Secretary of State Marco Rubio points while walking on the tarmac, as he departs for Israel at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Sept. 13, 2025. Nathan Howard/Pool/Reuters
Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed for Israel on Sept. 13, announcing a renewed effort to win the return of hostages taken by Hamas and address humanitarian concerns after nearly two years of fighting in the Gaza Strip.
“On my way to Jerusalem. My focus will be on securing the return of hostages, finding ways to make sure humanitarian aid reaches civilians, and addressing the threat posed by Hamas,” Rubio said in a post on X on Saturday afternoon.
