The death toll along the Gaza border with Israel has risen to 60, making Monday’s protests the worst violence between Israel and the Palestinians since 2014. But while journalists seek to cast blame and attribute the cause of violence either to Israel or to President Trump’s decision to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital Jerusalem, they may be missing the point and, in doing so, becoming Hamas’ useful idiots. The violence has little to do with the outside world and everything to do with internal Palestinian politics.

First, let’s dispense with some myths: The situation in Gaza is dire, but it’s not as bad as many think. In terms of basic health and welfare metrics, the average Gazan is better off in many ways than the average Indian, South African, or Egyptian.