Possible scenarios for the future of Gaza are being considered by the US and other countries.
What worries Washington and others is a “range of possible combinations” for the future of the Gaza Strip if the Hamas group is ousted from power, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on Tuesday.
Speaking to the Senate Appropriations Committee, Blinken pointed out that Hamas cannot continue to rule the Gaza Strip, but added that neither does Israel.
The scenarios for Gaza
Between these two options, “there are a number of possible combinations that we, as well as other countries, are looking at very carefully at this time,” explained the US minister.
“At some point, what would make the most sense would be for an effective and revitalized Palestinian Authority to assume responsibility for the governance and ultimately the security of Gaza,” Blinken said during a meeting that was interrupted several times by shouting. of protesters calling for “save the children of Gaza”.
If the Palestinian Authority cannot take over the governance of Gaza, “then there are other interim arrangements which may involve a number of other countries in the region. They may include international agencies that will help in both governance and security,” he added.
Washington is in talks with Israel and other countries in the region about how to govern the Palestinian enclave if Israel wins on the battlefield, but no concrete plan has yet emerged.
Multinational force in Gaza
Among the options being considered by the two countries is the possibility of deploying a multinational force in Gaza, in which American troops will also participate, or the temporary assumption of supervision of the Palestinian enclave by the UN, Bloomberg reported yesterday.
Responding to the publication, the White House pointed out that sending US troops to Gaza as part of a peacekeeping force is not being discussed or considered.
Some of US President Joe Biden’s advisers worry that while Israel may have an effective plan to deal a lasting blow to Hamas, it has yet to formulate an exit strategy.
“We’ve had very preliminary discussions about what the future of Gaza might look like,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, adding that the issue would be the subject of diplomatic discussions going forward.
Blinken will be in Israel on Friday
Blinken will travel to Israel on Friday, as part of his second tour of the Middle East since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas on October 7.
There, he “will meet with Israeli government officials and make other visits to the region,” Miller said without elaborating.
By mid-October the US Secretary of State had already made a marathon tour of the region, visiting Israel twice.
In addition, Blinken spoke by phone yesterday with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, in whom he reiterated American support for Israel’s right to self-defense, however, asking the country to take “measures to limit the harm caused to civilians”, he pointed out in a separate Miller announced.
Source: RES-MPE
