Duval Times

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently appeared on The Record with Greta Van Susteren to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Rubio addressed various aspects of the situation, including intelligence on the attacks, Iran's involvement, Israel's ability to defend itself, and the message the United States should send to Iran.

Rubio acknowledged that Israeli intelligence plays a crucial role in understanding the attacks, stating, "The lead in this would be Israeli intelligence. By their own admission, the Israelis will tell you they were caught off guard. They were caught unprepared." He emphasized the need to support Israel in its efforts to eradicate Hamas and expressed the importance of assessing the U.S.'s own intelligence capabilities.

Regarding Iran's support for Hamas, Rubio explained, "Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran have different agendas to some extent, but ultimately, what they share in common is they all want the destruction of the Jewish state." He highlighted Iran's desire to become the dominant power in the region and disrupt any potential Saudi-Israeli agreement.

Rubio also addressed Israel's ability to withstand a war with Iran, stating, "Israel will not be defeated militarily... Their goal is to erode Israel's military capability, and ultimately, to collapse Israel's economy from within." He emphasized the importance of not allowing Israel to become a place that is unsafe or unstable.

In terms of the message the U.S. should send to Iran, Rubio expressed support for the Biden Administration's decision to move naval assets to the region. He called for clear communication with the Iranian regime, stating, "If American troops in the region or American personnel in the region are attacked by proxies of Iran, we will consider that an attack by the Iranian state." He emphasized the need for significant and real consequences to deter Iran from expanding the conflict.

Rubio also criticized the presence of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar, stating, "This guy's a coward... He's not a civilian leader. Hamas is not a civilian organization. They are a terrorist organization." He emphasized the need to eradicate Hamas and expressed support for Israel's efforts in that regard.

In conclusion, Rubio's interview with Greta Van Susteren shed light on various aspects of the Israel-Hamas conflict. He emphasized the importance of supporting Israel in its fight against Hamas, addressing Iran's involvement, Israel's ability to defend itself, and the need for the U.S. to send a strong message to Iran.

To find out more, go to this link: https://www.rubio.senate.gov/icymi-rubio-joins-the-record-with-greta-van-susteren/