US concerned at report of Israeli army building bases in Gaza

The US voiced opposition on Tuesday to Israel building any permanent bases in the Gaza Strip after The New York Times reported an acceleration of construction by the military. The State Department said it could not confirm the report, which said that the paper’s analysis of satellite imagery showed increased base construction accompanied by the demolition of more than 600 buildings in central Gaza, indicating a longer-term presence. The State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the start of the war voiced opposition to a permanent Israeli presence in Gaza.