US Secretary of State: "Cannot Leave Gaza Strip Under Hamas... Transitional Period Needed After War"

"Palestinians must be at the center of governance in Gaza and the West Bank." U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken stated on the 8th (local time), "Gaza cannot be run by Hamas. It is also clear that Israel cannot occupy it," adding, "The reality is that some transitional period may be necessary after the war."

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

According to the U.S. State Department, Secretary Blinken made these remarks during a press conference following the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting held in Japan that day. He said, "There are several clear necessities regarding governance after the Gaza conflict."

He expressed concern that if Hamas regains control of Gaza, the area could once again become a launchpad for terrorist attacks like those on October 7. He also emphasized that, based on what he heard from Israeli leaders, they have no intention of reoccupying or retaking Gaza, and that Palestinians must be at the center of governance.

He continued, "The only questions are whether a transitional period is needed and what mechanisms are necessary to ensure security," adding, "We need to see and reach unified governance over Gaza, the West Bank, and ultimately the Palestinian state."

On the same day, Secretary Blinken reaffirmed his opposition to an immediate full ceasefire, stating, "We all want to end the war as soon as possible and minimize civilian suffering until then." He emphasized, "Ultimately, the only way to prevent such crises from recurring is to create conditions for lasting peace and security and to begin diplomatic efforts with that in mind."

Furthermore, regarding the so-called post-Hamas plan, he mentioned key principles including: not forcibly relocating Palestinians from Gaza; ensuring Gaza is not used as a base for terrorism; not reoccupying Gaza after the war; not attempting to blockade or besiege Gaza; not reducing Gaza’s territory; and preventing terrorist acts in the West Bank.

In response to questions about the upcoming meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping next week, Blinken said, "We are working toward a constructive meeting between the leaders," adding, "Both sides recognize the importance of leader-level channels in managing bilateral relations. Both agree that the U.S. and China have a responsibility to manage the relationship responsibly." Regarding Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to the U.S., he evaluated that "we had detailed and constructive dialogues not only on potential areas of cooperation but also on points of disagreement." He added that the specific agenda for the U.S.-China summit has not yet been finalized.

Addressing concerns that the U.S. diplomatic focus on the Indo-Pacific region might decline due to simultaneous responses on three fronts?in the Indo-Pacific, Ukraine, and the Middle East?he emphasized, "The Indo-Pacific is a critical region for our future," and stated, "Throughout next week’s APEC meetings, we will demonstrate our focused attention on the Indo-Pacific." Following Japan, Secretary Blinken will hold a U.S.-South Korea foreign ministers’ meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin on the 9th.

Meanwhile, at the press conference held in Tokyo, local reporters also asked Secretary Blinken about his evaluation of seafood from Fukushima, which he had for lunch earlier, and whether Fukushima seafood would be served during the APEC period.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.