On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken confirmed that the US opposes territorial changes in the Gaza Strip, which has been hit by Israeli bombardments in response to an attack by Hamas, AFP reports.

Blinken, on a visit to Nigeria, responded during a press conference in Abuja to suggestions that Israel would create a buffer zone inside the Gaza Strip, a hypothesis that has angered the Arab world.

The US secretary of state expressed his understanding of the interim measures, saying that Israel has the right to prevent another attack, similar to the one carried out by the Palestinian Islamist movement on October 7, and to reassure residents living near the Gaza Strip.

“It is entirely appropriate and we support that these people should be able to return to their homes and take the necessary security measures so that they can do so in privacy. If transitional arrangements are needed for this, that is one thing,” he told the media.

“But regarding the permanent status of the Gaza Strip, we have been very clear and remain clear that we will not invade its territory,” he added.

The United States is Israel’s main diplomatic and military supporter, but it is also demanding that Israel do more to protect civilians.

The war was sparked by a Hamas attack on Israeli territory on October 7 that killed more than 1,140 people, most of them civilians, according to AFP data based on official Israeli figures.

Israel has vowed to “destroy” Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, and launched a massive military operation that has killed 25,490 Palestinians, the vast majority of them women, children and teenagers, according to the Hamas Health Ministry.