Washington, December 8 (RHC)-- The United States understands that there will be a "transition period" in which Israeli forces remain in Gaza after the end of so-called "combat operations" against Hamas, but that cannot be permanent, State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said Wednesday. 

It would not be "in anyone's interest ... for Israel to just leave — and leave a security vacuum in place where there could be rampant lawlessness inside Gaza, innocent civilians exploited," Miller said at a press briefing.   "We understand there will need to be some transition period at the end of combat operations," he added.

But, the U.S. official claimed that Washington would not accept a reoccupation of Gaza by Israel, nor would it accept a buffer zone established within Gaza because it would violate the principle of no reduction of territory.