Yesterday (Tuesday), signs of an American-Israeli dispute appeared over the “day after” the end of the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. At a time when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his country would assume “comprehensive security responsibility” in Gaza for an “indefinite period,” the United States was quick to confirm its opposition to the “reoccupation” of the Strip.

US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said yesterday: “In general, we do not support the reoccupation of Gaza, nor does Israel support that,” in a comment on the Israeli Prime Minister’s statements. He added that the United States does not support any forced resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza, and “this is not something on the table.”

The American position came after Netanyahu told ABC News that Israel would assume, for an indefinite period, “comprehensive security responsibility (in the Gaza Strip); Because we've seen what happens when we don't take care of it.”

Although this is the first time that Netanyahu has spoken about Israel’s vision for the day after Hamas is expelled from the Gaza Strip, it is not clear what he means by the extent of “security responsibility,” and whether this means the desire to occupy the Gaza Strip, or part of it in the north, and impose a security barrier. Israeli forces will remain there for some time, or he is talking about continuing operations as necessary after the comprehensive withdrawal.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces advanced in two important axes in Gaza City: the first north of the Beach camp, and the second south of the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, amid reports of fierce street fighting with Qassam Brigades fighters. The Israeli army and media broadcast scenes of a massive exodus of citizens from northern Gaza, the center of Hamas rule and the focus of the Israeli attack.

Israel is trying to reach the heart of the city after encircling it and taking control of “Salah al-Din” and “Al-Rashid” Streets, thus cutting off all communication between the north and south of the Strip.

Saudi Arabia confirmed, following the weekly session held by the Council of Ministers headed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, yesterday, that it will continue its efforts with regional and international parties to achieve “an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a return to the path of just and comprehensive peace for the Palestinian issue.”

Yesterday, Saudi Arabia also announced the postponement of the date of the fifth Arab-African summit scheduled for next Saturday in Riyadh to a later time. In view of the current developments in Gaza, which necessitated a call for an extraordinary Arab summit and an Islamic summit to discuss the current crisis.