Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that an independent Palestinian state is \u201cnot even a realistic thing right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not even possible. That\u2019s not even a realistic thing right now,\u201d Rubio said on CBS\u2019s “Face the Nation<\/a>.” \u201cBecause who would govern that Palestinian state, Hamas?\u201d<\/p>\n The Trump administration\u2019s 20-point plan<\/a> to end the war in Gaza includes a pathway to Palestinian statehood under the governance of a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA). Hamas is currently in control of Gaza, while the PA controls parts of the West Bank. <\/p>\n Last month, the governments of Canada, Australia, France and the United Kingdom formally recognized<\/a> a Palestinian state, a symbolic gesture. Of the 193 United Nations countries, 157 recognize a Palestinian state. <\/p>\n Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes the measure, while President Trump said at the United Nations General Assembly<\/a> last month that recognizing Palestinian statehood \u201crewards\u201d Hamas.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rubio said Sunday that a group of Palestinian \u201ctechnocrats\u201d would govern Gaza, but only after the remaining 48 Israeli hostages \u2014 28 of whom are deceased, 20 of whom are alive \u2014 are returned.\u00a0<\/p>\n