US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce sidestepped repeated questions on the Trump administration's stance regarding Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's threat to annex parts of the Gaza Strip on Friday. Katz warned Hamas on Friday that failure to release hostages could result in further territorial loss to Israel.
Speaking on a briefing, Bruce responded by emphasizing the primary focus on halting violence and providing humanitarian aid, stating that discussions about annexation are "distractions." She dismissed the annexation comments as "rumors, suggestions, or hypotheses," and declined to speculate on potential actions by Washington.
She stressed the need for facts, pointing out that any official statements would come directly from the president or the Secretary of State.
