US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk said on Saturday that the West Bank and Gaza must return under the administration of a unified government and ultimately under a renewed Palestinian authority.

McGurk added during his participation in the Manama Security Dialogue in Bahrain that the release of a large number of detainees will lead to an effective cessation of fighting in Gaza.

He stressed that there should be no forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and that the Strip should not be reoccupied or its land area should be reduced.

He said that the way out of this crisis is to achieve complete security for Israel and establish a Palestinian state.