From the Liveblog of
Saturday, December 2, 2023
Kamala Harris tells Egypt’s Sissi that US won’t allow forced relocations of Palestinians
US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is in Dubai for the COP28 climate conference, meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi.
Her office says Harris reiterated that the United States will not permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, an ongoing siege of the territory, or the redrawing of its borders.
“The Vice President discussed US ideas for post-conflict planning in Gaza including efforts on reconstruction, security and governance. She emphasized that these efforts can only succeed if they are pursued in the context of a clear political horizon for the Palestinian people towards a state of their own led by a revitalized Palestinian Authority and have significant support from the international community and the countries of the region,” the White House says.
Harris is expected to outline proposals with regional leaders to “put Palestinian voices at the center” of planning the next steps for the Gaza Strip after the conflict, the White House said earlier.
President Joe Biden’s administration has been emphasizing the need for efforts toward a two-state solution to continue pushing ahead even as fighting rages.
Harris also thanks Sissi for Egypt’s role in brokering hostage releases and allowing Americans trapped in Gaza to leave via the Rafah Crossing.
“She emphasized that the United States would remain committed to relentlessly pursuing the release of all the hostages in close cooperation with regional partners and expressed continued support for extended pauses in the fighting to get hostages out and aid in,” a White House readout says.
