The US Secretary of State Mark Rubio today meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu In Jerusalem, the day after the exchange of three Hamas hostages held in the Gaza Strip with 369 Palestinian prisoners.

Rubio, whose first trip to the Middle East since he took over his duties, is expected to discuss President Donald Trump’s proposal to take control of the Gaza Strip and the relocation of residents to Egypt and Jordan.

Rubio arrived in Tel Aviv last night, the same day when the sixth was held, since the beginning of the truce, hostage -prison hostages.

The truce agreement came into force on January 19, after 15 months of destructive war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, which erupted after the unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023.

After 498 days of captivity in Gaza, the Russian-Israeli Sasa Trufanov, 29, the American Israeli Shangie Dekel-Hen, 36 years old and Argentinean Iair Horn, 46 years old. Israel has confirmed that it released 369 Palestinian prisoners.

The first phase of the truce, completed on March 1, has already allowed the release of 19 Israeli hostages and 1,134 Palestinians. At this stage, a total of 33 hostages, of which eight were dead, will be delivered to Israel in exchange for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.

During his talks in Jerusalem, the head of American diplomacy is expected to refer to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which provides for the release of all hostages and the definitive end of the war.

According to a source close to the negotiations, mediators hope to start “next week in Doha” talks on this second phase, before the final phase of rebuilding Gaza, a huge venture for which the UN estimates that they are required Over $ 53 billion.

Washington is open to the Arab states’ proposals for Gaza but stresses that “the only plan is that of Trump at the moment.”

This plan foresees the US to take control of the Palestinian enclave to create the “Riviera of the Middle East” there and to relocate to Jordan and Egypt the inhabitants. These two countries are categorically opposed to this plan.

“At the moment the only plan- which they do not like- but the only plan is that of Trump. So if they have a better, it’s time to present it, “Rubio said on Thursday.

Following his meeting with Netanyahu, who is being set up this morning, Rubio will meet with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and opposition leader Yair Lapid.