US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the issue of governance in the Gaza Strip the day after the war on Wednesday and made it clear that the United States wants the Palestinian Authority to accept, in one arrangement or another, control of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
"It is impossible for Hamas to continue to run the Gaza Strip," Blinken said, adding that "it is absolutely clear that Israel cannot occupy it. The reality now is that a transitional period may be required to end the military conflict, but it is imperative that the Palestinian people be central to governance in the West Bank and Gaza," Blinken said in response to questions from reporters during a visit to Japan.
"We must work with the right parties to reach peace. It is her life to include the Palestinian people and their aspiration for independence at the center of government in post-war Gaza. This arrangement must include a united Palestinian government in the West Bank and Gaza under the Palestinian Authority," Blinken said.
The Secretary of State's remarks clearly clarify the American position regarding the Palestinian Authority and its legitimacy, against the background of a growing debate in Israel regarding the possibility of returning the Gaza Strip to PA administration.
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