US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said yesterday, Wednesday, that an idea cannot be defeated on a battlefield, in the context of his talk about Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza. When asked during a press conference about the United States’ view of the possibility of eliminating Hamas militarily in the way that Israel seeks, Miller said, “It is certain that the current military leadership of Hamas can be defeated militarily. There are leading figures who planned the October 7 attacks, and there are those who carried out the individual attacks.” "They are sheltering with civilians in Gaza now. These people can be found and brought to justice. This is a military goal that we believe can be achieved." He added, "However, an idea cannot be defeated on the battlefield. Therefore, Israel, other countries in the region, the United States and every country around the world that wants to be a responsible player must come up with a better idea. 

That is why you have heard Secretary Blinken repeatedly say And once again, at the end of this conflict there must be a legitimate answer to the aspirations of the Palestinian people.” Miller was asked about the possibility of the Authority running any future Palestinian state, in conjunction with an opinion poll published by the Associated Press on Wednesday, which showed that 90% want the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, to step down. He said, "We believe that. It is clear that the Palestinian Authority is not in a position to administer Gaza, and to provide security, police, and other guarantees." 

He continued, "We believe that the Palestinian Authority is the representative of the Palestinian people, and that a Palestinian Authority that is renewed, reformed, and reorganized is the way forward toward the reunification of the West Bank and Gaza Strip." Speaking about the United Nations General Assembly’s vote on Wednesday regarding a ceasefire in Gaza, Miller said, “I think what can be drawn from this vote is that it is clear that the world wants to end this conflict, and it is a goal that we share. We want this conflict to end". 

He pointed out that the United States expects every country that supplies it with weapons to use them “in full compliance with international humanitarian law and the laws of war, and Israel is no exception.” Miller was asked by reporters whether Washington was assessing the extent of Israel's compliance with the conventional arms transfer policy, which the Biden administration approved in February 2023. This requires the State Department to determine that those weapons are unlikely to be used in genocide, crimes against humanity, or other violations. Geneva Conventions or serious violations of international law. Miller said that the State Department had not taken such a decision, and reiterated the American position that Israel could make more efforts to reduce the harm to civilians in the Gaza conflict.