- Marco Rubio claims a recent Israeli airstrike does not violate the U.S.-backed ceasefire.
- He defends Israel's right to conduct strikes against perceived imminent threats.
- The targeted Palestinian Islamic Jihad group denies Israel's claim of an imminent attack.
- Palestinian authorities report dozens killed and wounded since the truce began.
- This U.S. endorsement raises questions about the ceasefire's durability and the ongoing human cost.
The fragile ceasefire in Gaza continues to be tested daily, and the United States government is providing the answer on how far Israel can go. On October 27, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explicitly defended a recent Israeli airstrike, stating it did not breach the U.S.-backed truce. This declaration gives Israel wide latitude to continue military operations, raising questions about the truce's durability and the true cost in Palestinian lives.
Secretary Rubio made his remarks while traveling aboard the presidential plane. He addressed an Israeli drone strike from two days prior in central Gaza’s Nuseirat camp. “We don’t view that as a violation of the ceasefire,” Rubio stated. His comments provide diplomatic cover for Israel’s actions just after his departure from the region, where he had been meeting with officials to shore up the agreement.
The Israeli military claimed the Saturday strike targeted a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement. They alleged the individual was preparing an imminent attack against Israeli troops. This justification has become a recurring theme, allowing operations to continue despite the negotiated pause in broader hostilities.
However, the targeted group immediately refuted Israel’s narrative. In a strongly worded statement, the PIJ movement denied the claim, describing it as “merely false.” The group accused Tel Aviv of inventing threats to justify its actions so they can claim they are not violating the ceasefire. This highlights the fundamental disconnect in accounts of events on the ground.
The right to self-defense
Rubio’s defense hinges on a specific interpretation of the ceasefire terms. He asserted that Israel retains its right to self-defense against perceived imminent threats. “They have the right if there’s an imminent threat to Israel, and all the mediators agree with that,” Rubio added. This clause appears to be a loophole that Israel can invoke to conduct strikes at its own discretion.
The human cost of these continued operations is mounting. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the recent strike killed at least one person and wounded others. This incident is not isolated. The Ministry reports that Israel has killed at least eight Palestinians and wounded 13 others across Gaza in the past 48 hours alone.
These latest casualties contribute to a disturbing total since the U.S.-brokered truce began. The Health Ministry reports that 93 Palestinians have been killed and 332 injured since the ceasefire plan took effect on October 11. This brings the total number of casualties above 400 during a period that was supposedly dedicated to peace and humanitarian relief.
The violence continued even as Rubio was speaking. On the morning of October 27, Palestinian media reported another Israeli drone strike east of Khan Younis. That strike killed two civilians. The Israeli military claimed the targeted individuals had “crossed the ceasefire line” and posed a “threat” to troops.
Endless provocation
For the people of Gaza, these strikes are not isolated self-defense acts but part of a pattern of provocation. The PIJ movement holds the Israeli army “fully responsible for this breach” and has called on ceasefire mediators to compel Israel to stop such attacks. The situation creates a volatile cycle where each strike risks a larger military response, unraveling the truce entirely.
The escalating casualty figures and the U.S. endorsement of Israeli strikes suggest a tragic reality. The ceasefire, in its current form, is not stopping the killing. With Washington providing ready-made justifications for military action, the prospects for a lasting peace appear dim, and the people of Gaza remain caught in a devastating cycle of violence.
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