GG News Bureau
Washington DC, 8th Nov. US President Joe Biden has expressed his opposition to Israel’s proposal to assume “security responsibility” for Gaza after the war, stating that it would not benefit Israel or the Palestinians. This statement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that Israel would need to maintain its presence in Gaza indefinitely to prevent the resurgence of “Hamas terror.”
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated on Tuesday that Biden still believes that Israel retaking Gaza would not be beneficial. “This would not be good for Israel, the Israeli people, or the Palestinian people,” he remarked.
Kirby also mentioned that one of the topics being discussed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the region is the future governance of Gaza. “What will the governance of Gaza look like? It cannot remain the same as it was on October 6. Hamas cannot continue to exist there,” he emphasized.
Biden had previously stated that Israel occupying Gaza would be a significant mistake. These comments come amidst a growing divide between the US and Israel over the ongoing war, which began on October 7 when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. The attack resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Israelis and triggered a devastating Israeli response, causing the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, including over 4,000 children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Israel has implemented a “total blockade” on Gaza, preventing the entry of food, water, medicine, fuel, and electricity. Additionally, Palestinians have been ordered to evacuate northern Gaza, including Gaza City, and Israel has initiated a ground invasion of the area. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Galant stated on Tuesday that after the war concludes, Israel will maintain complete freedom to respond to any situation in the Gaza Strip.
However, the US State Department made it clear on Tuesday that it does not support the idea of long-term Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vedant Patel stated during a press conference that “our view is that Palestinians should be at the forefront of these decisions, and Gaza is Palestinian land that will remain as such.”
Patel also mentioned that the US agrees that there should be no return to the situation that existed on October 6, referring to the day before the massive Hamas attack. He stated that the US is collaborating with the international community and the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, to find a solution for Gaza’s future. Additionally, the US is providing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and urging Israel to facilitate its delivery.
Israel gained control of the Gaza Strip after the six-day war in 1967 but withdrew its troops and settlers in 2005. Subsequently, Hamas took control of the territory, and Israel imposed a blockade. The current conflict marks the fourth major confrontation between Israel and Hamas since 2008.
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