Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Israel’s moves to annex the West Bank jeopardize the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. Rubio’s comments follow the Knesset’s preliminary approval of two bills aimed at extending Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and one settlement.
According to Qatar News Agency, Rubio emphasized that these actions threaten President Donald Trump’s efforts to resolve the conflict in Gaza. The annexation efforts are seen as a significant obstacle to peace negotiations and could undermine the fragile stability in the region.
In a related matter, Rubio addressed Trump’s announcement regarding the cancellation of a planned summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest. Despite the cancellation, Rubio affirmed that the United States remains open to holding meetings with Russia, indicating ongoing diplomatic interest in maintaining dialogue between the two nations.