Greenblatt on Twitter slams Hamas for 'cowardly acts,' overnight rockets

His statement comes in response to sirens heard in Sderot and other communities near the border of the Gaza Strip and a projectile that was launched into Israeli territory from Gaza Sunday night.

By JULIANE HELMHOLD
Published: FEBRUARY 19, 2018 10:17
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt (L) and Major General Yoav Mordechai (R). (photo credit: COORDINATION OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE TERRITORIES)
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt (L) and Major General Yoav Mordechai (R).
(photo credit: COORDINATION OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE TERRITORIES)
Jason Greenblatt, the United States' Middle East envoy, slammed Hamas on Twitter Sunday night, saying "HAMAS hides improvised explosive device to attack Israeli soldiers & is shooting rockets at Israel again! Such cowardly acts will only escalate violence, not build the prosperous society the people of Gaza deserve!"

His outspoken statement comes in response to sirens heard in Sderot and other communities near the border of the Gaza Strip and a projectile that was launched into Israeli territory from Gaza Sunday night.
Greenblatt has voiced his concerns about Middle East affairs openly on Twitter before. Most recently, he used the social platform to condemn Iranian funding of terror and Hamas's use of these funds to finance attacks on Israel.
The US envoy tweeted: "Hamas should be improving the lives of those it purports to govern, but instead chooses to increase violence and cause misery for the people of Gaza. Imagine what the people of Gaza could do with the $100 million Iran gives Hamas annually that Hamas uses for weapons and tunnels to attack Israel!"

Greenblatt also commented on the wider implications of the Islamic republic's growing impact in the region, condemning Iranian funding of terror across the Middle East.
"Iran spends almost a billion dollars a year sponsoring terrorism in Lebanon, Israel and West Bank/Gaza. This blood money only increases violence and does nothing to help the Palestinian people. The corrupt regime in Tehran squanders the resources of the Iranian people on military adventures throughout the region instead of investing at home and promoting peace abroad.

Eytan Halon contributed to this report.