s vision, calling it the only feasible solution for achieving stability in the Middle East. “Trump has presented a bold new vision, the only plan I think can work,” Netanyahu stated. However, The New York Post report pointed out that the proposal has been met with strong resistance from Arab nations, including Egypt and Jordan. Critics argue that forcibly relocating Palestinians would constitute ethnic cleansing, an accusation that has intensified regional tensions.

Despite the backlash, Rubio stood firmly behind Trump’s plan. The report in The New York Post indicated that as he embarked on his first diplomatic tour of the Middle East as secretary of state, Rubio defended the initiative, saying, “The president’s also been very bold about his view of what the future for Gaza should be—not the same tired ideas of the past, but something that’s bold and something that, frankly, took courage and vision.”

As negotiations progress, Israel and the United States appear unwavering in their resolve to dismantle Hamas and reshape Gaza’s political landscape—by force, if necessary.