US opposes territorial changes in Gaza: Blinken

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Jan 2024 00:05

The US diplomat clarified that any permanent changes to Gaza's status should not encroach on its territory, reiterating a commitment to avoiding territorial alterations.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria Yusuf Tuggar at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024 (AP)

During his visit to Nigeria on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated his opposition to territorial changes in the Gaza Strip amid "Israel's" relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip since October 2023.

Blinken addressed concerns about the possibility of "Israel" establishing a buffer zone within Gaza, stating that while he understands the need for what he claimed to be "temporary measures" to prevent an "October" 7 but said the administration opposes any change in territory.

"It is totally appropriate, something that we support, that those people be able to return to their homes and that the necessary security arrangements be in place to give them the confidence to do that," Blinken told reporters in Abuja.

"If there need to be transitional arrangements to enable that to happen, that's one thing," Blinken said.

"But when it comes to the permanent status of Gaza going forward, we have been very clear, we remain clear about not encroaching on its territory," he said.

Since October 7, 2023, more than 25,400 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, with approximately 70 percent comprising women, young children, and adolescents, have been killed in Israeli bombardments and ground offensives, as reported by Gaza's Health Ministry.

The US is complicit in Israeli war crimes

In an op-ed published for Le Monde Diplomatique on Monday, writer Gilbert Achkar details that the US bears direct responsibility for the Gaza massacre as it supplied "Israel" with substantial weaponry, noting that by late November, the US had already delivered 57,000 artillery shells and 15,000 bombs, including powerful BLU-117s and BLU-109 ('bunker buster') bombs, some weighing almost a ton each.

The New York Times noted experts' surprise at "Israel's" extensive use of these massive bombs, contributing to what is described as a historic-paced civilian massacre in Gaza.

The US had provided 244 arms deliveries by cargo plane and 20 shipments by boat to "Israel" by December 25.

Moreover, The Guardian reported that "Israel" tapped into a significant stockpile of US weapons already positioned in the occupied territories.

Achkar further contends that US President Joe Biden's disagreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on post-war plans does not absolve the US of joint responsibility for the conflict itself.