Rubio supports Gaza occupation, warns of tight window for deal
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As famine deepens and Gaza City is reduced to rubble, "Israel" escalates strikes with US Secretary of State Rubio saying Hamas has a limited window to accept the deal currently on the table.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens as he speaks to media at Ben Gurion International Airport, as he departs Tel Aviv for Qatar following an official visit, near Lyd, occupied Palestine, Tuesday, Sept 16, 2025. (Nathan Howard/Pool Photo via AP)
"Israel" launched a large-scale bombing campaign on Gaza City on Tuesday, escalating its assault on the besieged enclave just as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced strong support for its military objectives and cautioned that only days remain for a diplomatic resolution.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza described the bombings on Sunday as the most violent since the start of the war.
Israeli Minister of Security Israel Katz had declared earlier that Gaza City, the Strip’s main urban hub, was "on fire." He added that the occupation "will not relent and we will not back down until the mission is accomplished."
Speaking to AFP, Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defense agency, reported that air raids were ongoing early Tuesday, with casualties continuing to mount. He confirmed that strikes also targeted Khan Younis in the south, where 49 people were killed a day earlier.
#AlMayadeen's correspondent in Gaza reported that the Israeli occupation carried out the most violent bombings on the #GazaStrip since October 7.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 14, 2025
The correspondent confirmed that Israeli forces launched five extremely violent raids on the western areas of #GazaCity.
On… pic.twitter.com/qBOimNvHwQ
Dramatic escalation since occupation plans
The assault on Gaza City intensified following "Israel's" formal approval of a plan to occupy the city in August 2025. The operation, named "Gideon's Chariots B," was designed in phases, first besieging and blockading the city, followed by a gradual military occupation.
Since then, at least 1,890 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza City alone, nearly 40% of them children, women, and the elderly. In just two days of strikes in mid-September, over 100 Palestinians were killed, with most deaths recorded in Gaza City.
Entire neighborhoods such as Zeitoun, Sabra, and Tuffah have been reduced to rubble, while high-rise towers in the Remal district and key landmarks like the Islamic University of Gaza have been destroyed. The UN reports that over 90% of schools and universities have been damaged or demolished, leaving Gaza City "no longer a functioning urban center."
This comes as IPC formally declared famine in Gaza City earlier in August. As of mid-September 2025, at least 422 Palestinians, including 145 children, have died from malnutrition and starvation.
Rubio backs offensive, warns of deadline
During his visit, Rubio met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and expressed Washington’s backing for the ongoing military operations. "We think we have a very short window of time in which a deal can happen. We don't have months anymore, and we probably have days and maybe a few weeks to go," Rubio told reporters before leaving "Israel".
The US official stressed that Washington still prefers a diplomatic outcome that would see Hamas demilitarized, though he admitted such a path might prove impossible.
Rubio also met families of captives held in Gaza, acknowledging that Hamas retains significant leverage through their detention. Meanwhile, a captives advocacy group accused Netanyahu of obstructing negotiations. “He is doing everything to ensure there is no deal and not to bring them back,” the group stated.
Qatar’s mediation role
Rubio departed for Qatar, voicing hope that Doha would continue its mediation efforts despite "Israel's" recent aggression targeting senior Hamas negotiators. "We want them to know that if there's any country in the world that could help end this through a negotiation, it's Qatar," Rubio said.
US President Donald Trump reassured that Netanyahu would not strike Qatar again, though both Netanyahu and Rubio stopped short of issuing such guarantees. Albeit Israeli media reported that the aggression on Qatar was greenlit by the US.
Global reactions, statehood push
The timing of Rubio’s visit coincides with preparations for a French-led UN summit where several Western countries are expected to move toward recognizing a Palestinian state.
Far-right cabinet members have renewed calls for the annexation of the occupied West Bank, sparking protests from the United Arab Emirates, which normalized ties with "Israel" in 2020.
Calling Rubio’s trip a "clear message" of US support, Netanyahu once again hailed Trump as "the greatest friend that Israel has ever had."
