By MATTHEW LEE and SAMY MAGDY, Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Monday that Hamas must be eliminated and all hostages released for there to be peace in Gaza, setting aside calls for an interim ceasefire in favor of an immediate end to the conflict.

Rubio had come to Israel seeking answers from Netanyahu about how Israel intended to proceed in Gaza and assess interest in Qatar retaining a mediating role after Israel attacked Hamas leaders in Doha. The two said after their talks that the only way to peace is the complete destruction of Hamas and the return of all hostages living and dead.

“As long as they’re around, there will be no peace in this region because they are not agents of peace. They are a

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