United States: The White House has announced that US President Mr. Joe Biden does not support an Israeli military occupation of the Gaza Strip after the end of the Israel-Hamas war.
“Mr. Biden believes a reoccupation by Israeli forces of Gaza is not the right thing to do,” the White House national security spokesperson Mr. John Kirby told reporters.
The statement came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu commented that his country would take control of security in Gaza after the war.
Mr. Kirby noted that “there needs to be a healthy set of conversations about what post-conflict Gaza looks like and what governance looks like.”
“What we absolutely agree with our Israeli counterparts on is what it can’t look like, and it can’t look like it looked on October 6,” the White House spokesperson added. Mr. Biden has previously stated that it would be a “mistake” for Israel to occupy Gaza.
According to Israeli officials, Tel Aviv launched an air and ground offensive against Hamas after the armed group attacked the southern part of the country, killing 1,400 people and taking more than 230 others hostage.
Palestinian health authorities have noted that Israel’s bombardment of Gaza has killed at least 10,328 people, including 4,237 children.
Both Israel and Hamas have rejected the international calls for a ceasefire. Israel announced that Hamas should release the hostages first. According to Hamas statements, the group will not free hostages or stop fighting while Gaza is under assault.
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