Quick take: Marco Rubio spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Jan. 10, a U.S. official said, but provided no details. Axios reported the call likely covered Gaza, Syria and Iran’s mass protests. The move comes amid an unsettled Gaza ceasefire and renewed regional tensions after last year’s clashes and U.S. strikes on Iranian sites.
Rubio Phoned Netanyahu; Call Reportedly Touched On Gaza, Syria and Iran Protests
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands as they make joint statements to the press at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, February 16, 2025. Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein/Pool
A U.S. official said Marco Rubio spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, but declined to provide further details about the conversation.
While the American official would not specify the topics discussed, Axios reported earlier that the leaders spoke about developments in Gaza, the situation in Syria and the large anti-government protests unfolding in Iran.
Iran: Iran, which engaged in a 12-day conflict with Israel last year and saw some of its nuclear facilities struck by the U.S. in June, is now experiencing its largest anti-government demonstrations in years.
Gaza: A fragile ceasefire that began in October has not progressed beyond its initial phase. Both Israel and Hamas have accused the other side of serious breaches, and the parties remain far apart on the more contentious steps planned for the next phase.
Israel–Syria Talks: Earlier this week, Israel and Syria agreed during U.S.-mediated talks in Paris to establish a communication mechanism to coordinate on security and commercial issues.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, Prime Minister Netanyahu has traveled to the United States five times to meet the Republican president; Trump made a visit to Israel in October.
Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; editing by Andrea Ricci, Sergio Non and Kate Mayberry.
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