Rubio to Visit Middle East Amid Backlash Over Trump’s Gaza Plan

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Israel and key Arab nations from February 13-18, marking his first Middle East trip since President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to relocate Palestinians in Gaza. His itinerary includes stops at the Munich Security Conference, Israel, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, a senior State Department official confirmed.

Trump’s suggestion that Palestinians should be permanently displaced has sparked global condemnation. Rubio clarified on Wednesday that relocation would be temporary while Gaza undergoes reconstruction following the Israel-Gaza war. Arab nations, including Egypt and Jordan, have rejected the proposal, echoing Palestinian fears of forced displacement.

Rubio will focus discussions on Gaza, regional stability, and the aftermath of Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which killed 1,200 and resulted in 250 hostages. A U.S. official emphasized Trump and Rubio’s stance that the region's status quo must change, advocating for a strategic shift.

Israel’s military operation in Gaza has led to over 47,000 Palestinian deaths in the past 16 months, according to the Gaza health ministry. The ongoing crisis has left nearly all of Gaza’s population internally displaced and facing severe hunger. Israel denies accusations of genocide and war crimes.

As tensions remain high, Rubio’s visit is expected to shape U.S. policy in the region and test diplomatic efforts to address the humanitarian crisis while maintaining alliances.