Rubio Slams Lack of Focus on Hamas Hostages

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is calling out the global community for what he says is a dangerous imbalance in the way the Gaza conflict is being addressed with “not enough attention” being paid to hostages still held by Hamas in horrific conditions.

Appearing Wednesday on Fox Business with Larry Kudlow, Rubio made clear that while the humanitarian situation in Gaza deserves attention, it cannot come at the cost of ignoring the innocent people still trapped underground by a terrorist regime.

“There are 20 innocent human beings that are being held hostage in horrifying conditions,” Rubio said. “Not enough attention is being paid to that fact.”

Rubio also confirmed he’s been in near-daily contact with Israeli leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet, as Israel weighs a full military takeover of Gaza in the ongoing fight to dismantle Hamas.

Rubio laid out three key priorities:

1. Addressing humanitarian needs without aiding Hamas.

2. Rescuing hostages, many of whom are believed to be facing starvation or torture in tunnels beneath Gaza.

3. Disbanding Hamas, the root cause of ongoing conflict in the region.

“As long as Hamas exists, there will not be peace,” Rubio emphasized. “There cannot be a permanent peace. It’ll restart again if Hamas remains.”

Rubio’s comments come amid intensifying pressure from the international community to focus primarily on food and aid delivery in Gaza. President Donald Trump, while supporting Israel’s right to self-defense, recently acknowledged there is “real starvation” in Gaza and dispatched Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Ambassador Mike Huckabee to assess the situation on the ground.

Witkoff confirmed Friday that their mission was to “help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid” while ensuring it doesn’t land in the hands of Hamas.

Rubio said he supports humanitarian efforts but made clear that too many leaders are ignoring the human beings rotting in terrorist tunnels beneath Gaza.

“All the talk is about humanitarian which is important; we are willing to do a lot to be helpful there but we have to focus on the other two. Those other two cannot be forgotten.”

He continued “The president has said he wants all the hostages out not five, not seven, all of them, including the deceased hostages.”

Even members of the Arab League, Rubio pointed out, now acknowledge that peace cannot exist while Hamas does. Yet Western media and progressive lawmakers continue to push ceasefires and condemnation of Israel, while turning a blind eye to the terrorist organization that started this war.

Let’s be clear: Israel didn’t ask for this. Hamas did. And while the world fixates on headlines about aid trucks and supply drops, 20 innocent people are being held underground, likely praying every hour for the United States and its allies to remember them.

Secretary Rubio’s words are a reminder of what true leadership looks like: moral clarity, national strength, and a willingness to say what others won’t.

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