And now for something completely different.
Israeli warplanes rained more than 100 tons of bombs on security sites in Hamas-ruled Gaza Saturday and early Sunday, killing at least 230 people in one of the Mideast conflict‘s bloodiest assaults in decades. The government said the open-ended campaign was aimed at stopping rocket attacks that have traumatized southern Israel.
Most of the casualties were security forces, but Palestinian officials said at least 15 civilians were among the dead. More than 400 people were also wounded.
The unprecedented assault sparked protests and condemnations throughout the Arab world, and many of Israel’s Western allies urged restraint, though the U.S. blamed Hamas for the fighting.
But there was no end in sight. (Is there ever an end in sight?) The first round of strikes began around noon Saturday followed by successive waves of attacks that continued.into the early hours Sunday.
The Israeli airstrikes caused widespread panic and confusion, and black plumes of smoke billowed above the territory, ruled by the Islamic militant Hamas for the past 18 months. Some of the Israeli missiles struck in densely populated areas as students were leaving school, and women rushed into the streets frantically looking for their children.
A great way to statr a New Year, with war……sad somethings never chgange.
A peaceful People living in his Homeland. Then strangers, cruel strangers came in 1948. They took the Land and began their onslaughts. Killing and killing. The onslaughts continue until. Others, all others in this Big World, don’t know, don’t hear, don’t see. This Big World!
The Gaza strip is more like the largest concentration camp in the world, at least thats how it seems to me. They actually give these people an election and what do you know they vote in a terrorist/militant group of folks. Hmmm I wonder why, O yeah i remember its because before Hamas they use to get bombed like this every other day, now they just get bombed at the end of every sunday.
oh please…it’s clear that the unprecedented assault is that of the Hamas who have been raining down rockets on israeli towns for the last 8+ years. Can you imagine how we’d respond if Mexico or canada rained down rockets on us for that long – or try for 1 day?! The common answer is “well the Gazan population is a hostage of the Hamas.” Again nonsense – weren’t we (and Israel in its stupidity) the one who sponsored democratic elections so that the palestinians could say who they really wanted to lead them? And didn’t the Hamas democratically win just under %70 of the vote in those elections? This isn’t about a forced takeover by a people holding the palestinians hostage! This is the democratically elected palestinan hamas government carrying out the will of the people. This terorism against Israel is the centerpiece of the Hamas political platform and so it’s not like the voters were suprised by all the rocket fire into israel or the international condemnation.
I’d suggest that anyone criticizing Israel go spend one week in any of the towns bombarded daily by rocketfire (which I did recently as a volunteer) and then see how quickly they urge “patience” and “talk” or criticize Israel’s actions.
I think it is about time Israel did something. Imagine getting constant missiles on towns in the US without any reaction from the US government. I think Israel is entitled to do whatever they can to stop this nonsense. To all those who say that it is too much force… It’s the Hamas fault. They brought it on themselves. Even the Egyptians told them so. I hope that instead of fighting back they will come to their senses and decide to end this conflict. It is only in their hands. Israel is just reacting to terrorists, and I bet will gladly go to any peace process once there will be a willing partner on the other side.
Another interesting fact from this blog, is that if only 15 civilians are dead out of 230 casualties, it means that Israelis can hit terrorists at an amazing precision of 94%!! Only 6% were civilians… When Hamas launches a missile or sends a suicided bomber, they intentionally hit 100% civilians. Just another comparison that shows that the “bad guys” are getting punished right now.
I wonder how many deaths will be until Hamas realizes his foolish mistakes, and the pain its decision have brought to the Palestinian people.
To all the people who sleep safely in their beds at night and have the audacity to criticize the Israeli government, this is for you:
None of you spoke in the past 8 years when rockets and bombs fell in southern Israeli cities, causing death and damage without any provocation on our part.
What you need to understand are two things-
First of all, there is no functioning government in Gaza. The Hamas took over and they are running the show. The Hamas, in case you didn’t know, is a terror organization. Just like Al-kaida and Hezbollah. Israel is dealing with terror organizations all around its borders. Not with governments. And not with civilians. We have nothing against the Palestinians. Only the terrorists.
The second thing you need to know is that the Hamas is a very cynical organization which uses innocent women and children to fight Israel. They launch their missals from civilian’s houses, not from open fields or military camps, and when the Israeli army wants to destroy those missals launchers- sometimes innocent people die.
Ask yourself- what would you do if your life was constantly under threat? Look at the map. Maybe that will help you grasp our geographic situation.
The purpose of the Israeli army is to defend. Not attack.
So next time you think about how miserable and poor the Palestinians are, and how powerful and evil the Israelis are- think again.
(Written by a left-wing Israeli who thinks terror should not win anywhere in the world).
I would like to thank all those people who commented on this post and I will give my take on it.
War is an obscenity–there is no right or wrong–only death. The Palestine/Israel thing has become an institution for both people and NO one knows how to change it. The rockets, the bombs, the tanks, the death–have been going on for so long that it has become a governmental institution.
The death of innocent civilians, especially children is unacceptable..if soldiers want to stand 10 paces apart and blow each others heads off–then I say go for it. But civilians should NOT be involved in any way.
Somewhere, if this is every going to end,someone must step forward and be the better person. Peace is not easy, but there is a way and ALL sides need to work from that idea. For war only makes a bad situation worse. Rockets only make a bad situation worse.
We can only hope that one day sanity will return to the area.