The White House on Wednesday said the Israeli military would likely have to be responsible for security in Gaza initially after the war if Israel successfully roots out Hamas.
“I think all of us can foresee a period of time after the conflict is over where Israeli forces will likely still be in Gaza and will have some initial security responsibilities,” said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
The comments are similar to remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. He said that Israel will take over “overall security responsibility” in Gaza for an “indefinite period” after the war, signaling plans for a long-term military occupation.
Kirby also warned Israel against “reoccupying” Gaza, saying it would be a “mistake.” Israel withdrew its troops from Gaza in 2005 but put the enclave under a military blockade in 2007 after Hamas came to power. The blockade was never lifted and gave Israel the ability to impose a “complete siege” after October 7.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday warned Israel against occupying Gaza while acknowledging there will be a transition period after the war. “it is clear that Israel cannot occupy Gaza,” Blinken said. “Now, 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 the West Bank, as well.”
Biden administration officials have been calling for a two-state solution after the war, but it’s clear that’s not something the Netanyahu government is considering. A leaked document drafted by Israel’s Intelligence Ministry revealed that the Netanyahu government is considering cleansing Gaza of its approximately 2.3 million Palestinian residents by pushing them into Egypt. But the plan is strongly opposed by Cairo.
Besides their plans for Gaza, the Israeli government has prioritized expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and settlers have taken advantage of the current tensions to push Palestinians out of their homes. Since October 7, over 100 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, and nearly 1,000 have been forcibly displaced.
He’s warning them with what? Blinken is a useless psychopath.
Biden’s apparatchik.
Israel has “responsibility”?….
Big mistake. Get the hostages released and get the heck out of there. Staying any longer then needed will just get IDF troops killed.
They didn’t go in to get the hostages released. They went in to destroy Hamas. And it’s good of you to have concern for the IDF troops. Never mind about the women and children.
As I said, it is a big mistake. The war aim should be to get the hostages released. It is unlikely the IDF will destroy Hamas. And purely from Israel point of view, after the hostages, the next concern is for their own troops. Once Israel leaves Gaza, the civilians will be safer. The longer Israel stays, the more civilians will die. That is what happens in war.
The goal is to destroy Hamas. Whether they can do it or not doesn’t mean they aren’t there for that reason. If the hostages mattered, they wouldn’t have been bombing as extensively as they have and they wouldn’t have had to be talked into a pause to negotiate their release. Instead, they say if the hostages aren’t released, the bombing will continue. Now, does that improve the hostage’s chance of getting out alive? Of course not. I just don’t see the hostage’s safety as being high on the priority list. They can be used effectively either way. Dead or alive.
It improves the chances of the hostages being killed. The other day I read that Hamas alleges that 50 hostages may have been killed by the bombing. Have not read anything more about that.
Nope, they have not gone completely in and they will continue the bombing, even through any negotiations. Their mission is damage, Mass damage. Of course the UK and US are sending “assistance”. Yes, we are getting involved in the genocide.
A tad premature this “after the war” talk.
Yes, it is. How this war will be play out is yet to be determined.
That is assuming Israel wins. Well that may not happen. Hamas is the de-facto government of Gaza. And unless the citizens of Gaza turn on Hamas, Israel will not win. If I was the leader of Israel, I would keep pounding Gaza until they get the hostages back. Then I would pull out the next day.
What about the hostages in Israeli jails? All 5,000 of them. That is the purpose of Hamas taking the hostages in the first place. Negotiations need to be conducted for the release of all of the hostages. Also, let’s talk about the limitation on food, water, electricity, medicine, travel for Palestinians. How about he occupation in general? The blockade?
“The purpose of Hamas taking the hostages” is for trading for Israeli prisoners is a problem. Making that exchange would just encourage future hostages taking. So that is off the table. Now release down the road as a reward for Gaza stopping their attack on Israel is a different storied and should occur.
The blockade should be lifted once the hostages are release and IDF leaves Gaza. That includes the sea blockade. However, the border between Israel and Gaza should remain closed.
Who are you kidding? You know as well as I do that should the hostages eventually be returned (If Israel doesn’t kill them with the bombing), there is no way Netanyahu will cease the bombing until; 1) all Palestinians are dead, 2) remaining Palestinians are herded into the Sinai desert to live in tents, and die. His father was an acolyte of Vladimir Jabotinsky. I know you are familiar with him because your tone hints at your agreeing with him.
