Falcon powers – In a special interview with Sky News Arabia, John Kirby, the Strategic Communications Coordinator at the US National Security Council, affirmed that the purpose of the maritime pier off Gaza is to provide a means for delivering aid to the Gaza Strip, and it will not be used for military purposes or operational plans.
Kirby stressed the need to open the land crossings, as they are the best way to bring in large amounts of aid. “Therefore, we are talking to the Israeli side about opening the Rafah crossing.”
In the exclusive interview, Kirby indicated that Washington rejects any kind of Israeli military ground operations in Rafah, explaining that what is happening in the field now is, as the Israelis say, just limited operations against Hamas activists.
Kirby said, “The US administration does not want to see Gaza occupied by the Israeli army,” noting that Washington believes there should be an organization or institution that responds to the aspirations of the Palestinian people, which means a role for a renewed Palestinian Authority.
The US official added, “We have been strongly present, and we do not want to see Gaza occupied by the Israeli Defense Forces. We do not believe that this is a sustainable model. It is not in the interest of the Palestinians living in Gaza, but it is also not in the interest of the Israeli people.”
He also emphasized that “Hamas cannot be in power in Gaza.”
He also affirmed that the talks with the Israeli side regarding the opening of the Rafah crossing aim to bring in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
