Israel will ‘do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin’ – US senator

No other resolution to the conflict will satisfy West Jerusalem, Lindsey Graham has claimed

West Jerusalem is set to take Gaza under full control, US Senator Lindsey Graham has claimed. Israel will establish long-term occupation of the Palestinian enclave, just as the US did in parts of Germany and Japan after World War II, the lawmaker told NBC News on Sunday.

No other solution but occupation will satisfy the Israeli leadership, Graham said. West Jerusalem has come to the conclusion “that they can’t achieve a goal of ending the war with Hamas that would be satisfactory to the safety of Israel,” he added.

Washington also reportedly believes that “there’s no way... to negotiate an end of this war with Hamas,” the senator said as the US-mediated peace process between Israel and the Gaza-based militant group Hamas has stalled.

“They’re going to do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin, take the place by force and start over again,” Graham said, referring to the alleged plans. Israel could also offer Hamas fighters safe passage out of the enclave in exchange for the hostages’ release, he added.

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Earlier this week, US Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff said Washington has decided to bring its negotiating team home for consultations and accused Hamas of lacking the desire to reach a ceasefire with Israel. The US-backed deal would have involved a 60-day truce during which Hamas would release ten living hostages and the remains of 18 more in phases, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

The talks have stalled over conflicting demands on how to end the war. Hamas has insisted on a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. West Jerusalem has refused to end its campaign until the militant group relinquishes power and disarms.

The conflict started in October 2023 after a Hamas incursion into southern Israel that killed 1,200 people. Since then, over 59,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Reports about Israeli plans to permanently occupy Gaza and resettle its estimated population of 2.3 million elsewhere have emerged as the hostilities continue.