US Announces 'Four Principles for Gaza'... "Israel Cannot Reoccupy Gaza Strip"

Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Advisor at the White House, emphasized four principles related to the Gaza Strip on the 12th (local time), centering on the non-reoccupation of Gaza by Israel. Amid disagreements between the U.S. and Israel over the future vision of Gaza following the expulsion of the Palestinian armed faction Hamas, the U.S. reaffirmed its opposition to Israel's reoccupation of Gaza.

Jake Sullivan, U.S. White House National Security Advisor

In an interview with CBS's 'Face the Nation' on the 12th (local time), Sullivan explained that the U.S. government's basic principles regarding the future of Palestine include: Israel's non-reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, prohibition of forced displacement of Palestinians (such as relocating Gaza residents outside), prevention of Gaza being used as a base for future terrorist groups, and no reduction of Gaza's "territory."

Sullivan stated, "Ultimately, we want to see the West Bank (West Bank of the Jordan River) and Gaza reconnected and unified under Palestinian leadership," adding, "Currently, the Palestinian Authority (PA) governs the West Bank." This implies that if Hamas, which currently governs Gaza, is expelled by the Israeli military, the PA governing both the West Bank and Gaza could represent the future of Palestine.

He continued, "But ultimately, it is up to the Palestinian people to decide who governs them in the future," and said, "The U.S. will support that process."

On the same day, John Kirby, White House NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications, also said in an interview with MSNBC, "What we support is a kind of long-term governance that includes the voices, votes, and self-determination rights of the Palestinian people."

Sullivan's expression of these principles can be seen as a reaffirmation of the U.S. stance opposing Israel's reoccupation of Gaza. The U.S. supports the 'two-state solution,' where Israel and Palestine coexist as independent sovereign states. It clearly holds the position that after Israel expels Hamas, it should not undertake further "status changes" in Gaza.

On the other hand, Israel has stated its intention to take responsibility for local security after expelling Hamas, which currently governs Gaza. On the 6th, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "We will indefinitely take responsibility for the overall security of the Gaza Strip," and on the 11th, he stated, "Under no circumstances will we relinquish security control there."

Additionally, the U.S. reiterated the need to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza. Sullivan said the U.S. does not want to see innocent civilians and patients receiving treatment caught in crossfire during shootings at Gaza hospitals, adding, "We have had active conversations with the Israeli military about this." He urged caution, as urban warfare in Gaza could sharply increase civilian casualties. While the U.S. has prioritized supporting Israel's right to counter Hamas since the outbreak of the conflict, it has increasingly emphasized minimizing civilian harm amid the severe civilian casualties caused by Israel's intensified airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza.

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