Future Outlook for Gaza After War from Kamala Harris's Perspective

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris stated that the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank must unite under a single government. During a press conference on Saturday at the COP28 international climate conference in the United Arab Emirates, she outlined U.S. goals for ending the Israel-Hamas conflict, emphasizing the need for Palestinian unity. According to Voice of America, while President Biden focuses on the Israel-Hamas war, he has asked Harris to represent him at the climate conference. Additionally, in talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Harris asserted that the United States will not allow the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, the blockade of Gaza, or the redrawing of Gaza's borders under any circumstances. Harris stated that post-war reconstruction efforts should be pursued 'within the framework of a clear political horizon for the Palestinian people toward a state that is revived and led by the Palestinian Authority, with significant support from the international community.' Meanwhile, the White House noted that Harris reiterated that Hamas cannot control Gaza, which is unacceptable for the security of Israel, the well-being of the Palestinian people, and regional security. While the Western-backed Palestinian Authority administers parts of the West Bank, Hamas has ruled Gaza since 2007 after taking control from the mainstream Fatah party led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The report highlights that how Gaza will be realistically managed post-war is a contentious issue that challenges regional leaders and Middle East experts. U.S. officials have discussed strengthening the Palestinian Authority to extend its reach into Gaza, but no definitive plan has been agreed upon, as some American officials express doubts about the Palestinian Authority's ability to govern Gaza after the war, and critics cite corruption, mismanagement, and polling results indicating low credibility among the Palestinian people. At the COP28 conference, Harris also met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and spoke with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who played a significant role in negotiating the release of hostages from Gaza. In her statements, Harris emphasized the U.S. willingness to restore the pause in the Israel-Hamas conflict to secure the release of more hostages from Gaza and to establish a continuous flow of humanitarian aid. Earlier, Voice of America reported that John Kirby emphasized Hamas's responsibility for the failure of the ceasefire, stating that Israeli officials had previously announced their intention to resume operations against Hamas immediately after the ceasefire ended. According to CNN, Kirby highlighted Israel's full discretion in its decision-making, stressing the importance of adhering to the laws of war, minimizing civilian casualties, and precision in targeting. He stated, 'Israelis have explicitly indicated that they intend to resume operations against Hamas without interruption, and we believe they have the full right and responsibility to conduct operations against Hamas.' Israeli officials reported that during the attack on October 7, in which about 1,200 Israelis and foreigners were killed, Hamas took approximately 240 hostages, including children, women, and the elderly. The U.S., U.K., European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have classified the Iran-backed Hamas group as a terrorist organization.