The United States andothercountries are looking at “a varietyofpossible permutations”forthefutureoftheGazaStrip ifHamasmilitants are removed from control,U.S. SecretaryofState AntonyBlinkensaid on Tuesday.
Blinkentold a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing the status quoofPalestinian Islamist groupHamasbeing in chargeofthe densely populated enclave could not continue, but Israel did not want to runGazaeither.
Between those two positions were “a varietyofpossible permutations that we’re looking at very closely now, as areothercountries,”Blinkensaid.
What would make most sense at some point,Blinkensaid, was an “effective and revitalized Palestinian Authority” to have governance overGaza, but it was a question whether that can be achieved.
“And if you can’t, then there areothertemporary arrangements that may involve a numberofothercountries in the region. It may involve international agencies that would help provideforboth security and governance,”Blinkensaid.
In retaliation to the Oct. 7Hamasattack that killed more than 1,400 people in Israel, the worst assault on Jews since the Holocaust, Israel has vowed to wipe outHamasin a relentless onslaught in theGazaStrip. However it does not appear to have an obvious endgame in sight.
On Tuesday, Palestinian health officials said at least 50 Palestinians were killed when Israeli air strikes hit a densely populated refugee camp in northGaza.
U.N. andotheraid officials said civilians in the besieged Palestinian enclave were engulfed by a public health catastrophe, with hospitals struggling to treat casualties as electricity supplies petered out.
Washington has been speaking with Israel, as well asothercountries in the region, on how to govern the Palestinian enclave if Israel triumphed on the battlefield, but a clear plan was yet to emerge.
Among theoptionsthat are beingexploredby the United States and Israel was the possibilityofa multinational force that may involveU.S. troops, orGazabe placed under United Nations oversight temporarily, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
In response to the report, the White House said sendingU.S. troops toGazaas partofa peacekeeping force is not something being considered or under discussion.
SomeofU.S. President Joe Biden’s aides are concerned that while Israel may craft an effective plan to inflict lasting damage toHamas, it has yet to formulate an exit strategy.
“We have had very preliminary talks about what thefutureofGazamight look like,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a briefing. “I expect that it will be the subjectofa good bitofdiplomatic engagement moving forward,” he added.
(Published 01 November 2023, 01:57 IST)