Blinken Condemns Israel’s Occupation of Gaza

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Israel cannot run Gaza, but there might be a transition period following the end of the current conflict.

“Gaza cannot be continued to be run by Hamas. That simply invites repetition of Oct. 7 … It’s also clear that Israel cannot occupy Gaza,” Blinken told reporters after a G7 foreign ministers meeting in Tokyo.

“Now, the reality is that there may be a need for some transition period at the end of the conflict … We don’t see a reoccupation and what I’ve heard from Israeli leaders, is that they have no intent to reoccupy Gaza.”