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Friday, June 04, 2010

UN actually expresses "concern" over Hamas actions!

Over the past two years, Hamas has routinely raided, closed, arrested the leaders of  and taken over news media, political organizations, medical groups, dental unions,  schools, teachers' unions, labor unions, and charities.

Throughout all these outrages, the UN has been mostly silent, saving its condemnations for Israel.

However, early this week Hamas raided six different NGOs - and the UN finally, after years, took notice:
A senior United Nations official in the Middle East today expressed deep concern at reports that Hamas has broken into the offices of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the Gaza Strip this week, confiscated materials and equipment, and forced the offices to shut down.
Robert Serry, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said in a statement issued in Jerusalem that reports indicated Hamas had broken into NGO offices in both Gaza City and Rafah.

“This targeting of NGOs, including UN partner organizations, is unacceptable, violating accepted norms of a free society and harming the Palestinian people,” he said.

“The de facto authorities must cease such repressive steps and allow the re-opening of these civil society institutions without delay.”
Notice that the UN representatives in Gaza didn't make this statement - because they are simply too terrified to say anything against Hamas.

Of course, this is not a condemnation - just an expression of "deep concern." Too little, and a couple of years too late. But since the news had reached the Western media, the UN couldn't ignore it completely, like they did for all the previous Hamas outrages - even when they were against the UN itself.