In Jerusalem, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israel’s prime minister said they would work closely on countering Iran, securing the release of hostages taken by Hamas and shaping Gaza’s future, while also discussing Lebanon, Syria and what they described as a coordinated response to “lawfare” directed at both countries.

The prime minister said he and “Secretary Rubio” agreed that “the Ayatollahs must not have nuclear weapons” and that “Iran’s aggression in the region has to be rolled back.” He credited recent operations over the past 16 months for weakening Iran’s regional network and said Israel would act to prevent hostile forces from using Syria as a base near the Golan Heights.

The prime minister also thanked Secretary Rubio for U.S. help in securing “another 3 hostages yesterday” and said Washington’s “unequivocal blocking for Israel’s policy in Gaza” would help Israel “bring all our hostages home” and “eliminate Hamas’ military capability and its political rule in Gaza.” He said Israel and the United States have a “common strategy” though some details cannot be publicly disclosed.

Rubio, speaking for the U.S. side, said it was “an honor” to visit Jerusalem as secretary of state and repeatedly framed Iran as “the single greatest source of instability in the region.” He said, “Hostages need to come home, they need to be released and you work in very close coordination with him,” referring to President Trump, and that the U.S. and Israel share goals on Gaza and on weakening Iran and its proxies.

Both officials discussed Lebanon and the need for a Lebanese state capable of disarming Hezbollah; the prime minister said Israel expects Lebanon to fulfill ceasefire understandings reached in November and repeated that “Hezbollah must be disarmed.” They also discussed Syria, with Rubio warning against replacing one destabilizing force with another as Assad’s position changes.

The two leaders voiced concern about international institutions they described as hostile to U.S. and Israeli positions, citing the U.N. General Assembly and the U.N. Human Rights Commission, and criticized recent activity at the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice. The prime minister said Israel, like the United States, “is not subject to the jurisdiction of the ICC and does not accept the court’s authority” and praised recent U.S. executive actions targeting ICC officials.

No formal agreements, votes or new public actions were announced at the meeting. Both leaders described ongoing cooperation and said they would continue coordinating policies and strategy on the matters discussed.