I notice that there are no pictures of bombed out Israeli schools or hospitals.

[Viva_Daddy]

I wonder why that is.

Don't blame me. I'm just asking the question...wondering...

[uppityperson]

1. Are there any?

[CTyankee]

2. There were before Israel developed the Iron Dome.

I guess that's why Hamas started making the tunnels...they couldn't attack from overhead so they had to go underground...

Here is a description http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Dome

[Fozzledick]

3. Iron Dome works better than human shields.

[Comrade Grumpy]

7. Funny you should mention human shields:

http://palsolidarity.org/2014/07/israeli-forces-invade-azzun-and-use-palestinian-civilians-as-human-shields/

Home / Nablus / Israeli forces invade Azzun and use Palestinian civilians as human shields
Israeli forces invade Azzun and use Palestinian civilians as human shields
in Nablus, Reports July 24, 2014

24th July 2014 | International Solidarity Movement, Nablus team | Azzun, Occupied Palestine

On Monday, July 21st, Israeli forces used Palestinian civilians as human shields in the village of Azzun, a village west of the city of Nablus.

On most evenings several Israeli jeeps are stationed just outside the Azzun’s north gate. At 10 o’clock in the evening on the night in question, approximately 15 soldiers entered the main square of the village.

Witnesses report that a few young men responded to this invasion by throwing stones at the jeeps from a distance of approximately 200 meters. The soldiers spent the next few minutes stopping cars on the road and began forcing the drivers to arrange their cars in a circle. The soldiers then forced these residents of Azzun to surrender their keys. The occupants of the cars included women and children. They were very frightened and the soldiers did not allow them to leave. The Israeli forces positioned themselves inside the circle formed by the cars, began to fire tear gas at the youths, and knelt behind the civilian occupants of the cars as to protect themselves.

The use of civilian human shields is prohibited by Fourth Geneva Convention. Israel ratified this convention in 1951.

Israeli forces have a long history of using Palestinian civilians as human shields. From the years 2000 to 2005, they admitted to using human shields more than 1,200 times. This practice was banned by the Israeli Supreme Court in 2005, but human rights groups have accused the Israeli army of continuing to use it. During the Gaza massacre of 2008-2009 Israeli occupation forces were accused by Amnesty International, as well as former Israeli soldiers, of using Palestinian children as human shields.

[Comrade Grumpy]

8. Funny you should mention human shields, Part II:

From Amnesty International:

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/israelgaza-conflict-questions-and-answers-2014-07-25

When the Israeli military has warned residents of a specific area in the Gaza Strip to evacuate the area, does that fulfil its obligations to protect civilians under international humanitarian law?

Effective advance warning to civilians is only one of the prescribed precautions in attack aimed at minimizing harm to civilians. When Israeli forces have given warning in many cases key elements of effective warning have been missing, including timeliness, informing civilians where it is safe to flee, and providing safe passage and sufficient time to flee before an attack. There also have been reports of lethal strikes launched too soon after a warning to spare civilians. In any event, issuing a warning does not absolve an attacking force of its obligations to spare civilians, including by taking all other necessary precautions to minimize civilian casualties and damage to civilian structures. Israel’s continuing military blockade on the Gaza Strip and the closure of the Rafah crossing by the Egyptian authorities since the hostilities began mean that civilians in Gaza cannot flee to neighbouring countries.

The Israeli authorities claim that Hamas and Palestinian armed groups use Palestinian civilians in Gaza as “human shields”. Does Amnesty International have any evidence that this has occurred during the current hostilities?

Amnesty International is monitoring and investigating such reports, but does not have evidence at this point that Palestinian civilians have been intentionally used by Hamas or Palestinian armed groups during the current hostilities to “shield” specific locations or military personnel or equipment from Israeli attacks. In previous conflicts Amnesty International has documented that Palestinian armed groups have stored munitions in and fired indiscriminate rockets from residential areas in the Gaza Strip in violation of international humanitarian law. Reports have also emerged during the current conflict of Hamas urging residents to ignore Israeli warnings to evacuate. However, these calls may have been motivated by a desire to minimize panic and displacement, in any case, such statements are not the same as directing specific civilians to remain in their homes as “human shields” for fighters, munitions, or military equipment. Under international humanitarian law even if “human shields” are being used Israel’s obligations to protect these civilians would still apply.

[Dreamer Tatum]

10. So Amnesty has no evidence that Hamas is using human shields

and you believe it. But something NAMED "palsolidarity" has evidence that ISRAEL is
using human shields, and you believe THAT.

[Fozzledick]

11. Actually, at this point I think the term "human shields" is inadequate for Hamas' policy.

"Human sacrifices" or "civilian cannon fodder" might be more appropriate.

[Comrade Grumpy]

13. Of course the people actually aiming and firing the weapons into Gaza are blameless.

You know, the ones who actually killed the 600 or so civilians.

That is some sick, twisted logic.

[Fozzledick]

18. What's sick and twisted is trying to make excuses for Hamas' human sacrifices.

[Comrade Grumpy]

14. This is such a hilarious topic. Dead Palestinians. Chortle. Chortle.

[Dreamer Tatum]

17. No, but your selective citations are a scream. nt

[IronLionZion]

4. Iron dome is more effective than cardboard dome

and fighter jets and missile systems with American backing is more effective than lobbing some shoulder fired rockets and rocks and hoping for the best.

The children are the only innocents I think. Everyone else on both sides seem pretty bad.

[Warpy]

5. There is a parallel with Hamas's unguided missiles and Hitler's buzz bombs

The idea isn't to destroy any specific target, the aim is to rattle the local population and keep them in a state of high stress, something both programs did/are doing very well.

Hitler combined his poke in the eye buzz bombs with carpet bombing, something Israel has escaped but is reacting like they'd endured.

A more logical program might include using their bombs to destroy the tunnels completely, install listening devices to pick up the sounds of redigging, and liberalizing their stance on what can get through to Gaza on the surface so there is less popular support for using scarce concrete on tunnels through which consumer goods as well as bombs have been passing.

The combination of iron fisted restrictions on food and consumer goods plus periodic destruction of people and infrastructure is not working. Perhaps a velvet glove is called for, along with vigilance to prevent any more tunnels lined with concrete and capable of transporting heavy weapons through from being built and rebuilt.

Of course, that will rely on a change of government. The present one is just as addicted to the futile cycle of violence as Hamas is.

[Dreamer Tatum]

6. Here's a list of suicide bombings for you

But I'm guessing it won't move too many people.

[TheKentuckian]

9. That doesn't matter, what matters is driving those Jews out of the Middle East

and failing that assimilation of their state.

Oh in case someone doesn't get it

[COLGATE4]

12. ^^^ THIS ^^^

For pointing this out so succinctly.

[kentuck]

15. Does anyone know the last time an Israeli citizen was killed by a Hamas rocket?

Just curious?

[BlindTiresias]

16. Yeah

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_rocket_attacks_on_Israel#Casualties.2C_Fatalities_and_rockets_fired