Cameron’s provocative language over Gaza serves to obscure the issue

And there’s me thinking that David Cameron’s overtures to Turkey were newsworthy enough, when he drops this into his speech in Ankara:

“Let me also be clear that the situation in Gaza has to change. Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp. But as, hopefully, we move in the coming weeks to direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians so it’s Turkey that can make the case for peace and Turkey that can help to press the parties to come together, and point the way to a just and viable solution.”

In a wider sense, this is indicative of the West’s firmer attitude towards Israel in the wake of the flotilla incident. But Cameron should still be wary about using such provocative, emotive language. The situation in Gaza is a two-sided coin: yes, humanitarian channels should be kept open (provided they serve the general, peaceful population), but it shouldn’t be forgotten that – as I’ve written before – Hamas and their allies are as much to blame for the crisis in Gaza as anyone else. Obscuring that fact is neither helpful nor right.