Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Friday, February 21, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Friday, February 21, 2025
Rubio calls for ‘pure evil’ Hamas to be ‘eradicated’
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem on February 16, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/ POOL/ AFP)
Writing on X before the news broke that Hamas did not return the body of Shiri Bibas, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls for Hamas to be “eradicated.”
“On October 7, 2023, terrorists in Gaza abducted a mother, her child, her infant son, and an 83-year-old man and murdered them,” he writes. “More than 500 days later, Hamas returned them to Israel in coffins. We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims’ families who have suffered the unimaginable.”
“Hamas is evil – pure evil – and must be eradicated. ALL hostages must come home NOW.”
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