US role in Israel and Gaza debated, no ground troops planned
- ️The National News Desk
- ️Thu Feb 06 2025
Laundry hangs on a destroyed building caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
WASHINGTON (TNND) — Some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle expressed support for the United States playing a significant role in securing the future of Israel and Gaza, emphasizing diplomatic measures over military intervention.
"What I love about President Trump is he says what he's thinking," Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tennessee, said. "But that being said, I think it's important as we look forward that the United States will have a role in securing the future of Israel and Gaza."
Ogles clarified that while there will be no U.S. troops deployed, there might be other measures such as sanctions to support Israel. "Will there be boots on the ground? No. But will there be circumstances where we might levy sanctions in support of Israel against a country that's not doing their part?" Ogles asked, highlighting the need for international cooperation.
The congressman criticized international organizations like the United Nations and NATO for leaving the burden of peacekeeping to the United States. "Countries will talk about peace, they'll talk about participation, but ultimately they leave the burden to the United States of America," the added.
While ruling out U.S. occupation of Gaza, Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Alabama, mentioned potential rebuilding efforts involving other nation-states. "I don't see the United States funding that as far as occupying Gaza," Figures said. "But I think there will be a rebuilding effort that I think you'll have nation-states that will participate."
Figures stressed the importance of considering the impact of military decisions on local communities. "The people that go to those wars, they come from neighborhoods like those located in district two," the official said, referencing cities and towns such as Mobile, Evergreen and Eufaula.
"I am not willing to support sending ground troops to the Gaza Strip or anywhere for that matter, right now, until the case is made to Congress that justifies us making that decision," he concluded.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham called Trump’s proposal for a U.S. takeover of Gaza as “problematic.”
“The idea of Americans going in on the ground in Gaza is a non starter for every senator,” the South Carolina lawmaker told reporters Wednesday. “So I would suggest we go back to what we’ve been trying to do which is destroy Hamas and find a way for the Arab world to take over Gaza and the West Bank, in a fashion that would lead to a Palestinian state that Israel can live with.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has contradicted Trump’s suggestions that the residents of the Gaza Strip could be permanently relocated elsewhere.
“The president has made it clear that they need to be temporarily relocated out of Gaza,” Levitt said during her briefing with reporters on Wednesday. “It’s a demolition site.”
That contradicted Trump, who said on Tuesday night of Gaza, “If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people, permanently, in nice homes where they can be happy and not be shot and not be killed and not be knifed to death like what’s happening in Gaza.”
Editor's Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.