Washington is pushing Israel on its postwar intentions, after Antony Blinken stated that the country can’t occupy Gaza.
During a meeting of G7 foreign ministers on 8 November in Tokyo, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined Washington’s position on Gaza’s future following Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas. Blinken emphasized that while Hamas should not continue to govern Gaza, Israel could not maintain an occupation there indefinitely. This statement conflicted with Israel’s stance, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had stated just the day before that Israel would maintain “overall security responsibility” in Gaza for an indefinite period after Hamas is defeated.
This public disagreement highlights the growing tension between Israel and the United States over the postwar situation in Gaza. Although the US has expressed strong support for Israel’s right to defend itself, it has also placed increasing pressure on Israel to outline its long-term strategy for Gaza. The differing views between the two nations suggest that while they continue to publicly align in their support for Israel’s military efforts, there are significant private disagreements about the future governance and security arrangements for the region.
The challenge for both countries is to balance their strategic alliance with the need to address broader international concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. As the war progresses, it remains to be seen how the US and Israel will reconcile their differences on this issue and what the long-term implications will be for the future of Gaza and the wider Middle East.