- Dec 29, 2008
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The United States on Friday expressed concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, but officials blamed Hamas for Palestinian suffering and said it was difficult for the Israeli military to avoid civilian casualties.
Officials said they were continuing to press Israel to take measures to prevent harming civilians and defended the decision to abstain in Thursday's UN Security Council vote on a resolution calling for an immediate but lasting cease-fire. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had helped negotiate the resolution.
Rice said Friday that she was pleased that Israel had responded to calls to open a humanitarian corridor into Gaza, where the United Nations and aid agencies say a full-blown crisis has developed. But, she said, "it is very difficult in a circumstance like Gaza, which is a very densely populated area," to protect civilians.
"It's also an area in which Hamas participates in activities like human shields and using buildings that are not designated as military buildings to hide their fighters," she told reporters at the State Department. "So it's hard."
At the White House, spokesman Scott Stanzel said the administration is "very concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza" but echoed Rice's comments on the difficulties Israel faces.
"We want to see that situation improve," he said. "However, it is a difficult situation. It is a conflict area. And this situation will not improve until Hamas stops lobbing rockets into Israel."
Rice: It's very difficult for IDF to avoid civilian casualties | Confronting Hamas | Jerusalem Post
Officials said they were continuing to press Israel to take measures to prevent harming civilians and defended the decision to abstain in Thursday's UN Security Council vote on a resolution calling for an immediate but lasting cease-fire. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had helped negotiate the resolution.
Rice said Friday that she was pleased that Israel had responded to calls to open a humanitarian corridor into Gaza, where the United Nations and aid agencies say a full-blown crisis has developed. But, she said, "it is very difficult in a circumstance like Gaza, which is a very densely populated area," to protect civilians.
"It's also an area in which Hamas participates in activities like human shields and using buildings that are not designated as military buildings to hide their fighters," she told reporters at the State Department. "So it's hard."
At the White House, spokesman Scott Stanzel said the administration is "very concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza" but echoed Rice's comments on the difficulties Israel faces.
"We want to see that situation improve," he said. "However, it is a difficult situation. It is a conflict area. And this situation will not improve until Hamas stops lobbing rockets into Israel."
Rice: It's very difficult for IDF to avoid civilian casualties | Confronting Hamas | Jerusalem Post
