The United States reveals how it wants Palestine when the war ends: "No to the reduction of territory"
US Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday urged Israel to “do more” to protect civilians in Gaza and outlined her vision for the “day after” the war with efforts to rebuild infrastructure, improve security and change the Government of the enclave.
His statements represent one of the clearest expressions by the US Administration about what the future of the Gaza Strip should be when the military offensive that Israel has launched by land, sea and air after the October 7 attack by the terrorists of Hamas and other Palestinian militias.
“Israel has the right to defend itself. But we must also keep in mind that too many Palestinian civilians, innocent people, have lost their lives, and it is imperative that Israel do more to protect innocent civilians,” Harris said at a press conference in Dubai, where he is to participate in the COP28 Climate Summit.
Although Harris supported Israel's right to defend itself, she stressed that “the way” in which it does so is of great importance and considered that “the magnitude of civilian suffering and the images and videos coming from Gaza are devastating.”
In her speech, Harris was particularly clear about what the United States wants to see when the war ends and emphasized that there should be no forced relocation of Palestinians or modification of the Strip's borders.
“No to forced displacement, no to reoccupation, no to the siege or blockade, no to the reduction of territory and no to the use of Gaza as a platform for terrorism,” he stressed.
In line with this, Harris revealed that she has proposed to Israelis, Palestinians and Arab leaders three pillars for the day after the war: reconstruction, security and governance.
First, Harris argued that the international community must devote “significant resources” to Gaza's recovery by rebuilding hospitals and homes, restoring electricity and clean water, and supplying businesses, including bakeries.
Secondly, he maintained that the security forces of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) must be strengthened to eventually assume security responsibilities in Gaza; but until then, “acceptable security arrangements” must be reached for Israel and other countries linked to the conflict.
Finally, he reiterated the United States' vision that the PA, which governs limited parts of the occupied West Bank, take over the Government of the Gaza Strip once the war ends.
“We want to see a unified Gaza and West Bank under the Palestinian National Authority, and Palestinian voices and aspirations must be at the center of this work,” he said.
Harris' statements came after she met this Saturday in Dubai with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, and after a phone call with the emir of Qatar.
The war broke out on October 7 after an attack by the armed wing of Hamas that included the launching of thousands of rockets towards Israel and the infiltration of some 3,000 terrorists who killed some 1,200 people and kidnapped another 240 in Israeli villages near the Strip. .
Since then, Israeli forces have maintained an air, land and sea offensive on the Palestinian enclave that has reportedly left 15,000 dead, according to Hamas, and nearly two million displaced.