Hamas says it has body parts of slain Israeli soldier in northern Gaza

[oberliner]

Gaza – Ma’an – The Hamas movement in the northern Gaza Strip said on Sunday that it has body parts of an Israeli soldier killed on the first full day of the ground invasion of the Gaza Strip in early January.

According to a statement circulated by the movement, fighter Muhammad Bashir Khadir captured the soldier from a special forces unit near the As-Salam Mosque in eastern Jabalia refugee camp on 4 January, before Israeli reconnaissance planes bombarded the house killing both the soldier and the Palestinian fighter.

According to the statement, “torn body parts of the soldier, his helmet, telescope, bullets, right foot, left hand, and military equipment are kept by resistance fighters.”

http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=35798

[henank]

1. And they're proud of something like this?

They're worse than animals.

[Vegasaurus]

6. They are all a bunch of murdering sick individuals

with absolutely no care for human life, including their own or their people's.

They are the worst scum of life.

[IndianaGreen]

9. It was the IAF that dropped the bomb on the house, not the Gazan air force

I suspect a similar fate happened to Shalit.

Last update - 11:45 15/02/2009

IDF probe: Cannot defend destruction of Gaza homes

By Amos Harel

Israel Defense Forces investigations into last month's offensive in the Gaza Strip indicate the army could face significant difficulties justifying the scale of destruction of civilian homes during the fighting. A military source involved in the investigation told Haaretz, "It's clear to us that in a small portion of the combat sectors immeasurable damage was caused, and that is very difficult to justify from a legal perspective, particularly if such justifications are called for in legal proceedings with international organizations."

In the course of fighting, the IDF destroyed hundreds of houses in different sectors, and Palestinian sources estimate several thousands of houses suffered damage. Some of the homes were struck as a result of aerial strikes, others during ground fighting in densely-built urban areas.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1064161.html

[Lost in CT]

2. I'm not sure that is good press release material for Hamas...

Just Saying.

[ohio2007]

4. ...cuz it's all they got......

and,
on the other hand,

since "fighters" hold the parts, they can't gain access to allow DNA tests to be conducted

[aquart]

3. What did they do with the rest of him?

Just wondering.

[LeftishBrit]

5. Very gruesome...

Why are they even admitting to it? It doesn't exactly reflect well on them. Or are they somehow thinking they may hold the slain soldier 'hostage', and that the Israelis might make certain concessions in order to get him decent burial?

[Idealism]

7. My guess is that they are grasping for anything that can give them a bit of leverage

I think it is stupid, considering Israel could give two shits about Shalit it seems, why would they care about tattered remains of half a body...

[pelsar]

8. love to hear the explanation....like some support for your version

considering Israel could give two shits about Shalit

go for it...this should be quite interesting......

[Idealism]

10. He is worth more to the politicians imprisoned

Or do you not understand political motivations for events?

[pelsar]

12. i understand the israeli mentality.....

and the one who brings him home is the hero.....having him stuck there with so many protests to bring him home provides no advantage to anyone in israeli politics...

or do you not understand israeli politicians and the society..which strikes aa far more closer to the truth..

[Idealism]

15. That is your mentality, but you aren't a politician.

The Israeli government doesn't see enough benefit from trading Shalit for the demands Hamas will impose on them for his release. They also can use further military action against Hamas with the objective of freeing Shalit, which leaves the door open politically for future military operations with impunity.

I understand politicians perfectly well, it is you who does not.

[pelsar]

19. shalit is the excuse for miltary action?.....huh...on what planet.....

for reasons unknown you somehow believe you know whats going on in israeli society...perhaps you believe all societies are like yours and hence you dont have to bother learning about it (shades of colonialism?) it appears you believe israeli/Palestinian politicians are like your own.....another version of the "great white colonialists".-pretty ironic for you isnt it?.....but the middle east, its society and is politicians actually have a different set of values than your own...as you constantly seem to prove with your attitude in the way you post

[Idealism]

21. Earth to Pelsar: all politicians are the same.

They seek re-election the day they get elected, much of their agenda is politically motivated.

"great white colonialists?"

What the hell are you talking about? Why do you think Israeli politicians are above playing politics? Did you pay NO attention to the election? It was a TV show of "Who Can Out-Hawk the RWers!"

[pelsar]

23. the new colonialism at its best....a classic example

all politicians are the same.

enough said.....nah i'll give you just a hint why israeli politicians are not like your garden variety american style:

one aspect is that the fact is that many of their kids are actually in front line combat units...so when they vote to go to war, they know they are actually putting their own kids not just on the front line, but sometimes the first to go in

do your politicians have that as part of their agenda?.........

didnt think so........


"all politicians are the same".......nothing like a bit of ethnocentrism to spark a debate (i guess thats like saying "all cultures are the same"....-like yours?

