US presses nations to accept refugees evacuating Gaza

United States reached out to several countries to encourage the "voluntary" resettlement of Palestinians fleeing the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday.

Israel has once again warned the Gaza population — almost entirely displaced since the war began following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas — of a new offensive, which follows a blockade lasting more than two months. President Donald Trump has repeatedly considered relocating Gaza's two million residents before rebuilding the enclave.

In response to a question during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Marco Rubio stated, “There are no expulsions.”

“We have discussed with some countries whether, if someone voluntarily chooses to go elsewhere for a time because they are ill, because their children need to go to school, or any other reason, are there countries in the region willing to host them for a while?” Rubio added. “These will be voluntary personal decisions,” he further remarked.

Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley responded, “If there's no clean water, no food, and bombings all around you, is it really a voluntary decision?” Rubio did not specify which countries were approached, but he denied Libya was among them.

American network NBC News, citing anonymous sources, recently reported that the Trump administration is working on a plan to permanently relocate up to one million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Libya.

Marco Rubio expressed pleasure at seeing humanitarian aid finally reaching Gaza after two months of blockade: “We are glad to see aid starting to come in again,” he stated.

Responding to a Democratic senator's comment that the initial aid of 100 trucks was grossly insufficient given the risk of famine, Rubio said: “I understand your point that the quantities are not sufficient, but we are pleased that the decision has been made.”