On Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the United States’ stance against Israel’s reoccupation of the Gaza Strip and any diminishment of Palestinian territory.
Blinken’s remarks were in response to a plan for post-war Gaza put forward by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which his country’s army would have “indefinite freedom” to operate throughout the Gaza Strip once Hamas is defeated.
#US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the Biden administration's opposition to an #Israeli "reoccupation" of #Gaza and emphasized that its territory should not be diminished post-war. Despite prior UN classification of Gaza as occupied, Israel plans to maintain… pic.twitter.com/2kInOboS9R
— Zoom News (@zoomnewskrd) February 23, 2024
“Gaza… cannot be a platform for terrorism. There should be no Israeli reoccupation of Gaza. The size of Gaza territory should not be reduced,” Blinken said in Buenos Aires, after attending a G20 meeting of foreign ministers in Brazil.
Following a Thursday attack near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank, during which three Palestinians opened fire on vehicles, resulting in the death of one person and injuring eight others, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Washington’s backing for Israel’s right to “self-defense”.
Since the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas, Palestinians in the West Bank have expressed grievances about the escalating Israeli-imposed restrictions. These measures have significantly impacted their daily lives, affecting movement, access to resources, and overall well-being
Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister, has advocated for a “firm security response” and colonization by constructing thousands of new housing units in settlements such as Maale Adumim and throughout the West Bank1. His proposal has sparked intense debate and controversy, given the ongoing complexities and tensions in the region. It’s essential to recognize that such actions have significant implications for the delicate balance between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as for the prospects of lasting peace and stability
Blinken said that “new settlements are counterproductive to reaching enduring peace, and also inconsistent with international law.”
“Our administration maintains firm opposition to settlement expansion. In our judgment, this only weakens, it doesn’t strengthen, Israel’s security.”
ALSO READ | Hostages Freed in Rafah as IDF Strikes Claim Dozens of Lives