[Idealism]

25. Astonishing. I have no words for your naivety

Politics- everywhere- is in the end about getting re-elected. Just because some MK's have children in the military does not mean that most of their agenda doesn't focuses on things that will get them re-elected, including war.

I can't believe how gullible you are when it comes to politicians. Look around you! How many MKs are under investigation for corruption?! You think they are holier than thou with regards to American politicians, why?

[pelsar]

29. all doctors are the same? all social workers are the same? all software programmers are the same?

or is it only politicians that are the same in your world?

Just because some MK's have children in the military does not mean that most of their agenda doesn't focuses on things that will get them re-elected, including war.

so in your world politicians will sacrifice their children inorder to get reelected-WOW...glad i dont live in your world

(and btw..other cultures in the world are not the same as the one you live in.....that should be pretty obvious by now)

[Idealism]

30. I don't know if it is nationalism which makes you think Israeli politicians to be superior

or just ignorance, but either way it is quite telling.

If they are so much better than other politicians, why are there so many under investigation?

[pelsar]

31. different does not mean better..

it means its a different culture with different values......this seems to be tough concept to grasp.....

[azurnoir]

11. Because if the Israeli governent wanted him back that badly

the Israeli government could have done it long ago but instead chose to play games as it were like it is doing right now with making Shalits release the bargaining chip for a "cease fire" or "truce" or what ever politics demands it be called this time, seems so "odd" after trading Kuntar for two bags of bones a few months back although I'm "sure" the Israeli government had "no idea" the Regev and Goldwasser were dead.

And I have opined more than once in the past that Israels right wing would much rather have this kids mangled corpse than his safe return.

[pelsar]

13. and its only an opinion..with no info to back it up..

why would the israeli right need to have shalit stay in gaza....so like ron arad the israeli govt can spend millions trying to find out where he is?

[pelsar]

14. d/p

[eyl]

17. BS

the government may not be willing to get Shalit back at any price, and frankly they're right. That does not translate to "not giving two shits about him". If nothing else, as pelsar pointed out, there are a lot more political dividends for the one to bring him home, and if needed I'm sure they can come up with reason to attack Gaza without him (case in point - Shalit's return was not an objective of the recent fighting).

As for Goldwasser and Regev, anyone who wasn't deluding himself knew they were dead, and frankly the government made a maor mistake agreeing to that deal. So maybe they've learned something.

[oberliner]

18. Do you think Shalit is alive?

I certainly hope he is, but it's hard to tell what exactly is going on.

[eyl]

28. I think there's a chance

which is more than I could say for Regev and Goldwasser

[azurnoir]

22. Thanks you made my point for me

really political dividends for those who bring him home? Really, then why hasn't anyone? In fact right now there were two separate deals in the works with Hamas one for a truce and one for Shalits release the Israeli government "scotched" both by over lapping them just as they were near completion why? And as you point out Cast Lead was not about Shalit at all and in fact went on with absolutely no concern what so ever for his safety

[pelsar]

24. you missed the point -again...

cast lead was not going to free shalit directly.....that was pretty clear to all israelis given the experiences of ron arad and wasserman etc

the IDF/Israel govt was being realistic and made it clear....or is now having a govt tell the truth a "bad thing"

[azurnoir]

26. So that explains why on the eve of having both an agreement

for Shalits release and a "truce" or whatever politics necessitates it being called this time the Israeli government throws the entire deal? well ok if you say so.......

[eyl]

27. maybe because the government has

(finaly) recognized that paying excessive prices will lead to a worse result down the road?

[azurnoir]

32. Or maybe it is political maneuvering

it seems a pretty overnight decision; one day the whole deal seems ready and the next its off and with new demands. I think what was realized was that peace does not seem to translate into power at least not right now in Israel

[shaayecanaan]

33. I dare say the Israelis wish they had taken the original asking price...

which was a bit more reasonable than the price that Hamas is asking now.

Reputedly, Abas al-Musawi was very proud of his one-liners that he used in negotiations:-

"Come on, I know this boy is worth more to you than a bag of potatoes"

"At the end of the day, Arab life seems a lot cheaper in this world than others. And this is the one time the exchange rate works in our favour"

"I can sit here until the chairs rot, until the chairs rot!"

etc.

The last one he pinched from the Paris Peace talks, but nevertheless, he was a witty man. I dare say the Hamas men are not as witty, and anyway, they are not in direct negotiations with the Israelis so any wittiness would be wasted on the Egyptians.

But at the end of the day I think Hamas are aware that Shalit is worth more to the Israelis than a bag of potatoes.

[oberliner]

34. What is the source for these quotes?

Or are they facetious?

[Alamuti Lotus]

20. Not leverage, only to disprove claims of no casualties

[ohio2007]

16. No shipments to Gaza until Israeli soldier freed ( time to call )

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday border crossings with Gaza will not be fully opened until a captured Israeli soldier is freed.

snp

http://www.pr-inside.com/no-shipments-to-gaza-until-israeli-r1060640.htm