US reiterates call for full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza

The U.S. State Department reaffirmed its stance Thursday, expressing a long-term goal of seeing Israel fully withdraw from Gaza. The statement comes after comments by Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz, who suggested that Israel’s military presence in Gaza could extend for years.

Speaking to reporters, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed the U.S.’s position when asked about Gantz’s remarks. “We ultimately want to see Israel fully withdrawn from Gaza,” Miller said, responding to a question from Anadolu Agency.

The remarks followed Israel’s announcement of the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was reportedly killed in an Israeli military operation. Gantz, head of Israel’s National Unity party and a former War Cabinet minister, referred to the death as an “important achievement” but emphasized that it would not mark the end of the conflict. Gantz noted that Israeli forces would “continue to operate in the Gaza Strip for years to come” and stressed that the military should use this opportunity to secure the return of hostages and replace Hamas’s rule.

Miller, however, reiterated that the U.S. continues to oppose a reoccupation of Gaza, echoing sentiments previously expressed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Tokyo last November. When asked if the U.S. stance remained unchanged, Miller replied, “Of course.”

While Miller did not directly address Gantz’s comments, he emphasized that Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorist threats. “What we want to see is an end to this war, the terrorist threat from Gaza eliminated, and ultimately a political path that establishes a Palestinian state that is not hostile to Israel,” Miller said. He added that once that political resolution is achieved, “you wouldn’t want to see and wouldn’t need to see the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] operating in that environment.”