US 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.

Speaking at a joint news conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu thanked the United States for their support and pledged to defeat Hamas so it no longer poses a threat to Israel.

"They no longer should be there," Netanyahu said.

"Your presence here in Israel today is a clear message that America stands with Israel," he added.

Calling Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7th an "act of unparalleled barbarism", Rubio said the group needed to "cease to exist as an armed element that can threaten the peace and security of the region."

He added that all 48 hostages, living and deceased, needed to be returned.

"The people of Gaza deserve a better future," Rubio told the news conference.

"But that better future cannot begin until Hamas is eliminated. That better future and that kind of peace is not even possible until the hostages are released. All of them. Every single one."

Rubio arrived in Israel on Sunday as its military intensified attacks on northern Gaza, flattening multiple high-rise building and killing at least 13 Palestinians.

Rubio said before the trip that he would seek answers from Israeli officials about their view of a path forward in Gaza, following Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar last week that upended efforts to broker an end to the conflict.

His two-day visit also represents a show of support for the increasingly isolated Israel as the United Nations holds what is expected to be a contentious debate next week on commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state.

Netanyahu strongly opposes the recognition of a Palestinian state.

Rubio's visit proceeded despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s anger at Netanyahu over the Israeli strike in Doha, which he said the United States wasn't notified of beforehand.