(UNRWA stands for UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees). The donation announcement from DoS came in the midst of, well, this. The press release made sure to include the following:
The United States reiterates its deep concern about the escalating violence in Gaza and commends UNRWA's important work meeting the emergency needs of civilians in Gaza at this very difficult time. We hold Hamas fully responsible for breaking the ceasefire and for the renewal of violence. We call on all concerned to protect innocent lives and to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza, by facilitating necessary access into Gaza for UNRWA and other humanitarian organizations. We also encourage other states to provide urgently needed funding to UNRWA and other international organizations providing lifesaving care to civilians in Gaza.
One has to wonder what purpose is served by including a condemnation of Hamas in this probably little-read announcement about funding to be released in the future, especially when that condemnation has been frequently reiterated in more widely read fora already. I really do not want this blog to become a forum for debating the culpability of Israel, Hamas, Palestinians or the United States (or whichever additional party you want to include). However, I think practices of this nature – specifically, beating a drum about this conflict being traceable to one or another party's singular actions – take away from the United States’ ability to be an honest broker in this process, a role that it clearly needs to play to prevent the violence and loss of life taking place now in Gaza. I am not criticizing the United States government for making a public comment assigning responsibility to an aggressive party in this instance of violence. What I object to is the incessant reiteration of this assignment of blame in manner that serves to retard progress toward the cessation of violence.
