US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to arrive in Israel in about two weeks, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to The Jerusalem Post.
The tentative date for Rubio’s arrival is the week of September 14. He is expected to stay for several days, during which he will meet with senior Israeli officials. His visit comes in the wake of comments by US President Donald Trump, who said the war in Gaza needs to end quickly because Israel is losing the public relations battle.
“Israel is going to have to end this war [in Gaza]. It’s hurting Israel; there’s no question about it. They may be winning the war, but they are not winning in the arena of public opinion,” Trump said in an interview with the Daily Caller. “Fifteen years ago, Israel was the strongest lobbying force that ever existed. Now... it has been weakened, especially in Congress.”
During his visit, the US secretary of state is expected to attend the inauguration ceremony of the “Pilgrims’ Road” in the City of David, an archaeological site where ancient Jerusalem once stood. The event, marking the opening of this 2,000-year-old historical main street of Jerusalem, will be attended by senior Israeli and American officials.
Trump had considered attending the ceremony, scheduled for September 15, but the visit ultimately did not materialize, a source with knowledge told the Post.
The event will take place a week before the UN General Assembly convenes in New York, where France and several other countries are expected to announce recognition of a Palestinian state.
In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to convene a meeting on Thursday with several ministers to discuss the possibility of extending Israeli sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria, as well as the security implications of such a move.
Rubio previously visited Israel in February, marking his first trip to the Middle East. He landed in Israel as top US and Israeli officials worked to secure the release of the remaining six living hostages in phase one of the ceasefire deal.
US envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, visited Israel in early August, where he visited the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid site in the Gaza Strip and met with hostage families.
During Witkoff's visit in August, he said that the US was planning to end the war and called for an all-or-nothing approach to end the war in Gaza in a meeting with hostage families.
However, since then, Israel has changed course and has, in recent weeks, begun implementing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to invade and occupy Gaza City in order to pressure Hamas. The IDF advanced preparations for a large-scale mobilization of reservists and an expected expansion of ground operations in Gaza, the military announced on Tuesday.
IDF mobilizes for Gaza City invasion as Netanyahu changes course
At least 40,000 IDF reservists reported for duty ahead of the expected invasion, according to numbers from media reports.
The upcoming operation in Gaza City is considered a critical step in dismantling Hamas’s military infrastructure. The city is viewed as the organization’s last significant stronghold and command hub within the enclave.
Netanyahu has already approved the IDF’s plan to capture Gaza City and simultaneously authorized renewed hostage negotiations. Officials say the objective is to conclude the conflict in accordance with the principles established by the security cabinet.
Amir Bohbot contributed to this report. This is a developing story.