The United States confirmed its rejection of an Israeli plan to create a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip, and considered it a violation of international law.
This came from Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who said – in a press conference in Abuja, Nigeria – that his country rejects any permanent change to the geographical status of the Gaza Strip, and stressed that Washington’s position is clear regarding preserving the territorial integrity of Gaza.
Blinken added to reporters that if transitional arrangements are needed to make resolving the conflict possible, then this is a different matter, stressing that Washington is clear about rejecting encroachment on the territory of the Gaza Strip.
In turn, Strategic Communications Coordinator at the US National Security Council, John Kirby, said that his country is clear and firm in its position regarding its categorical rejection of any reduction in the area of the Gaza Strip.
Kirby stated that they spoke with the Israeli side about this issue, whether in open or closed meetings, and they expressed this position clearly in open meetings to the press. He stated that the United States does not support any change of the borders in Gaza.
He added – in a press conference at the White House – that his country also rejects any role for the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and its leaders in any form of governance in Gaza after the war, as he put it.
The New York Times quoted Israeli officials as saying that Israel wants to demolish many buildings in Gaza near the border in order to create a security zone.
According to statements by these officials, Israel seeks to establish a buffer zone of approximately one kilometer along the border with Gaza.
The goal of the buffer zone – according to statements by Israeli officials – is to make it difficult for Palestinian militants to repeat an attack similar to the attacks of last October 7.
These officials added that they are seeking to create conditions that would convince the evacuated Israelis to return to their homes.
The United Nations rapporteur on housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, said that the systematic destruction of Palestinian homes on the Gaza border could constitute a war crime.
The UN rapporteur added that there is no clause in the Geneva Conventions that permits what Israel is doing along the border in the Gaza Strip, and described it as acts of property clearing.
Since the beginning of the war that broke out after Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that they are seeking to seize and maintain security control in Gaza.
