US reiterates opposition to Israel’s plan to establish buffer zone inside Gaza

US State Department spokesman Matt Miller reiterates US opposition to the buffer zone that the IDF is establishing on the Gaza side of the enclave’s border with Israel.

Asked during a press briefing to comment on the demolitions of civilian infrastructure that the IDF has carried out both deep inside Gaza and along the border where the buffer zone is slated to be located, Miller says Israeli officials have told their American counterparts that it is only demolishing homes that were used for terror activity.

Moreover, Israeli officials have insisted that they have no intention of occupying Gaza or permanently leaving troops inside the Strip after the war, Miller says.

Israeli officials have further told those US counterparts in recent days that the buffer zone is only meant to be temporary, and will be removed once Hamas is completely out of power, a US official told The Times of Israel earlier this week.

The US official said that the Biden administration is not on board with even a temporary buffer zone and has voiced that stance with Jerusalem. Washington believes that once established, Israel will not agree to withdraw from the buffer zone in the future, the US official added.

Miller reiterates during the press conference that the US opposes efforts to reduce Gaza’s territory.