US Office of Palestinian Affairs deleted post suggesting Israel ‘refrain from violence’

The United States Office of Palestinian Affairs initially tried to calm the conflict between Hamas and Israel with a post that read: “Terror and violence will solve nothing.”

In a since-deleted post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the office posted a call for the end to violence after Hamas fired thousands of rockets and also sent dozens of fighters into Israel on Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday celebrating the annual cycle of the Torah scroll reading. Additionally, some 35 Israelis have also been captured by Hamas fighters.

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“We unequivocally condemn the attack of Hamas terrorists and the loss of life that has incurred,” the post read. “We urge all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks. Terror and violence solve nothing.”

While the post is missing, screenshots of it remain on the platform, with one screenshot showing it had over 14,000 views at some point. The account has since reposted the statements of support for Israel by Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson also issued a statement of her own.

“The U.S. unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. There is never any justification for terrorism. We stand firmly with the Government and people of Israel and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks,” Watson wrote. “National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has spoken to Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and we remain in close contact with our Israeli partners.”

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Watson referred to any speculation that U.S. funds given to the states in the area that helped propel this attack as “disinformation,” writing, “These funds have absolutely nothing to do with the horrific attacks today.”

Israel last received rocket fire in January, when the Islamic Jihad in Gaza fired two rockets toward Israel after a raid of a refugee camp by Israeli troops resulted in seven Palestinian gunmen and two civilians being killed. These two rockets caused no casualties. Israel responded with air strikes on Gaza at the time.