US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized in a recent interview that lasting peace in Gaza is unattainable while Hamas remains active. Rubio highlighted three main issues in the region: the ongoing humanitarian crisis, the plight of hostages held by Hamas, and the continued existence of the group itself. He criticized the disproportionate focus on humanitarian concerns at the expense of addressing the hostage situation and the need to dismantle Hamas. Rubio reaffirmed that the United States supports Israel's right to make its own security decisions and noted that regional consensus exists on the necessity of disbanding Hamas to prevent future conflict.