US official rejects Israel’s reoccupation of Gaza after Hamas conflict
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will take responsibility for the ‘overall security’ of Gaza after its conflict with Hamas subsides.
The United States announced on Tuesday that it does not support any “reoccupation” of Gaza by Israel after the Israeli leader suggested that his country would take control of security in Gaza after its conflict with Hamas comes to an end.
During a press briefing on Nov. 7, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said that the United States does not support “any forced relocation” of Palestinian people outside of war-torn Gaza. “Our viewpoint is that Palestinians must be at the forefront of these decisions, and Gaza is Palestinian land and it will remain Palestinian land,” Mr. Patel told reporters. He also stated that the US and Israel do not support reoccupation of Gaza.
Mr. Patel mentioned that Washington agreed with Israel that “there is no returning to the Oct. 6 status quo” but emphasized that “Gaza has to be secure, and Gaza can no longer be a base from which to launch terror attacks against the people of Israel or anyone else.”
Mr. Patel added that the Biden administration is actively working with partners “on interim governance, security parameters, and security situations in Gaza” for when the Israel-Hamas conflict recedes.
This came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would take the “overall security responsibility” of Gaza for an “indefinite period.” He believes that Gaza should be governed only by “those who don’t want to continue the way of Hamas,” and such a government won’t be able to stand without the backing of Israeli firepower, he said.
President Joe Biden has said that any reoccupation of Gaza by Israel would be “a big mistake.” Although he believes that Israeli forces “going in” and “taking out the extremists” is a “necessary requirement.” President Biden also emphasized the need to ensure stability in the West Bank and “hold extremist settlers accountable for violent acts,” and to increase the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
Israel launched an air and ground offensive against Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack. Israeli bombardment has killed at least 10,000 in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog by phone on Nov. 7 and reiterated her support for Israel’s right to defend its citizens and combat terrorism, according to the State Department.