So, collective punishment for the actions of a few … got it.
What exactly is it that people object to re the actions of “terrorists”, then, if not collective punishment of the innocent in pursuit of political goals?
Killing of civilians is never a good thing. Hamas knew that Israel would counter attack and civilians would die. Hamas did not care. From Hamas point of a view the more Palestinians that die the better as it makes Israel look bad. Nice guys, get your own killed to score PR points.
It was: 1) a breakout from the concentration camp. 2) a means to bring out the “best” in Israel to demonstrate to the world what they have been dealing with for so long. The young men who attacked knew they were not coming back. I believe the IDF counted 1500 Palestinians attackers dead. So, Tim, what is the alternative, more night raids, more humiliation, more travel limitations, more control over food, medicine, electricity, potable water, work ( 50% general unemployment, 60% among the youth), no airport (Israel blew that up when the blockade was formed in 2006), no harbor (Israel blew that up when the blockade was formed in 2006)? The attackers had been born in the concentration camp and knew nothing else. There is a poem by Langston Hughes called Harlem, that describes perfectly the eventual storm. Look it up. Read it.
All partisan resistance groups face this dilemma. The Germans would execute 10s of civilians for every soldier killed by French, Greek, Yugoslav partisans, but the resistance continued until the end.
Just like wars, where the guilty party is the initiator, the guilty party under occupation is not the resistance to occupation but the occupier. All these deaths are due to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory since 1967. No other cause.
Plus, history did not start there on 7 Oct 23…..
Sure, you would pull out the next day. But you can’t possibly believe that Israel would actually do that. And Hamas knows that. So, the continued “pounding” will not get the hostages released, it will get them killed. Israel knows this and they continue on anyway.
You might be right, the hostages might get killed. In that case, wow. That will be very bad for Gaza.
It’s hard to ramp up what is going on in Gaza presently, so it won’t be much different. The hostages getting killed will just create even more justification for the collective (capital) punishment that is going on presently.
Which means THE OCCUPATION CONTINUES, AS IT HAS SINCE 1948.
Exactly.
What does that mean? They never stopped occupying Gaza (and W Bank). Just because you move the jailers to outside the prison grounds rather than inside does not mean they are not there and not controlling life inside.
Israel occupation did not start until 1967.
Better check your resources.
“Blinken has warned Israel against occupying a post-war Gaza.”
Wink, wink, nod, nod.
grin, grin,snicker,snicker………………………..guffaws later………….
Winken, and Blinken, walked up to see God
God saw them coming while He was out sunning
And quickly gave Satan the Nod.
Constituents of Dem US Reps demanding cease fire:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/calls-for-congress-ceasefire-gaza-israel_n_654d4d0ce4b0373d70b16b0f
“Staffers from more than two dozen Democratic offices say they are receiving an unprecedented number of calls and emails demanding for members to support a cease-fire — an onslaught for which their caucus was wholly unprepared.”
Simple. The politicians have no ethics nor honor beyond getting re-elected. They don’t really lose sleep no matter how many die.
You see, it’s just not their problem. Oh, I forgot. They’re cowards.
“Staffers from more than two dozen Democratic offices say they are receiving an unprecedented number of calls and emails demanding for members to support a cease-fire — an onslaught for which their caucus was wholly unprepared.”
Simple. The politicians have no ethics nor honor beyond getting re-elected. They don’t really lose sleep no matter how many die.
You see, it’s just not their problem. Oh, I forgot. They’re cowards.
Possession is nine-tenths of the law of the jungle. The Israeli government has no honor – none, and the US has given its imprimatur of assent to crimes against humanity, and has by doing so become the same as its satellite.
The pimp and his call girls.
“Staffers from more than two dozen Democratic offices say they are receiving an unprecedented number of calls and emails demanding for members to support a cease-fire — an onslaught for which their caucus was wholly unprepared.”
Simple. The politicians have no ethics nor honor beyond getting re-elected. They don’t really lose sleep no matter how many die.
You see, it’s just not their problem. Oh, I forgot. They’re cowards.