JERUSALEM, Sept 16 — Israel launched an intensified aerial campaign over Gaza City today, just hours after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged full-throated American support to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing military offensive aimed at eliminating Hamas.
Residents described the attack as “heavy and relentless,” with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble and screams echoing from beneath collapsed buildings.
“We can hear their screams,” said Ahmed Ghazal, a 25-year-old Gaza resident. “People are still alive under the debris, but we can’t reach them.”
Rubio’s visit to Jerusalem was marked by strong symbolism and even stronger words. Standing beside Netanyahu, he stated, “Israel can count on our unwavering support,” reinforcing the bond between the two nations even as the civilian toll in Gaza continues to climb. His words came despite President Donald Trump’s earlier criticism of Israeli strikes in Qatar, a key U.S. partner and current broker of ceasefire talks.
Rubio dismissed the ongoing Qatar-mediated negotiations, condemning Hamas as “barbaric animals” for their October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the conflict.
But that rhetoric, and the military action it appears to support, is unfolding in a region already on the brink. The United Nations warned that over a million people in Gaza City are facing famine conditions. Israel has dismissed that warning, but aid workers and civil defense agencies say the situation is worsening by the hour.
Mahmud Bassal of Gaza’s civil defense agency reported a dramatic escalation: “The bombing is still ongoing across Gaza City. The number of casualties is rising rapidly.” Khan Yunis, in the south, was also struck, with 49 deaths reported Monday alone.
Independent verification remains difficult due to restricted media access and the dangers of reporting on the ground.
Rubio’s visit coincides with growing international criticism of Israel’s hardline stance, particularly as France prepares to host a UN summit where several U.S. allies may formally recognize a Palestinian state—a move Israel’s leadership harshly opposes.
Netanyahu responded by threatening “unilateral steps” and reiterated his opposition to Palestinian statehood. Far-right members of his cabinet are pushing for full annexation of the occupied West Bank, a proposal that has alarmed nations like the United Arab Emirates, who normalized relations with Israel just five years ago.
Despite the escalating crisis, Rubio remained resolute in his support.
“At the end of the day, the people of Gaza deserve a better future,” he said. “But that better future cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated.”
That “better future” feels elusive to many on the ground, where numbers speak loudly: The October 7 Hamas attack left 1,219 Israelis dead, mostly civilians. Israel’s military response has killed over 64,900 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to health ministry data deemed reliable by the United Nations.
During his trip, Rubio met with families of hostages still held in Gaza. Of the 251 people taken during the initial Hamas attack, 47 remain in captivity—25 are presumed dead.
Later, Rubio toured east Jerusalem, attending the opening of a controversial tunnel beneath the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan. For many Palestinians, it was another painful symbol of erasure.
Fakhri Abu Diab, a 63-year-old resident of Silwan, had this to say:
“Instead of seeing the reality of our demolished homes, Rubio is walking through tunnels. The U.S. is choosing to side with extremists rather than upholding international law.”
Rubio also joined Netanyahu at the Western Wall, calling Jerusalem the “eternal capital” of Israel—continuing a shift in U.S. policy that began under Trump, where such declarations became increasingly common despite Jerusalem’s deep religious and political significance to Muslims and Christians as well.
In the end, war is never just a geopolitical move or a military strategy—it is human lives shattered, homes lost, futures rewritten.
Whether it’s a child crying in Gaza or a parent mourning a son in Tel Aviv, the grief is universal. The path to peace demands more than military might and political posturing—it requires seeing each other’s humanity.
Until we learn to listen to that pain on both sides, the cycle of violence will not end.
