By Joe Macaron WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (KUNA) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Tuesday for creative solution in dealing with the crisis in Gaza while blaming Hamas for the strips isolation.
“Ultimately, Hamas is to blame for this circumstance because if they were more responsible toward the international community, then Gaza would be connected to the outside world rather than cut off”, said Rice in a briefing en route to Berlin.
“I think people need to start to try to think creatively about how to deal with the situation in Gaza”, she added in a soft criticism of the conduct of the Israeli government in Gaza.
A State Department official, who spoke to KUNA on condition of anonymity, said that the UN Security Council would discuss the situation in Gaza later today “but no resolution has been tabled for discussion”.
“It is important that the Council examine the overall situation, including Hamas responsibility for the continuing rocket attacks against Israel that led to the current circumstances and todays restoration of the flow of diesel fuel and medical supplies into Gaza”, added the US official in a sign that Washington might not go along with passing any resolution.
The source noted that Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch in Washington and Ambassador Richard Jones in Tel Aviv have been in contact with Israeli officials regarding the situation in Gaza.
“We will continue to work with the parties and the international community to address the humanitarian needs of the innocent people of Gaza”, added the State Department official.
“My understanding is that they have said that they will try and respond in a way that will not allow a humanitarian crisis to unfold there”, said Rice.
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said yesterday it would have to suspend international food aid to Gaza by the end of the week if Israel closure of the strip continues.
Rice is expected to discuss tomorrow Iran and Afghanistan with German officials and attend in Berlin the meeting of the permanent five members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany on Iran, before travelling to Davos, Switzerland on January 23 where she will deliver a keynote address at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.