According to some recent polls, there is growing apathy in the Arab world for the peace process and the plight of the Palestinian people.

As a new round of direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders gets underway, U.S. efforts to isolate Hamas in Gaza could jeopardize the prospects for a diplomatic reconciliation between the two sides.

While Prime Minister Netanyahu was received warmly on his recent visit to Washington, progress on the peace process remains in doubt. If direct negotiations are to resume, the split among Palestinians will hamper—and arguably prevent—the ability of President Abbas to negotiate on behalf of the divided people.

Israel’s raid on a flotilla of humanitarian aid ships bound for Gaza, which reportedly left at least nine people dead, drew condemnation from international leaders and leaves prospects for Israeli-Palestinian talks even more dismal.

Israel’s raid on a flotilla of humanitarian aid has refocused global attention on Gaza’s isolation. Israel’s action have helped Hamas, and the group is now operating from a position of greater strength.

The Israeli raid on a humanitarian flotilla headed for Gaza has been a present for Hamas. The sooner the United States and Israel realize that the popularity of Hamas is the result of failed policies, the better off the peace process will be.

Under the control of Hamas and hemmed in by Israeli containment policies, the Gaza Strip continues to pose multiple challenges for humanitarian and reconstruction efforts as well as for broader U.S. strategic interests in the region.

Since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip on June 15, governance has barely functioned. Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyya in a November 4 speech expressed his dissatisfaction with the paralysis afflicting the executive, judicial, and legislative institutions, accusing the Ramallah government of responsibility.