US says it’s committed to preventing return of Hamas rule in Gaza following cease-fire deal

WASHINGTON

The US said Wednesday that it is committed to ensuring that Hamas “never again” governs Gaza following a cease-fire deal between Israel and the Palestinian group that was reached after more than a year of intensive negotiations with Egyptian, Qatari and American mediators.

“The United States is committed to ensuring that Hamas never again resumes governing Gaza,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

“I can say with some certainty that a re-emergence of Hamas governing Gaza would be an absolute deal breaker for Israel,” he added.

Miller said the cease-fire deal aims to facilitate the delivery of "up to over 500 trucks a day" of humanitarian aid, though he noted that "it won’t happen overnight."

He added that the US has been coordinating with aid groups to ensure they are ready to scale up assistance once the cease-fire begins on Sunday.

On whether the Biden or Trump administration deserves credit for the cease-fire deal, Miler said “this cease-fire agreement is an agreement that was conceived of by this administration, that this administration traveled the world to garner support for.”

He blamed Hamas for the delay in reaching the agreement, which was reached five days before President-elect Donald Trump is set to assume office. The deal was originally proposed by President Joe Biden last May.

Miller also said that the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza further delayed the negotiations.

He argued that collaboration between outgoing President Biden’s envoy, Brett McGurk, and President-elect Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff -- who sat together at the negotiation table -- is “unprecedented.”

“The involvement of President-elect Trump’s team has been absolutely critical in getting this deal over the line,” Miller said.

“And it’s been critical because obviously, as I stand today, this administration’s term in office will expire in five days.”