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New US administration considers support for Israel as its priority – Department of State

He also expressed readiness to address "the threats posed by Iran and pursuing opportunities for peace"

WASHINGTON, January 23. /TASS/. New US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reassured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that support for Israel is one of the key priorities for the Donald Trump administration, the US Department of State said after their phone call.

"Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to underscore that maintaining the United States’ steadfast support for Israel is a top priority for President Trump," it said in a press statement. "The Secretary congratulated the Prime Minister on Israel’s successes against Hamas and Hezbollah and pledged to work tirelessly to help free all remaining hostages held in Gaza."

He also expressed readiness to address "the threats posed by Iran and pursuing opportunities for peace."

On January 15, the mediators announced that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages held in the enclave. During the first 42-day phase of the deal, Hamas will release 33 hostages in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The agreement came into effect on January 19. On the same day, three Israeli women and Israel, in turn, released 90 Palestinian women and teenagers from its prisons early on January 20.

Israeli Ambassador to Russia Simona Halperin told TASS earlier that Russian national Alexander Trufanov, who is also an Israeli citizen, is among the 33 hostages to be released by Hamas.