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Israel agrees to 'humanitarian' pause in Gaza

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By IBRAHIM BARZAK and DANIEL ESTRIN

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Israel agreed to implement a five-hour “humanitarian” pause in its 9-day-old bombardment of Gaza that has killed more than 200 Palestinians, including four boys struck on a beach Wednesday by shells fired from a navy ship.

This shows Israel's total disregard for human life. if one steals a person's land, forces them into degrading conditions, kills them at will, one should expect the "inconvenience" of some sort of violent response. Let's face it, that pretty much sums up the effectiveness of Hamas missiles.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Always surprisefv how people cite with Israel.

Let's see on one side we got homemade rockets that have no guidance, limited carrying, the other side the IDF uses the latest US made war technology fighters, tanks, etc and where every citizen serves 2-3yrs.

For a people that endured one of the greatest sufferings I find it amazing that peace and value of life is not more embraced.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

The ratio is still only 200+ to 1

But you have to give Hamas full marks for effort. It's not as if they haven't been trying to kill Israelis is it?

For all so-called Palestinian supporters out there, if, in the past year you didn't complain when thousands of protesters were killed and injured by Turkey, Egypt and Libya, when more victims than ever were hanged by Iran, whole communities were massacred in South Sudan, 1800 Palestinians were starved and murdered by Assad in Syria, hundreds in Pakistan were killed by jihadist terror attacks, villagers were slaughtered in Nigeria, but you ONLY cry out for Gaza, then you are not pro- Palestinian, you are only anti-Israel.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Israel provoked this latest 200 tats for 1 tit aggression because Fatah and Hamas were moving towards a reconciliation government that would help unify and strengthen the Palestinian people. This article suggest that Hamas is against sharing power, but if this was the case why has it been involved in reconciliation talks? Egypt's plan, on the other hand, is not about reconciliation but about shifting power and is one imposed by Israel and the US through it's puppet military regime in Cairo.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Fatah and Hamas were moving towards a reconciliation government that would help unify and strengthen the Palestinian people

The unity deal was motivated in large part by the fact that Hamas has run out of money due to its break with its former Iranian sponsors and the shutting down of smuggling tunnels to Egypt by the military government in Cairo. They hoped that by going into business with their Fatah rivals in control of the Palestinian Authority, this money problem would be solved. The PA, subsidized via aid from the EU and the US, was supposed to pay the salaries of the 42,000 Hamas government employees. But the PA says it's not going to do that. There is no love lost between Hamas and the PA.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Well I guess they have a few hours to reload.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

For all so-called Palestinian supporters out there, if, in the past year you didn't complain when thousands of protesters were killed and injured by Turkey, Egypt and Libya, when more victims than ever were hanged by Iran, whole communities were massacred in South Sudan, 1800 Palestinians were starved and murdered by Assad in Syria, hundreds in Pakistan were killed by jihadist terror attacks, villagers were slaughtered in Nigeria, but you ONLY cry out for Gaza, then you are not pro- Palestinian, you are only anti-Israel.

Why not go the whole hog, and call those demanding advanced democracies follow global human rights norms, anti-Semitic?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Israel provoked this latest 200 tats for 1 tit aggression because Fatah and Hamas were moving towards a reconciliation government that would help unify and strengthen the Palestinian people. This article suggest that Hamas is against sharing power, but if this was the case why has it been involved in reconciliation talks? Egypt's plan, on the other hand, is not about reconciliation but about shifting power and is one imposed by Israel and the US through it's puppet military regime in Cairo.

Well said!

I found out yesterday that Egypt didn't even provide one detail of information to Hamas about the "so called" truce. It was just a feel good piece for western eyes to try to make Israel look more civilized. If that's possible.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

I'm not going to say Israel is 100% always right in their handling of the Palestinians, but clearly Hamas is trying and winning the PR battle asking women and children to NOT surrender and to fight on, knowing that they could be injured or killed and then use that as a big photo op to make Israel look like the aggressiors. It's very simple. Hamas HAS to recognize and acknowledge the existence of Israel, stop firing their rockets and waging jihad against the Jewish people and they'll stop. As K.T. McFarland said the other day, on FOX, Israel uses their missiles to protect their people and Hamas uses their people as human shields. In other words for them life is expendable. I didn't agree when the Israelis kidnapped the Palestinian and set him on fire, that was awful and it made everything worse. However, Hamas's defiance of never accepting and allowing Israel to exist is non-negotiable. Israel should whatever they feel is necessary to neutralize the threat of Hamas once and for all. Before the bombing campaign starts they send out leaflets to advise people to leave to minimize casualties and yet, some decide to stay for whatever reason. They were warned. If they don't or refuse to vacate a possible bombing site, that's on them. Unlike our president at least Netanyahu understands the urgency to protect his country and people, which is what a leader does.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Hamas has been shooting rockets in the hundreds for months and refused a truce. They refuse to make peace. Any loss of innocent life is unacceptable. Hamas should work for their people instead of against them.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Israel: If you stop firing rockets at us we will stop killing you.

