مسؤولة أميركية سابقة تصف مهلة الثلاثين يوما لإدخال المساعدة لغزة بخدعة علاقات عامة

"A Public Relations Trick": Former US Official Exposes 30-Day Deadline for Gaza Aid

Hala Rarit, a former Arabic-language spokesperson for the State Department who resigned in protest of US support for the “genocidal massacre” in Gaza, has described the Biden administration’s 30-day deadline for Israel to allow increased aid to Gaza as a mere public relations ploy aimed at placating voters.

During an interview on Wednesday, Rarit, who worked within the State Department’s public relations apparatus, asserted that the 30-day deadline was a calculated tactic designed to appear responsive to public concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“I can tell you, as someone who worked inside the State Department’s public relations machine, that this is unfortunately a public relations stunt. I’m sad to say that, but it’s the truth. It’s conveniently 30 days, which is after the election,” Rarit said, adding, “It was also conveniently leaked. It’s not usual to leak a statement like this to the press, but it was leaked.”

The Biden administration conveyed its message to Israeli officials on October 14, hinting that failure to meet the demands might jeopardize US military aid. However, the message did not explicitly threaten a cessation of arms shipments, and the State Department refused to clarify any potential repercussions for Israel.

Rarit emphasized that the administration's actions were ultimately an attempt to deceive voters, particularly those deeply concerned about the Gaza conflict.

“The reality is, the State Department and the administration are trying, at this point, to give voters, especially those who are deeply concerned about the conflict in Gaza, some hope: ‘As long as you vote for us, then after these 30 days, we will enforce the law, we will make a change.’ This is a complete deception of the voters and the American people,” she said.

Rarit further alleged that the US is in violation of various foreign aid laws by providing military assistance to Israel.

“The reality is that we, as the US government, are violating American law, and many laws that your viewers can Google: The Leahy Law, the Foreign Assistance Act, the Arms Export Control Act. We continue to intentionally violate the laws so that we increase American military aid to Israel,” she said.

In her critique of State Department spokesperson Matt Miller, Rarit accused him of dishonesty.

“As for Matthew Miller, I’ll be blunt: he’s lying. And I know, I realize that’s a strong thing for me to say, but as a former diplomat, I can confirm that,” she said.

Rarit pointed out that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been the primary obstacle to a ceasefire agreement, contradicting the State Department's consistent attribution of blame to Hamas.

“There have been ceasefire deals that Hamas has agreed to. I am not a defender of the terrorist organization at all, I want to be clear about that. But facts are facts. Hamas has repeatedly agreed to ceasefire deals. They said that it was Benjamin Netanyahu who backed out of those deals.”

Rarit resigned from her position at the State Department in April. She was a career diplomat who first joined the Foreign Service in 2006. Rarit is one of 13 officials from US government agencies who have publicly resigned in protest of President Biden's unwavering support for the “massacre” in Gaza.

The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had indicated that Israel needs to demonstrate “more progress” on the flow of aid to Gaza, according to the State Department.

Blinken, speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv on Wednesday following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, acknowledged the urgent need to increase the flow of aid to the Gaza Strip.

“I can assure you that there is progress, which is good, but there needs to be more progress, and more importantly, it needs to continue,” Blinken said, referring to the flow of aid to Gaza.