Harris Affirms US Firm Stance Against Forced Displacement of Palestinians
Vice President Kamala Harris assures that the US will firmly oppose any forced relocation of Palestinians or any alteration of Gaza Strip's existing borders, reiterating this commitment during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
During a meeting on Saturday, Vice President Kamala Harris informed Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that the United States will not tolerate the forced displacement of Palestinians or any changes to the Gaza Strip's current borders. According to a statement from the vice president's office, Harris emphasized that the U.S. will not allow for the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, the besiegement of Gaza, or any alterations to Gaza's borders under any circumstances.
The vice president is currently in the United Arab Emirates for the COP 28 summit in Dubai and has been actively involved in US diplomatic efforts, engaging in discussions with the leaders of Egypt, the UAE, and Jordan during the climate summit.
Israel has stated that its military operation in Gaza is focused on dismantling Hamas, the militant Islamist group accountable for the October 7 terrorist attack that resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 240 others.
Regional leaders such as King Abdullah II of Jordan have expressed concerns about Israel using the conflict as an opportunity to seize parts of Gaza or expel its Palestinian residents.
It is unknown what Israel's plans are after the conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated to CNN in November that Israel's security role in a post-war Gaza would be an "over-riding, over-reaching military envelope," but did not provide further explanation.
Harris and Sisi discussed post-conflict planning in Gaza, including reconstruction, security, and governance. Harris emphasized the need for a clear political horizon for the Palestinian people and the support of the international community and regional countries for these efforts to succeed.
Additionally, Harris had discussions with the Emir of Qatar following the breakdown of negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Saturday, as per a White House official.
The official also mentioned that Harris has participated in numerous calls between President Joe Biden and the Israeli prime minister since the beginning of the conflict, as well as calls between Biden and the Emir of Qatar and President of Egypt.
Although Israel and Hamas were still in negotiations through mediators on Friday, the Israeli prime minister's office announced on Saturday that they had pulled their team of negotiators, stating that they had reached a "dead end" in the talks. CNN's Shania Shelton contributed to this report.