Palestinians: OK deal. And will you stop stealing our land and building new settlements on it?

Israel; No. We can stop killing you but the land grab goes on.

Palestinians: Then you give us no choice but to fight back.

Israel: That being the case we will continue to kill you. And take your land.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

"And you will stop stealing our land and building new settlements on it?"

You know, back in the day, it was all part of the Persian Empire...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@simon

Hamas can't win, neither the radical Palestinians wing. I don't agree with the entire land grab, but the ball is in their court, they can either put down their arms or they can suffer the consequences. They will always get the short end of the stick. Let them fight on then. For every time, they attempt to bomb or hurt the Israelis, it always comes back to bite the Palestinians that much harder. I'm NOT saying I entirely disagree with you but as long as they embrace radical terrorism and unwilling to recognize the Jewish state, then you just can forget everything.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

" U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq. Serry will “urge the parties in Gaza to respect that pause,” Haq said. "

Well, he can hope a lot. I am not holding my breath.

@Bassfunk: Actually, Hamas is winning the propaganda war, as you can sadly see even here. And that counts for them.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Actually, Hamas is winning the propaganda war, as you can sadly see even here. And that counts for them.

Poppycock!

You can't respect a country that does this to another population while getting a million dollars a minute from the US.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Fizzbit:

" You can't respect a country that does this to another population while getting a million dollars a minute from the US. "

You are describing Hamas. While getting millions of Dollars from the US (plus from the EU), they shoot rockets into a neighbouring country and arrange other terrorist acts. Oh, and you forgot to mention that the neighbouring country supplies them with water and electricity too, which is never paid for.

So yes, we agree --- I don´t respect Hamas either.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Willib

Oh, and you forgot to mention that the neighbouring country supplies them with water and electricity too, which is never paid for.

Yeah right. It's called population control. You never hear about the terrorist acts that Israeli's inflict on the Palestinians on a daily bases, unless you go looking for it, because the Palestinians don't have a Corporate system of news networks at their fingertips, or a global lobbying network, or an international spying operation to cry and whine for them while slamming old ladies into walls. So spare me the sob story.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

FizzBit:

" Yeah right. It's called population control. You never hear about the terrorist acts that Israeli's inflict on the Palestinians on a daily bases, "

What "terrorist acts"? Israel is supplying water and electricity to Gaza. How is that terrorism? Hamas does not supply Israel with anything, except rockets. So please stop making up things.

In the event, can you even think of one government attacking a neighbouring country with rockets, while at the same time accepting water, electricity, and medical treatment from them, withing blinking? I can not. Hamas is truly in a league of its own in regard to hypocrisy.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

terrorist acts that Israeli's inflict on the Palestinians on a daily bases

Examples?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Japonaise: Examples, though there are many to choose from, I will show just two mild examples. 2013 Israel destroys over 7900 Palestinian olive trees. Maybe that is Israel,s way of extending the olive branch of peace. 2nd, blowing up the majority of Palatines water aquifers. Both cowardly acts designed to cause suffering and loss of simple necessities. Let's face it, Palestine continues to commit extremely poor actions but Israel is guilty of the same and sometimes worse. If you would like examples of direct loss of life, (Murder) I can give plenty of examples committed by BOTH sides.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I don't agree with the entire land grab'

So some of the 'land grab' you do agree with? Please tell us which areas.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Why not go the whole hog, and call those demanding advanced democracies follow global human rights norms, anti-Semitic?

Sorry, I have no idea what you're saying. All I was pointing out was that I didn't see posters here, who appear to be pro-Palestinian, react in the same way to atrocities against Palestinians in Syria at the hands of Assad, in the same way they react when Israel is involved. The human rights abuses I see right now are coming from Hamas in 2 ways: firing indiscriminately at civilians and using civilians as human shields.

I'll ask again, what do you want Israel to do, and what do you want Hamas to do?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Always surprisefv how people cite with Israel. Let's see on one side we got homemade rockets that have no guidance, limited carrying, the other side the IDF uses the latest US made war technology fighters, tanks, etc and where every citizen serves 2-3yrs.

So because Hamas is militarily weak, that makes them right?

Oh and much of the Hamas rocket inventory are sophisticated missiles and not 'homemade'.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

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