Interesting but uninformed point of view, Dario. What evidence that has been filtering out of Gaza damns Hamas. Initially, I wondered why Hamas, firing more and more rockets to provoke Israeli response (terrorism is haute theatre or it’s nothing), did not make even an attempt to build bomb shelters for the protection of non-combatant Gazans. Now, I believe that Hamas’s motive was just more Islamist pr—attack from midst of civilians so that returning fire takes a lot of the innocent along with the Hamas fighters, make Israel look really bad, etc. Same old same old. This time, however, the IDF has captured a Hamas map of sniper positions and explosive riggings for a district in Gaza which makes it pretty clear what Hamas has been up to. They apparently didn’t build bomb shelters for anyone but themselves because underneath, Gaza is honey-combed with tunnels, not just the smuggling tunnels but soldier-trapping tunnels. Despite phone calls from Israelis to leave their homes if militants or weapons caches are present, a lot of Gazans have not been leaving—not just because there is nowhere in Gaza to go that Hamas hasn’t turned into a killing field, but because some of the probably can’t leave. According to the map, and IDF troops who used it, many homes have a booby-trap in the door, so anyone going in our out is blown up. Some of these, like a child’s doll in one doorway, blow up in such a way that people close to the blast are sucked down into a tunnel. Sniper positions and rocket launch sites have rigged secondary explosive devices that are spread throughout residential areas as well as schools and hospital areas. So Israeli fire directed at militant fighters, rocket launchers and weapons caches may well hit their target—but Hamas-rigged secondary explosives blow up anyone in the general area, in homes and schools and hospitals.

Regarding the humanitarian crisis relief, IDF noticed that shipments were being picked up by Hamas and SOLD to Gazans with the money to buy it. As of yesterdeay, IDF troops have begun embedding humanitarian workers and supplies in there units as they move through the city so some relief can reach people who can’t afford to buy it, or can’t reach it on their own.

Half of Israel’s ground battle is trying to spare Palestinian lives while destroying Hamas’s rocketing and command abilities. Israel is willing to enter a ceasefire if Hamas recognizes its right to exist, stops rocketing.

Hamas has always had my contempt—this last little blow-up-the-civilians-and-create-humanitarian-crisis maneuvering, is beyond contempt. It’s despicable. And it lends itself to any number of cartoonerly icons, if only there were liberal progressive cartoonists and media to publish them that weren’t in such pc lockstep.

The Palestinians have been miskaten in choosing Hamas (or Hezbollah for that matter); better a corrupt Fatah than a murderous den of religious fools and killers. Though inklings of their dissatisfaction only rarely make the average news story, these Palestinians’ stories are poignant, moving, and show absolutely clearly the coldblooded killers that are passing themself off as holy warriors. Salah-ah-din would have had the heads of Hamas men before he would have let them so shame the meaning and face of Islam. Shame on them.

And shame on the international media for not thinking a bit more carefully about analysing the nature of these “heroes”. The whole mess of them are not worth the life of a single IDF soldier.

Firstly… the fact that the Jews have been persecuted for millenia as you so eloquently put it Sam, does not give them the right to vent out on a nation that played no role in their persecution! They should know from their own suffering in the so-called Holocaust what it feels like to be punished for who you are rather than what you have done. Chris Hedges puts it well I think when he says, “The lesson of the Holocaust is not that Jews are special. It is not that Jews are unique. It is not that Jews are eternal victims. The lesson of the Holocaust is that when you have the capacity to halt genocide, and you do not, no matter who carries out that genocide or who it is directed against you are culpable.”

Secondly… study your facts people before you make uneducated remarks, Israel broke the ceasefire (not once but twice!), so please do not play the same old ‘self-dense’ game this time. Unfortunately your media does not inform you of the facts, and clearly you are too ignorant to find them out for yourselves.

Ok, let me see if I understand this: a group of people are forced to live in a concentrated space with no control of their basic needs for a decent life. When they lash out at their perceived oppressor, they are labeled the aggressor and are summarily slaughtered. Nothing wrong here folks, just go back to your reality TV show, we’ll let you know when something really bad happens.

Both sides will not give up, but I think that Hamas with their people among the general population causes more casualties.

I wonder why the people on the other side bother to throw rocks when they have no backup.  Its as though they think that sympathy from the public will protect them.

Does it make sense to throw stones when all you have is stones and people willing to commit suiside is your only weapon.  What happens when Hamas runs out of people, of course when you have woman having large famlies will you ever run out of people?

By Daiv, January 12 at 10:29 am

The Unfair media, as you call it, has failed to mention Israel’s blockade on all sides of Gaza for some 3 years. 

The Unfair media has failed to mention the 4th november (day of US elections) killings of 6 Palestinians thus breaking the Truce with Hamas.

The Unfair Media is not being allowed into Gaza….“for their own safety” according to IDF.

The unfair media has failed to mention Gaza is the new Warsaw Getto or the LIES from Israel or the complicity of western politicians in keeping quiet over who really started this blood letting.

Only Israel’s Haaretz has had the courage to deliver truthful reporting.

What the hell Fadel?  Cowardly? Cowardly is fireing missiles and hiding in the innocent populace. Cowardly is firing missiles and letting letting your countrymen pay the price.

Using tanks, F18s and such weaponry is not cowardly, it is SMART. Let’s see… do you walk into the building full of fanatical racists with AK-47s and a deathwish WITHOUT being prepared? Or would it be smarter to take out your enemy with artillery and advanced weaponry first so your people take minimal casualties.

This is just more in the long line of bullshit coming from people these days.  The Israelis finally have a home after being persecuted for millenia, and they get shot. What would you do if someone shot you? You hit them back!  The Israelis just happen to be better at it than the Palestines.

Where’s the rest of the story?  You don’t show the cowardly HAMAS launching death and destruction onto Israel from the “safety” of urban centers.  It’s as though you are punishing the second striker(a.k.a. self defender) while allowing the initial instigator (a.k.a. bully) a free punch with no consequences.  Unfair - you bet - but somehow the only viewpoint offered by you or the media.