On Monday, September 15th, the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio charged that Hamas was emboldened by moves from the UK, France and other American allies to recognise a Palestinian state. In Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he told a joint news conference that such moves are
largely symbolic. They have really no impact whatsoever on bringing us any closer to a Palestinian state. The only impact they actually have is it makes Hamas feel more emboldened . It’s actually served as an impediment to peace.
Rubio said that at times in the past, Hamas “walked away from agreements that they actually had tacitly agreed to, but then they saw the sort of international support they believe they’re getting.”
“It’s actually hurting the cause they think they’re furthering,” he stated.
Rubio was visiting Jerusalem a week before a UN summit in New York on recognising a Palestinian state led by French president Emmanuel Macron, who has voiced exasperation at Israel’s nearly two-year war in Gaza.
