U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem between 11:31 AM and 12:01 PM UTC on September 14th, 2025. The visit occurred as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimated that over 300,000 Palestinians have evacuated Gaza City, with tens of thousands leaving in the past day. Netanyahu stated that Secretary Rubio's visit is a testament to the durability and strength of the Israeli-American alliance, noting it has never been stronger under President Trump and Secretary Rubio. The IDF's evacuation estimates for Gaza City come as the military prepares for a major offensive against Hamas in the area, having previously ordered all residents to evacuate to designated humanitarian zones in the Strip's south. Rubio and Netanyahu were seen together at the Western Wall, according to posts shared on X by Crannofonix News and Amit Segal. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was also present. The IDF had previously issued expanded evacuation warnings for Gaza City's Tel Alhah neighborhood at approximately 10:40 AM UTC on September 14th, following earlier alerts for the Gaza Port and Al-Remal areas, targeting buildings containing Hamas infrastructure. The Defense Ministry's Rehabilitation Department is currently caring for 81,700 wounded veterans, including 31,000 with mental health conditions, as of September 14th, 2025. This figure includes approximately 20,000 soldiers wounded since the war began on October 7, 2023, with over half experiencing mental health issues. The ministry stated that 45% of these 20,000 are physically wounded, 35% have mental health conditions, and 20% have both. The department's budget is NIS 8.3 billion, with NIS 4.1 billion allocated for mental health treatment.
