US Defense Secretary: "Best Not to Deploy US Troops to Gaza Strip"

Fox News Interview
WP and NYT: "Even the Department of Defense Unaware of Gaza Troop Deployment"

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated on the 5th (local time) that the U.S. military would not be deployed to the Gaza Strip unless necessary.

In an interview with Fox News that day, Secretary Hegseth said, "The United States is very far from deploying troops to the Gaza Strip."

Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense. Photo by AP Yonhap News

The day before, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a U.S.-led Gaza Strip development plan during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, "The United States will own the Gaza Strip." When asked if U.S. troops might be dispatched to fill the security vacuum, he replied, "If necessary, we will do so." This statement contradicts the Gaza Strip development plan announced by President Trump the previous day.

Secretary Hegseth said, "Ultimately, all options are on the table," but added that it would be a long time before discussions about deploying U.S. troops would begin. He also drew a clear line by stating that it is Israel's mission to eliminate the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

He emphasized, "Peace can be achieved by eradicating terrorists who seek to destroy Israel. I support that," adding, "What happens afterward requires longer discussions, and I hope the president acknowledges this. And if possible, it is best not to deploy any U.S. ground forces at all."

However, he argued that President Trump's Gaza Strip plan is not like the Iraq and Afghanistan wars that entangled the U.S. in Middle Eastern issues. He said, "President Trump was one of the first to call the Iraq War a stupid war," and added, "It is about keeping all options open, recognizing the support of our ally (Israel), and thinking outside the box." Secretary Hegseth has experience participating in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

On the same day, Secretary Hegseth met with Prime Minister Netanyahu at the Department of Defense. The Department of Defense stated that Secretary Hegseth referred to Israel as "a model ally in the Middle East" and that the U.S. is 100% committed to Israel's security.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post (WP), citing three Department of Defense officials, reported that the Department of Defense was surprised by President Trump's remarks about deploying U.S. troops to the Gaza Strip. They said there are no plans to send U.S. troops to the Gaza Strip and described such a plan as unrealistic and unlikely.

The New York Times (NYT) reported that typically, in such diplomatic matters, meetings are held with the State Department or Department of Defense, but this time there were no meetings or working groups formed within the government. The Department of Defense also did not provide an outline of the necessary troops or cost estimates.