Rubio: Israel acted within ceasefire rules in Gaza strike

Washington does not consider Israel’s recent strike in Gaza — which the country said targeted a member of a Palestinian militant group — a violation of the US-brokered cease-fire, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

Speaking aboard President Donald Trump’s plane during his trip to Asia, Rubio noted that the United States does not view the incident as a violation of the cease-fire, Caliber.Az reports, citing Al Arabiya.

The top US diplomat added that Israel has not given up its right to self-defence under the agreement mediated by Washington, Egypt, and Qatar — a deal under which the main militant group in Gaza, Hamas, released the remaining living hostages held in the enclave earlier this month.

“They have the right if there’s an imminent threat to Israel, and all the mediators agree with that,” Rubio said.

He emphasised that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in effect for just over two years since the start of the war, is based on commitments by both sides, and reiterated that Hamas must expedite the return of the bodies of hostages who died in captivity.

Israel said the strike on October 25 was aimed at a member of Islamic Jihad accused of planning an attack on Israeli forces. The group denied any such plans.

Since the US-brokered cease-fire between Israel and Hamas came into effect, several Israeli strikes in Gaza have drawn international criticism and accusations of violating the truce.

Gaza authorities report that Israel has carried out at least 47 such attacks since October 2025, killing 38 Palestinians and wounding more than 140.

One of the most serious incidents occurred on October 19, when Israeli air raids near Rafah killed 26 people following the deaths of two Israeli soldiers in the same area.

Despite repeated denials from Israeli officials, analysts say the frequency of these attacks has undermined confidence in the truce and raised doubts about the long-term sustainability of the current peace arrangement.

By Jeyhun Aghazada