world

Israel pounds Gaza as Palestinians urge resumption of truce talks

22 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2014 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

22 Comments
Login to comment

The Palestinian interior ministry said Israeli jets destroyed three mosques early Saturday.

Hitting places of worship will really win hearts and minds in the region.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Then tell Hamas not to hide their weapons in them, then no one has to worry about hurting those hearts and minds.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

NoCommonSense:

If you store arms in any building, or fire from it, then it magically becomes a legal military target.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

military target

as determined by the Dahiya doctrine:

a military strategy put forth by the Israeli general Gadi Eizenkot that pertains to asymmetric warfare in an urban setting, in which the army deliberately targets civilian infrastructure, as a means of inducing suffering for the civilian population, thereby establishing deterrence. The doctrine is named after a southern suburb in Beirut with large apartment buildings which were flattened by the Israel Defense Forces during the 2006 Lebanon War.

and substantiated by IDF ClipArt (hat tip to Bibi's tweet):

http://f8wee1vvia32pdxo527grujy61.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Bs_LtbZCUAM02M0.jpg

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I'm starting to think the Palestinians are not going to get rid of Hamas by themselves and Israel is going to have to do it for them...

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

The latest Palestinian rockets bring to 65 the number of projectiles launched at the Jewish state since the 72-hour truce ended on Friday morning, according to Israeli figures.

Israel says it has carried out more than 100 strikes in Gaza since Friday morning, targeting those responsible for the rocket fire....At least 65,000 people have had their homes destroyed

Projectiles? Why should a state that murders hundreds of children believe that it should be immune to attack?

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Why should a terrorist organization be allowed to continue to launch missiles at a neighboring country?

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Projectiles? Why should a state that murders hundreds of children believe that it should be immune to attack?

Why should the state allow a terrorist organization with the same ideology as Al Qaeda, Hezbollah that want to systematically wipe out and murder every Jew if given the chance, why should the state sit back and let their citizens be massacred? If Hamas really cared about their people, they would never hide bombs in schools, Mosques, homes among women and children, it's their own choice and their own demise.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

@SenseNotSoCommon

Hitting places of worship will really win hearts and minds in the region.

Not to take sides, but it's been proven that Hamas intentionally place their mortars & rocket pods in heavily-populated civilian areas. Again, I'm not choosing sides - Israel's attacks are also devastating and horrific in their nature, but Hamas need to be removed from Palestine before peace talks will be possible.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Not to take sides, but it's been proven that Hamas intentionally place their mortars & rocket pods in heavily-populated civilian areas

Have you checked out a map of Gaza? There are nearly 2 million people inhabiting less than 140 square miles, which means no place is far from a heavily-populated civilian area.

Second, what is the actual threat represented by these "projectiles?" Do they justify the slaughter of hundreds of children?

Why should the state allow a terrorist organization with the same ideology as Al Qaeda, Hezbollah that want to systematically wipe out and murder every Jew if given the chance...

It is the Zionist state that is acting like terrorists. The projectiles that Hamas is shooting at them are extremely low on the scale of any kind of existential threat. As for "Jew," I do not know who you are referring to. The Muslims and Jews -- genuine, Torah-observant Jews -- got along amicably and peacefully for centuries in Palestine. The Zionists would rather you not acknowledge that.

There is a very important reason that the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem spoke to the United Nations in 1947, pleading with them not to allow the Zionists to speak on behalf of, or represent the interests of true, Torah-observant Jews, and not to allow them to create a Zionist state in Palestine. The Zionists would rather you not acknowledge that either.

Finally, Hamas. The Zionist state has to take responsibility for creating Hamas. They admit it: "Hamas, to my great regret, is Israel's creation," says Mr. Cohen, a Tunisian-born Jew who worked in Gaza for more than two decades. Responsible for religious affairs in the region until 1994, Mr. Cohen watched the Islamist movement take shape, muscle aside secular Palestinian rivals and then morph into what is today Hamas, a militant group that is sworn to Israel's destruction." source: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB123275572295011847

Why did Israel willfully foster and encourage what you are calling a terrorist organization? Is the killing of many hundreds of innocent people the way to take responsibility? Or perhaps is it because creating an extremely fanatical -- although militarily weak -- organization provides the necessary "cover" to slaughter innocent Arabs?

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Thanks, sighclops,

Unpalatable as it may be, Hamas are the majority party in the Palestinian Legislative Council, which covers Gaza and West Bank.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinian_legislative_election,_2006

How do you suggest Hamas are removed without causing a third (and bloodier) Intifada?

Perhaps some other posters could also enlighten us. Pax.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@yabits

Have you checked out a map of Gaza? There are nearly 2 million people inhabiting less than 140 square miles, which means no place is far from a heavily-populated civilian area.

So, I guess that means, it's perfectly OK to attack people because of your living conditions, that's your excuse for resulting to deadly violence? Try again!

It is the Zionist state that is acting like terrorists.

