Rubio claims ‘many nations’ want to recognise Israel; depends on Gaza ceasefire

Jerusalem: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that multiple nations are ready to establish diplomatic relations with Israel but that any formal announcement will depend on a broader regional agreement to end the Gaza conflict.

During a visit to a US-led coordination centre in Israel that is overseeing ceasefire efforts in Gaza, Rubio said that a long-term truce could help expand the Abraham Accords — a 2020 initiative under which the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco normalised ties with Israel.

“We have a lot of countries that want to join the accords,” Rubio told reporters. “Some could be added right now if we wanted to, but we’re working on a broader plan. That could be a byproduct of achieving the ceasefire.”

Rubio declined to identify specific countries, saying they needed to prepare their domestic audiences first. However, he noted that “some are bigger than others.”

Saudi Arabia, which had been in talks to normalise relations with Israel, paused the discussions after the Gaza war erupted following Hamas’s October 2023 attack. The Gulf kingdom has maintained that it cannot proceed with normalisation unless there is concrete progress toward the creation of an independent Palestinian state — a position at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long-standing opposition to such a move.

Rubio’s remarks also touched on the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza. According to Israeli media reports, he said the UN agency “will not play any role” in delivering aid under the US-backed ceasefire plan, claiming it had effectively become “a subsidiary of Hamas.”

“The UN is here, and we’re seeing the work being done by the World Food Programme and several NGOs,” Rubio said. “We’re willing to work with them if they can make it work — but not UNRWA.”

Israel has accused UNRWA of infiltration by Hamas, alleging that some of its staff participated in the 2023 attack that triggered the conflict.

Rubio’s visit to southern Israel included meetings with US and Israeli officials at the Civil-Military Coordination Centre, which is managing the humanitarian and security aspects of the ceasefire. His comments signal continued US efforts to consolidate peace efforts in Gaza while reviving the Abraham Accords framework initiated under former President Donald Trump.

The potential expansion of the accords remains a key diplomatic goal for both Washington and Jerusalem, even as tensions persist over civilian casualties and humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Analysts say Rubio’s statements reflect Washington’s hope that a stabilised truce could create the political conditions necessary for new Arab states to formalise ties with Israel.

Rubio’s categorical stance on excluding UNRWA from Gaza aid operations also underscores a shift in the US approach toward the UN agency, which Israel and several Western lawmakers have accused of harbouring Hamas sympathies — allegations UNRWA denies.

The United States continues to coordinate with allied aid agencies, including the World Food Programme and several international NGOs, to ensure the delivery of humanitarian supplies to Gaza under the ongoing ceasefire framework.
(With agency inpus)