US opposes Israeli plan to set up ‘buffer zone’ inside Gaza Strip
WASHINGTON (AA) – The US rejected on Tuesday Israel’s plans to establish a “buffer zone” within the Gaza Strip, saying such a proposal is at odds with the Biden administration’s stated policy.
“We do not want to see the territory of Gaza reduced in any way. We won’t support that,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters at the White House.
Kirby declined to outline any diplomatic conversations the US has had with Israel about the matter, but emphasized that Washington has “been very clear and consistent, both in private and publicly, that we do not want to see the territory of Gaza reduced in any way.”
Israel has since December been moving toward the establishment of a “buffer zone” inside Gaza along the border with Israel, destroying buildings in the area to make way for the corridor.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces were ambushed while attempting to demolish two buildings in central Gaza’s Maghazi refugee camp, resulting in deaths of 21 troops. Maghazi is located just across the border from Israel. This is the biggest one-day loss for Israeli forces since its war on Gaza began in October. A rocket-propelled grenade fired by a Hamas fighter set off a chain reaction of Israeli mines, setting them off and collapsing the buildings with Israeli troops inside.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu elicited furor in Egypt when he said that Israel wants to take control of the border area between Gaza and Egypt. Netanyahu said Saturday the 8.7-mile (14-kilometer) strip, which is known in Israel as the Philadelphi Corridor, “must be in our hands.”
Diaa Rashwan, the chairman of Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS), said Cairo would consider any attempt by Israel to occupy the area as a “violation of the security agreements and protocols signed between it (Israel) and Egypt.”
“It must be strictly emphasized that any Israeli move in this direction will lead to a serious threat to Egyptian-Israeli relations,” he added.
Nearly 25,500 Palestinians have been confirmed killed in Israel’s war on Gaza. Thousands more are feared dead under the rubble.
Around two-thirds of those killed are women and children.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