But it was Hamas that started firing rockets into Israel. Yabits, show me the report where Israel started firing rockets into Gaza recently, go on! I'm waiting for that report, if you can produce one.

The projectiles that Hamas is shooting at them are extremely low on the scale of any kind of existential threat.

So that means, there is NO possible way that a person could EVER lose their life if one of those rockets hit them indiscriminately is what you are trying to say.

As for "Jew," I do not know who you are referring to. The Muslims and Jews -- genuine, Torah-observant Jews -- got along amicably and peacefully for centuries in Palestine. The Zionists would rather you not acknowledge that.

Yabits, keep digging. Lol

The Zionist state has to take responsibility for creating Hamas.

No, they are not children, they are adults and everyone has to be responsible for their actions and that includes Hamas. They are ultimately responsible for themselves. Yabits, when do you ever hold people like Obama or Hamas responsible for their actions or lack thereof?

Is the killing of many hundreds of innocent people the way to take responsibility?

You personally know all of these individuals to be innocent and you know this because....

Or perhaps is it because creating an extremely fanatical -- although militarily weak -- organization provides the necessary "cover" to slaughter innocent Arabs?

You meant, Israelis, there I fixed it for you.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

@yabits

what is the actual threat represented by these "projectiles?" Do they justify the slaughter of hundreds of children?

That is an irrational argument. I think we both know that nothing on this earth would justify that. The "threat" is not the issue. The video below will highlight my point:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_fP6mlNSK8

0 ( +2 / -2 )

show me the report where Israel started firing rockets into Gaza recently, go on! I'm waiting for that report, if you can produce one.

Happy to oblige:

"Hamas operatives were behind a large volley of rockets which slammed into Israel Monday morning, the first time in years the Islamist group has directly challenged the Jewish state, according to Israeli defense officials.. The security sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, assessed that Hamas had probably launched the barrage in revenge for an Israeli airstrike several hours earlier which killed one person and injured three more.. Hamas hasn't fired rockets into Israel since Operation Pillar of Defense ended in November 2012."

http://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-fired-rockets-for-first-time-since-2012-israeli-officials-say/

You personally know all of these individuals to be innocent and you know this because....

Wow, a new low, not that the benchmark was particularly high. 448 dead children were terrorists, then?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@sighclops: I have watched the video. Very interesting. Now consider this question: What would be the purpose of bombing ANY of the buildings around the "open field" where the projectile was launched, and possibly killing many innocents? That little tent that Hamas erected could be set up anywhere. Once the projectile has been launched, that specific area is no longer a threat. To suggest that it is is completely irrational.

bass4funk writes: "So that means, there is NO possible way that a person could EVER lose their life if one of those rockets hit them indiscriminately is what you are trying to say."

As you yourself imply, on the scale of threats from zero to 10, where 10 represents complete annihilation, and 0 represents complete safety, each of these projectiles has proven to represent a 1 or 2. In response to this flaccid threat, the Zionist state slaughters hundreds of small children -- who must be presumed innocent -- in addition to hundreds of other civilians. As sighclops's video says, it is because the Zionist state "chooses" to retaliate.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Well Yabits the bigger question is how practical the rockets are in terms of bringing peace to Gaza. I know that you defend and support rocket attacks so we can skip the part where we debate if they are justified or not.

The end result that I see from rocket fire is the death of innocents and the peace process takes a big step back. The only thing that's achieved is a short-term feeling of revenge. When I talk to some people the impression I get is that they are more interested in revenge than peace and you fit the bill.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Hamas showed its level of concern for the wellbeing of Gaza residents when it spent several hundred million dollars building terror tunnels instead of using that money to improve civilian infrastructure or facilities.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Palestinian negotiators have warned they will leave Cairo on Sunday if their Israeli counterparts

Would that be the same Palestinian negotiators who said they wouldn't negotiate until Israel gave in to their demands? The same negotiators who are representatives of the group(s) that launched attacks on Israel before the last ceasefire ended and increased the attacjks after the ceasefire ended? Sounds like they are the ones that didn't want to negotiate. I guess they thought the international community would force Israel to give in and when it didn't happen they were clueless what to do. Don't you hate it when the playbook you have used for decades doesn't work any more.

Unpalatable as it may be, Hamas are the majority party in the Palestinian Legislative Council, which covers Gaza and West Bank.

They got those seats in 2006. There hasn't been an election since. Maybe a new election would find them losing some if not most of those seats. And an election shouldn't cause an Intifada.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@sense

Wow, a new low, not that the benchmark was particularly high. 448 dead children were terrorists, then?

No, of course NOT, so the ultimate blame should go with the people that put the kids in these places KNOWING full well these facilities would targeted. You don't hide weapons and rockets in schools, places of worship and homes, that suicidal, but wait, martyrdom is their mantra, so why would they care if the kids die, so I guess, for them, it makes rational sense to hide these weapons among the children, just don't cry about it screaming that you care when you really don't in actuality.

