WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that the ongoing talks between Hamas and Israel are not concluding the war and that organizing a new governing body for Gaza will take “some time,” though a plan is in place.
It comes as Israel and Hamas appear to be inching closer to implementing a 20-point peace plan proposed by President Donald Trump.
“All parties, including Israel, agree that eventually, Gaza will be overseen by a Palestinian technocratic group without ties to Hamas or terrorism, guided by an international consortium akin to the board of peace,” Rubio stated, reflecting the language of the proposed peace plan.
At the same time, Rubio said, “You can’t set up a governance structure in Gaza that’s not Hamas in three days.”
“I mean, it takes some time,” he said.
The peace plan outlines that Gaza would “temporarily transition under the governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee.” The plan also ensures that Hamas, currently in control of Gaza, will not participate in future governance.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed the peace plan, which includes the release of all Israeli hostages by Hamas, during his recent visit to the White House.
Hamas signaled readiness to release all hostages, living or deceased, and plans to dispatch a team to Cairo for detailed negotiations starting Monday. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner will attend on the U.S.’s behalf.
When moderator Kristen Welker asked if the peace talks signified the end of the conflict in Gaza, Rubio responded, “not yet.”
“There’s some work that remains to be done,” he said, pointing to ongoing meetings to determine the logistics of implementing a peace plan.
The parties now need to determine, first, how hostages are released, and, second, how to create new Palestinian leadership.
“How do you create this Palestinian technocratic leadership that’s not Hamas, that’s not terrorists, and with the help of the international community?” Rubio said, laying out ongoing issues. “How do you disarm any sort of terrorist groups that are going to be building tunnels and conducting attacks against Israel?”
There are ongoing talks to determine logistically how hostages could be released, he said.
“You have to make sure the Red Cross can get there, what time they’re going to be there, where they’re going to be,” Rubio said. “All that has to be worked through.”
Asked whether hostages could be released as early as this week, Rubio said, “We want it to be as soon as possible.”
Trump has said that Israel agreed to withdraw to an initial line cutting through Gaza in order for the hostage deal to move forward. The initial withdrawal line, marked by a yellow line in a graphic posted by Trump, would withdraw the Israeli military to the outskirts of several major cities.
Before Israel withdraws further, Rubio noted that the parties had to determine who would take control of the territory.
“When we ask Israel, ‘OK, you’re at the yellow line, now everything behind it you have to turn it over,’ You have to have somebody to turn it over to,” Rubio said. “So, I mean, let’s be realistic here. You can’t just set up a sort of new governance structure inside of Gaza in 72 hours.”
