US secretary of state echoes White House line, while UK favours rule by ‘peace-loving Palestinian leadership’
The comments, made at the end of a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Japan, echoed White House remarks on Tuesday suggesting opposition to a long-term occupation of
Giving his vision of Gaza after the destruction of the military power of Hamas, Blinken said: “Gaza cannot … continue to be run by Hamas; that simply invites repetition of 7 October,” referring to the attacks this autumn by Hamas in Israel in which at least 1,400 people were killed. Cleverly, speaking at the end of the G7 meeting, said: “In the short term, it is inevitable that Israel, because they have the troops in Gaza, will need to have a security responsibility.
Some Israeli politicians have discussed fully reoccupying the Gaza Strip, which Israel left unilaterally in 2005. Other former security officials say Israel will not start settlements in Gaza, but must have permanent and complete security control of the occupied territory so as to prevent a repetition of the attack on 7 October. Palestinians would be responsible for civil administration.
“The reality is that there may be a need for some transition period at the end of the conflict, but it is imperative that the Palestinian people be central to governance in Gaza and in the West Bank as well, and that, again, we don’t see a reoccupation. And what I’ve heard from Israeli leaders is that they have no intent to reoccupy Gaza and retake control of Gaza.
The PA in the West Bank already believes it has been forced into the role of a security subcontractor for Israel.
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