The US rejects Israeli ministers' proposals to depopulate the Gaza Strip of Palestinians
The United States has flatly rejected proposals by two Israeli government ministers to return Jewish settlers to Gaza and to emigrate the Palestinian population living in the Gaza Strip. The statements by ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir were “irresponsible,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
Miller's words represent a rare public criticism of Israeli officials since Israel's offensive in Gaza began in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks. Washington insists it wants to pursue the two-state solution after the war ends, the Israeli and the Palestinian, the latter consisting of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with a newly energized Palestinian Authority governing the Strip.
“We have stated clearly, consistently and unequivocally that Gaza is Palestinian land and will remain Palestinian land, where Hamas will no longer be in control of its future and there will be no terrorist groups capable of defeating Israel to attack,” says the spokesman. “This is the future we want, for the good of Israelis and Palestinians, the region around them and the whole world.”
Miller specifies that the Israeli government, “including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” has repeatedly asserted that statements like those made by Smotrich and Ben Gvir “do not reflect the policy of the Israeli government.” That's why he demands: “You have to stop doing it immediately.”