International

Rubio highlights to the Israeli president Trump’s “deep commitment” to the hostages

The Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubio, assured this Sunday to the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, that Donald Trump is “firm and deeply committed to the goal of each and every hostage returning home.”

“And don’t rest, don’t shut up, don’t forget until they all return home,” Rubio said with Herzog to the media, shortly before the meeting between the two began at the presidential residence in Jerusalem.

Rubio highlighted as a priority the joint work of the US Administration with the Government of Benjamin Netanyahu to bring the hostages back, although he also highlighted among the regional challenges to face the situation in southern Lebanon, where Israel maintains its troops, that of Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad and, above all, the relationship with Iran.

“We have always sought peace and we have always wanted peace in our region. And I think that your visit here, as well as your ability to change and influence our region are enormous and can bring great hope to our people and the peoples of the region,” Herzog said.

The Israeli president also emphasized Israel’s efforts to return the 73 remaining hostages in Gaza (70 captured by Hamas in the October 7 attack and three who were previously in the enclave) to return to Israeli territory.

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“We are screaming, suffering, praying, working tirelessly to bring each and every one of our hostages back home. This is our greatest hope as a nation and as individuals and I want to thank you for this effort and for carrying out this sacred mission,” the Israeli politician continued.

In his statements, however, Rubio focused on the Iranian regime, assuring that behind groups such as Hamas or the Shiite group Hezbula in Lebanon, as well as Assad in Syria or the Houthis of Yemen, is Iran.

“It is still a fundamental challenge that we have before us, but know that there has not been a stronger defender of the State of Israel in the White House than President Trump, to whom I have the honor of serving as his secretary of state,” he said.

The US Secretary of State also held meetings this Saturday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar.

In the first, Netanyahu claimed that he works “in total cooperation” with Trump, with whom he also values the resumption of the war if the hostages are not released.

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However, negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza have not yet begun (they should have done so on February 3), according to EFE Hamas sources, despite the fact that it is during this stage when the release of the rest of the living hostages is proposed, in addition to the definitive end of the war.

International

White House says Cuba policy unchanged despite sanctioned fuel shipment

The White House said Monday that it has not changed its policy toward Cuba, despite allowing a sanctioned Russian oil tanker to deliver fuel to the island on humanitarian grounds.

U.S. officials emphasized that the decision was made as an exception and does not signal a broader shift in policy.

The administration added that similar decisions would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on humanitarian considerations.

The clarification comes amid ongoing restrictions related to U.S. sanctions policy, which continue to limit trade and financial flows involving Cuba.

International

Spain to grant citizenship to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López

The Spanish government is expected to grant citizenship this Tuesday to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lópezthrough an extraordinary procedure known as “carta de naturaleza.”

The decision will be approved by royal decree, an exceptional legal mechanism used in special cases that require expedited resolution due to specific circumstances.

López has been living in Madrid since 2020, after leaving Venezuela following a prolonged political and legal conflict with the government of Nicolás Maduro.

According to government sources, López currently does not have a valid Venezuelan passport and faces difficulties in having his nationality fully recognized in his home country.

As a result, he applied for Spanish citizenship via a fast-track process at the end of 2025, after previously attempting to obtain it through regular procedures.

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The Spanish government justified the move based on López’s international relevance and foreign policy considerations.

López is the leader of the Voluntad Popular party and co-founder of the World Liberty Congress, an initiative launched in 2022 alongside figures such as Garry Kasparov and Masih Alinejad.

International

ICE to remain at airports amid DHS shutdown, Homan says

The U.S. “border czar,” Tom Homan, said Sunday that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will remain deployed at airports until operations return to “100% normal,” as the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues.

“We will maintain ICE presence until airports feel they are fully back to normal operations,” Homan said during an interview on Face the Nation on CBS.

Homan justified the deployment on security grounds, noting that the measure was ordered by President Donald Trumpamid widespread absenteeism among agents of the Transportation Security Administration, who have gone without pay for over six weeks due to the DHS shutdown.

According to acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill, at least 460 TSA agents have resigned during the shutdown, while daily absenteeism has averaged 11%, exceeding 50% at some airports.

Homan warned that if TSA staffing levels do not recover after the shutdown, ICE agents will continue filling the gap. “ICE is there to support our TSA brothers and sisters. We will remain as long as needed to ensure airport security,” he said.

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The DHS shutdown reached 44 days on Sunday, making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The impasse stems from disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over ICE funding.

A recent bipartisan Senate proposal to fund DHS without including ICE failed after being blocked by House Republicans, who insist on full funding for the agency.

Amid the deadlock, Trump signed an executive order directing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay TSA agents to address what he called an “emergency situation” and restore order at airports, with payments expected to begin Monday.