Israel/Palestine
Related: About this forumHamas is playing a dangerous game with Gazan lives
SO FAR Hamass military campaign against Israel has been a dismal failure. Thanks in part to Israels Iron Dome anti-missile system, some 1,200 rockets fired at Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other cities have caused only one Israeli death and a few other casualties. Attempted commando attacks via the sea and a tunnel were stopped short, and a drone that ventured into Israel was quickly shot down. Yet Hamas on Tuesday rejected an Egyptian cease-fire proposal that was supported by Western governments and the Arab League and had been accepted by Israel.
Why would Hamas insist on continuing the fight when it is faring so poorly? The only plausible answer is stomach-turning: The Islamic movement calculates that it can win the concessions it has yet to obtain from Israel and Egypt not by striking Israel but by perpetuating the killing of its own people in Israeli counterattacks. More than 200 people, including a number of children, have already died in Gaza; Hamas probably calculates that more deaths will prompt Western governments to pressure Israel to grant Hamass demands.
So far, the tactic is not working. Secretary of State John F. Kerry on Tuesday condemned Hamas for rejecting the cease-fire and using the innocent lives of civilians . . . as shields. But Hamass commanders, who have burrowed into underground bunkers, appear to be doubling down. They are urging civilians who have left their homes to return, including some 15,000 who evacuated the northern part of Gaza in response to Israeli warnings. The cease-fire proposal was answered with a new barrage of missiles aimed at central Israel.
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To its credit, Israel has used sophisticated technology, including targeted text messages and dummy warning missiles, to minimize civilian casualties. But innocent people will inevitably be killed in attacks on launchers and missile factories that are purposely placed in densely populated areas. The right response of the international community is not to surrender to Hamass despicable tactics but to continue insisting that it unconditionally accept the cease-fire proposed by Egypt.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/hamas-is-playing-a-dangerous-game-with-gazan-lives/2014/07/15/cc5f101e-0c3b-11e4-8c9a-923ecc0c7d23_story.html
Response to Fozzledick (Original post)
cerveza_gratis This message was self-deleted by its author.
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)Mazel tov.
Fozzledick
(3,859 posts)They do what they have to in the situation Hamas has created.
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)The two-state solution is dead, and all Israel is doing is trying to bleed out and control a restive population it has within its borders. Let's stop pretending otherwise.
The Palestinians are all Israelis now.
R. Daneel Olivaw
(12,606 posts)defending Israel again?
shira
(30,109 posts)....them in their propaganda efforts vs. Israel. For one, covering for Hamas war crimes (shielding) vs. Gazan civilians. Denying, explaining away, mimimizing....
It's disgusting that westerners know full well of Hamas' war crimes against its own people, support such crimes against humanity, and are thereby helping Hamas win the PR war. These western sanctimonious bigots, like Hamas, use Palestinian civilians as pawns in their vile cognitive warfare vs. Israel. The best part is they have the audacity to masquerade as "pro-Palestinians".
R. Daneel Olivaw
(12,606 posts)shira
(30,109 posts)Mondoweiss, ElectronicIntifada, NGO's and other media reluctant to report on Hamas war crimes against its own people. They're all covering for Hamas.
All these organizations and leading figures made excuses for Hamas rejection of a ceasefire, because apparently not enough Palestinian blood had been shed yet. They support Hamas' war vs. Israel, even if only Palestinians are getting killed.
So it turns out that self-proclaimed "pro-Palestinians" who spent the past couple weeks outraged by Palestinian casualties will continue supporting Hamas' ongoing war, with certainly more Palestinian bloodshed to follow. They'll claim not to support Hamas but they support Hamas' agenda. They certainly will not call Hamas out for what they're doing.
Mondoweiss shills recently posted the following sympathetic, pro-Hamas piece:
Understanding Hamas:
http://mondoweiss.net/2014/07/understanding-hamas.html
Pretty sick stuff.
R. Daneel Olivaw
(12,606 posts)wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)All the Israelis do is strengthen Hamas, then whines when the situation gets worse due to their actions. Nobody likes how it ended up, but if you keep delegitimatizing moderate Palestinian leaderships, its the radicals that win. So keep whining about how the Palestinians keep putting up apartment buildings that get in the way of Israeli rockets.
shira
(30,109 posts)wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)I can't discuss this issue with you in good faith, can I?
shira
(30,109 posts)It's a fact.
I can't discuss this intelligently with any self-proclaimed "pro-Palestinian" who denies this & has trouble condemning Hamas for crimes against humanity they're committing against their own people.
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)If Israel wanted to send rockets all all the "human shields" as you call them, that was completely their choice.
shira
(30,109 posts)Israel gave Hamas a chance, twice, with 2 cease fires. Hamas broke both.
Indefensible.
wellst0nev0ter
(7,509 posts)By releasing prisoners and lifting blockades.
Indefensible.
shira
(30,109 posts)Those advertising themselves as pro-Palestinian should be begging Hamas to cease all hostilities so that no more Palestinians die, which is Hamas' cynical goal.