U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that negotiations toward the next phase of a Gaza cease-fire are showing signs of progress, while stressing that lasting peace will depend on the disarmament of Hamas.
Speaking as senior officials from Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye traveled to Miami for talks with U.S. envoys, including President Donald Trump’s special representative Steve Witkoff, Rubio acknowledged the fragility of the cease-fire but described its continuation as a significant achievement.
“The cease-fire that went into effect with the release of hostages was nothing short of a miracle,” Rubio told a news conference in Washington. “Every day brings new challenges, from all sides, but we are working through them.”
Qatar and Egypt have served as key mediators in the cease-fire, while Türkiye has also taken part in regional diplomacy surrounding Gaza. The talks are aimed at advancing the agreement into its second phase, which would include an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, the establishment of an interim governing authority to replace Hamas, and the deployment of an international stabilization force.
Rubio warned, however, that the process would collapse if Hamas retains its military capabilities.