@yabits

As you yourself imply, on the scale of threats from zero to 10, where 10 represents complete annihilation, and 0 represents complete safety, each of these projectiles has proven to represent a 1 or 2. In response to this flaccid threat,

Dude, you are so full of nonsense.

the Zionist state slaughters hundreds of small children -- who must be presumed innocent -- in addition to hundreds of other civilians. As sighclops's video says, it is because the Zionist state "chooses" to retaliate.

Then don't hide the weapons in the schools and Mosques and in homes where you would find a lot of children. They money that they get for aid, maybe if they would use that money to feed their people, make better living conditions instead of building rockets KNOWING that if they fire them, they are going to GET IT, then they would be doing something productive instead of counter productive. Hamas is the problem and the burden for the Gazans.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Looking at the article, and the comments given here, I get a better picture of why there has not to date been a peaceful resolution to this old old old conflict. How sad.

Soundbytes heard from TV or one's favorite magazine (unless one intakes news from both "sides") are not going to give one the factual basis upon which to condemn either side to attack, destruction and death. The idea of who fired first has a longer memory than the current round of debates. This is not a weeks-old issue, or even a months-old issue. It goes back a lot longer than that. It's a cycle of attack, defend, and then retaliate, on both sides. It's reductive to draw a line so recent.

So I believe all of us commenters should avoid the over-simplistic summaries of who did what during the past week or few weeks. It's a conflict, people are attacking each other, and people are dying. Should it matter WHICH people are dying? I doubt it. That is a difficult and dangerous point to debate anyways. Can we stop the killing, or do we want it to go on?

And before anyone tries to twist what I just wrote, I believe that ALL attacks on a neighbor (no sides taken here) are illegal and unacceptable, which is in accordance with the UN Charter (Article 2) and various ICJ rulings.

Am I a silly romanticist to believe that humans are big enough to find a way to find common ground? If so, I apologize, and in that case, please just disregard my comments.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

SuperLib,

When I talk to some people the impression I get is that they are more interested in revenge than peace

Indeed, and lack of evidence doesn't stop them:

'Revenge for the blood of a teenager or young man is not the devil's work,' Netanyahu said. 'Hamas is responsible, Hamas will pay.'

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/182364#.U-fxCVYfIaY http://mondoweiss.net/2014/07/killed-turning-onslaught.html

Suzu1

terror tunnels

Look what the globally respected National Geographic has to say on the matter:

Gaza's Tunnels, Now Used to Attack Israel, Began as Economic Lifelines

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/07/140721-gaza-strip-tunnels-israel-hamas-palestinians/

Mike O'Brien,

They got those seats in 2006. There hasn't been an election since. Maybe a new election would find them losing some if not most of those seats. And an election shouldn't cause an Intifada.

Yes, Hamas's electoral mandate was wearing thin. One reason the US, EU, Turkey, China and India all supported the national unity government announced by Fatah and Hamas this April (to be sworn in six weeks later), and to be followed by elections in the new year.

Despite Hamas honoring their 2012 ceasefire, however, Bibi (threatened by peace?) was livid.

Netanyahu: Abbas must choose between Israel and Hamas

http://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-abbas-must-choose-between-israel-and-hamas/#ixzz3A1tf91qy

So what's next? Should Palestinians be allowed a modicum of self-determination? Or must what they do, and where they do it, continue to be dictated by a military occupation, fueling intifadas ad infinitum?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Well Yabits the bigger question is how practical the rockets are in terms of bringing peace to Gaza.

When faced with seven decades of brutal ethnic cleansing by the Zionist state, there are more important matters than a false peace.

I know that you defend and support rocket attacks

I would support a Jewish person's right to violently resist a Nazi siege in a place like the Warsaw Ghetto -- where they also used tunnels to smuggle in supplies and weapons. You are suggesting that you would not. Let's not forget that it has been the Zionists who have, from their outset, wanted to wipe Palestine off the map entirely and replace it with a state called "Israel."

The end result that I see from rocket fire is the death of innocents and the peace process takes a big step back. The only thing that's achieved is a short-term feeling of revenge.

Wrong. The disproportionate retaliation on an innocent population under occupation reveals the true face of the brutal oppressor. Because you know absolutely nothing about the brutal nature of the occupation on a day to day basis -- what peaceful Palestinians have had to endure for decades -- you foolishly believe yourself astute in regards to a "peace process." Watch the film Five Broken Cameras -- It is the Zionists who do not want peace. If they did, they would not ever steal an inch of land that was not theirs -- EVER -- for building an illegal settlement.

And yet they are planning hundreds more. And you talk about a peace process?

Am I a silly romanticist to believe that humans are big enough to find a way to find common ground?

The common ground will be found in a common, unitary state, where every person has one vote. Not in two states where one is a racist military power (and a minority) that dominates and brutally oppresses a majority population.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites