U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the Biden administration’s commitment to lasting peace in the Middle East but stressed that Gaza must no longer pose a threat to Israel before any talks of Palestinian statehood can advance.

“Until Gaza is governed by people that are not interested in destroying Israel, until there are no security threats emanating against Israel from Gaza, forget about statehood — you’re not going to have peace,” Rubio said in remarks on Sunday. “We have to create the conditions for that.”

The Secretary’s comments come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilize Gaza following months of conflict. Earlier in the week, Rubio noted that progress had been made in negotiations but warned that the path ahead remains uncertain.

U.S. officials have continued to push for a long-term framework that ensures Israel’s security while addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza, framing stability as a prerequisite for any future political resolution.