Israel and Hamas forces 'clash on Gaza border'

[oberliner]

Israeli soldiers and Hamas fighters have clashed near the Gaza Strip border, according to reports.

Arab media have reported that two Israeli troops have been killed east of Khan Younis, though this has not been confirmed by Israel.

A ceasefire between Israel and Islamist militant group Hamas, which governs Gaza, has largely held since the 2008-2009 conflict with Israel.

In a statement, Hamas' armed wing claimed responsibility for the deaths.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8589529.stm

[MUAD_DIB]

1. In order for any ind of peace in the region Hamas has to be disarmed.

I trust them less than the IDF.

[Jefferson23]

2. Only an imposed solution By Zeev Sternhell

snip* The Israeli political elite is divided between those who seek to continue to push out the Palestinians from the Land of Israel as much as possible and those who, for fear of the settlers, do not dare take a stand against the annexation that is becoming ever more entrenched. The destructive result is that Israel's leaders do not move a finger to give the Palestinians the minimum of incentives required for coming to terms with the great rupture that the War of Independence created in their history.

Were Israeli society prepared to pay the price for peace, its government would not be fanning the flames of conflict at the Tomb of the Patriarchs, in Sheikh Jarrah and the Shoafat ridge, nor would it be wrestling with the United States over expanding the settlements. Were it serious about its intentions, the government would immediately put a lid on Jerusalem's lunatic mayor.

After all, how is it possible to demand that the Palestinians recognize the results of the War of Independence and the legitimacy of the Jewish state if Israel takes the liberty of continuing to seize their lands? How is it possible to move forward when the government continues to invest giant sums in the territories and create facts whose only purpose is to create an irreversible situation?

remainder in full: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1159312.html

[oberliner]

3. Palestinians sources: Hamas ambushed IDF

Palestinians sources told Ynet on Friday that the fire exchange that left two IDF soldiers dead in the Gaza Strip was a planned ambush. Abu Obeida, spokesman for Hamas' Izz a-din al-Qassam Bridges, said at a press conference, "The organization's interception and observation unit identified an Israeli force advancing into the Palestinian territory and confronted it by directly striking its men."

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3868618,00.html

[Jefferson23]

4. Doesn't change my previous response, seems Israel believes what

is contrary to human nature, oppressed people will not lay down like a dog and submit.

[oberliner]

6. Did not mean to post it as a response to your post

I meant to post it as an add-on to the OP.

[azurnoir]

5. If a Palestinian force were advancing into Israel

would IDF do any different?

eta as I commented on another thread about this subject the Palestinians in this case Hamas are apparently not allowed to defend themselves against a hostile incursion, this is not support of Hamas but pointing out the double standard at work here in making Hamas the responsible party in Gaza without allowing them any of the "benefits" of that responsibility