TEL AVIV — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel late Saturday, marking his first visit to the Middle East since assuming office.

Upon landing at Ben Gurion International Airport, he was welcomed by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who shared a photo of their meeting on his X account.

Rubio is scheduled to meet with top Israeli officials on Sunday, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss key regional developments.

Following his visit to Israel, he will travel to Saudi Arabia and the UAE for talks with senior officials on regional cooperation, stability, and peace efforts.

According to the US State Department, the primary focus of Rubio’s trip will be securing the release of American and other hostages held by Hamas, advancing to the next phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and addressing what Washington describes as the “destabilizing activities” of Iran and its regional proxies.

His visit comes amid growing international debate over US President Donald Trump’s proposal to "take over" Gaza, relocate Palestinians to Egypt, Jordan, and other countries, and transform the strip into what he called the "Riviera of the Middle East."

The proposal has been widely condemned by Arab nations and much of the international community, who argue that it amounts to ethnic cleansing.

The controversial idea emerged following the ceasefire agreement that took effect in Gaza on Jan. 19, temporarily halting Israel’s 15-month-long military offensive, which has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians and left the enclave in devastation. — Agencies