Foreign Minister Rubio Admits Gaza War Has An Impact On Israel's Global Position

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Marco Rubio said the United States cannot ignore the impact of the war on Israel's global position, as Israel's diplomatic isolation increases despite Washington's efforts to protect its allies.

"Regardless of whether you believe it is justified or not, true or not, you cannot ignore the impact it has on Israel's global position," Foreign Minister Rubio said at the CBS News 'Face The Nation' event.

He responded to a question about President Donald Trump's statement to Israel's Channel 12 in an interview published on Saturday: "Israeli Aunt Benjamin Netanyahu has acted too far in Gaza and Israel has lost a lot of support in the world. Now I will repay all that support."

For decades, the United States has diplomatically protected its ally, Israel, at the United Nations. Washington has provided six veto to protect Israel at the UN Security Council over the past two years, over a draft war-related resolution in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militant Hamas.

Washington's latest Veto came last month over a draft Security Council resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and for Israel to lift all restrictions on aid deliveries to the Palestinian enclave. A total of 14 other council members voted in favor of, isolating the United States.

Last month, the US approved a statement by the Security Council condemning Israel's latest attack on the Qatar capital, Doha, but the text did not name Israel.

The 193-member General Assembly has adopted several resolutions on Gaza, mostly after the Security Council was blocked from taking action by the United States. The General Assembly's vote has isolated Israel and the US significantly.

The General Assembly's resolution is non-binding, but weighs as a reflection of the global view of the war. Unlike the UN Security Council, no country has veto rights in the General Assembly.

Recently, the General Assembly demanded an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in the war in Gaza as well as access to aid. The resolution received 149 votes in favor, while 19 countries abstained, while the US, Israel, and 10 other countries refused.

In October 2023, the General Assembly called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza with 120 votes in favor. In December 2023, 153 countries voted to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

Then in December 2024, the General Assembly demanded - with 158 votes in favor - an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire.

Foreign Minister Rubio noted on Sunday, "given the length of this war and how it will continue", several major Western powers - France, Britain, Australia, and Canada - have decided to recognize the Palestinian state.

France and Saudi Arabia held an international summit at the United Nations in July, which was followed by a summit at the United Nations last month, in a bid to outline steps towards a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

The UN General Assembly last month in a majority vote supported a declaration from a July conference outlining "concrete, time-frame, and irreversible measures" towards a two-state solution.

A resolution supporting the declaration received 142 votes in favor and 10 votes against, while 12 countries abstained.

The United Nations has long supported the vision of two countries coexisting within safe and recognized boundaries. Palestine wants a state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, all territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war with neighboring Arab countries.

The US says a two-state solution can only be realized through negotiations between Israel and Palestine. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bluntly said he would never allow the establishment of a Palestinian state, even though he had approved Trump's plan to end the Gaza war, which offered possible roads, albeit on very strict terms, towards the establishment of a Palestinian state.