U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on the 5th (local time) that the "disarmament of Hamas must be achieved, and it is the core of the second phase (of the Gaza peace plan)."

In an interview with ABC News on the same day, Secretary Rubio explained that following the first phase of President Donald Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan, which includes the exchange of hostages and prisoners and the initial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the second phase would involve Hamas's disarmament and the establishment of a Palestinian interim government. He made these remarks accordingly.

Secretary Rubio said, "As long as there is a threat to Israel's security from within Gaza, whether it is Hamas or an organization that succeeds Hamas, as long as there are organizations within Gaza that possess rockets, build tunnels, and kidnap, murder, and rape Israeli citizens, there will be no peace."

"Therefore, that must be achieved. That disarmament must be achieved," he emphasized, adding, "That will be the core element of the second phase."

"Hamas's very purpose for existence is to threaten the state of Israel," he continued. "Anyone who supports lasting peace must be in favor of dismantling Hamas or any other armed terrorist organization that seeks to operate in Gaza."

Secretary Rubio proposed that alongside Hamas's disarmament, the second phase of the peace plan should involve creating "an international governance structure led by Palestinian technocrats."

He stated that this would occur "after Israel has withdrawn to this line (the initial withdrawal line proposed by President Trump)." He added, "It will be somewhat difficult to achieve, but it will provide sustainability to the end of the conflict."

Hamas has indicated a willingness to accept President Trump's demand for the release of Israeli hostages but has shown a passive stance regarding disarmament.

Ahead of the deadline set by President Trump for Hamas to release the hostages, 6 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day, Secretary Rubio explained that the hostage and prisoner exchange negotiations between Israel and Hamas taking place in Egypt were focused on "resolving procedural details such as who will come to take them and where the crossing points for the exchange will be."

"By the time our team, led by President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, arrives in Cairo, we hope that 90% of this matter will be resolved, and we will just be finalizing the procedural details," he said, adding, "We hope for the hostages to be moved as soon as possible."

"A team like the Red Cross, or any organization tasked with that mission, must be sent for them (hostage exchange)," he added. "All of these things need to be coordinated, and it shouldn't take that long."

In an interview with CBS News, Secretary Rubio responded to a question about whether the United States would recognize Palestine as a state, in accordance with the 19th item of the peace plan announced by President Trump, by stating, "The only way to achieve (statehood) is through a negotiated agreement with Israel."

This item states that under the condition that 'Gaza's reconstruction and the reform of the Palestinian Authority are faithfully implemented,' a 'reliable pathway toward Palestinian self-determination and statehood' will be established.

Secretary Rubio said, "At this point, that is not feasible. It is a discussion about a long-term, future pathway. Before reaching (statehood), there must be an entity (a legitimate, peaceful government) that will receive that land."

He speculated, however, that "Israel will likely say, 'We want to hand over Gaza to a Palestinian organization that is not terrorist in nature.'" He continued, "Once there is some form of Palestinian governmental organization capable of governing the territory, then many possibilities will open up."

Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State. AP Yonhap News

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