Israel has threatened to invade Gaza; it began with the killing of four boys — three Israelis and one Palestinian — out of retaliation. The aftermath of these murders has spiralled into a crisis that is escalating quickly. Israel has carried out raids and arrested hundreds in the West Bank while also conducting airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. Hamas has claimed responsibility for firing rockets and Israel has called up to 40,000 reservists for ‘Operation Protective Edge, which might even include a ground offensive.
A UN fact finding mission in Gaza confirmed that the Israel Defence Forces had pursued a ‘deliberate policy of disproportionate force’, supposedly aimed at destroying enemy support infrastructure, but in reality targets civilian population. Gaza is among the most densely inhabited regions on earth and Israel controls the entire perimeter and airspace. For more than 45 years now, the international community has deemed Gaza to be militarily occupied. The laws of armed conflict require that Israel protect civilians within the territories it occupies. Instead, they are in the midst of an all-out offensive in the area. On July 10, an Israeli airstrike killed eight civilians in a cafe who were doing nothing more than watching the Football World Cup.
In an Op-Ed for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, President Obama stated that “American officials will continue to guarantee their unwavering and unconditional support for Israeli aggression in both rhetoric and military aid. Budgets in Washington are tight, but our commitment to Israel’s security remains ironclad.” With elections looming, not much else can be expected from the US as both the Republican and Democratic parties will outdo each other in declaring their devotion to Israel in an effort to gain support from large numbers of evangelical voters and secure campaign funding from the Israeli lobby (AIPAC).
International pressure continues to mount and during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged both sides to agree to a ceasefire. As the occupying force, Israel should be expected to present a heated argument for the use of force to defend themselves. We’re unlikely to hear the truth from Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The truth is that their actions have nothing to do with defence and that the killing of civilians in Gaza isn’t even sporting. Israel is shooting fish in a dusty barrel of their own creation. A well-documented history of failed negotiations at the international level and an unwavering US ally points to a continuation of this trend. Judging from the past wars in 2008 and 2012, the current crisis will lead to more bloodshed and paralysis followed by a temporary break in the form of a US-backed and Egypt-mediated ceasefire.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 14th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (33)
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@Rex Minor: The brutality being exhibited hear is as bad as anything I have ever been aware of.. It is worse than the Warsaw Ghetto of WWII.
Numbers, your inconsequential take on any serious post reflects only on your own mental state.
France 24 reporter has witnessed today the killing of four palestinian children, who were running away after the first strike towards Gaza beach in presence of many witnesses, being picked up by the pilot in the follow-up strike. The reporter states with emotions on 8PM news, that contrary to Israeli claims of targetting Hamas leadership, they infact have been targetting Palestinians children all along in this campaign.
Rex Minor
There is hardly any doubt about disproportionate use of force by Israel,and it is rightly being condemned for it. But to deny that Hamas is not firing rockets into Israel ,and to suggest that the 3 Israeli kids killed is a conspiracy(suggesting that Israel killed their kids to launch an attack,a country that will go to any length to save even one of its citizens) is pure hypocrisy.And what about thousands of leaflets and phone calls that Israelis make to people in the area of the attacks before the attack so that they can leave the area ,and not be used as human shields.That said,excessive force is only going to create more ill-will towards Israel,and is counter-productive in the end.But peace-loving Palestinians(majority as in any place else)has to raise their voices against Hamas-like entities prevalent among them(same thing happened in FATA,so the consequences).One only lives if one lets live!
@The Goyim Guardsman: Wow, so Hamas should continue firing and cost many more Palestinian lives because of "Honor"! Congratulations, you have just added a new definition for "Honor killing"!
@numbersnumbers:
Numbers I don't think military rockets are made from Plumbing supplies!
@numbersnumbers: Targeted strikes yes targeting women and children! The Egyptian cease fire is Hamas hand over all your weapons and Israel keeps up the blockade that is unacceptable to anyone with a sense of honor.
@The Goyim Guardsman: Wow, ET moderators allowing personal attacks now ( ie "ignorant little fellow")! Meanwhile, back at the ranch!!! Waiting for you to tell us that Hamas HAS NOT launched 700 plus military grade rockets into Israeli cities, hoping to slaughter Israeli women and children! Waiting for you tell us why Hamas declined to observe the Egyptian proposed Gaza ceasefire ( to save more Palestinian lives) which Israel agreed to and stood down at 0600 GMT Tuesday?? However, Hamas continued to launch volleys of rockets so at 1200 GMT Israel resumed targeted strikes on Gaza! So much for Hamas caring about "innocent Palestinians"!!!!!
Here we go again with the Israeli paid shills. Numbers or is it Joshua Goldstein ? Why waste time on this ignorant little fellow. The Israelis and their propaganda machine including folk like numbers are loosing this conversation big style, If this continues there will be many dead Jews littering the streets of the Western Nations!
@Sexton Blake:
There are no conspiracies in the deaths of three teenagers Israeli citizens or of the palestinian who was burnt to death in revenge or the children who perished with their parents by the indiscriminate bombing of the Israelis! The victims are all in the holy land which has witnessed nothing but blood throughout in its history.
Rex Minor
@numbersnumbers: Dear numbers, I am not exactly sure about 700 rockets, because like the three dead teenagers the source of information is doubtful. However,, I do have have a very graphic Palestinian You Tube film showing the dreadful carnage of Palestinian children and their parents. Also water, electricity and other essentials are virtually non existent.
@Sexton Blake: Wow, for all that want to see "Conspiracy Theorists", please search ET for Anwer Mooraj's March 16, 2014 opinion piece titled "Lower your Voice...He's a Jew"! In the comment section you can read @Sexton Blake's explanation that since he claims to live in a Western country that criminalizes "Holocaust Denial", he cannot tell all of us THE TRUTH about the Holocaust!!!
@Rex Minor: Wow, a "Robot" no less!! So please tell all of us that Hamas has NOT (by now) launched nearly 700 military rockets into Israeli cities, hoping to kill Israeli women and children!!!
@Rex Minor: Dear Rex, You are quite right about Robots or paid informers but we have to be careful. At least we know who they are, but if you spring them they will merely alter there Non-De-Plumes. On the other hand these guys may accuse us of paranoia and/or being conspiracy theorists. However, talking about conspiracy theories I am still waiting for Mr Netanyahu to present some credible evidence about how the three Israeli teenagers met their untimely demise. I have a bad feeling that like the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, we will be waiting for quite some time for the truth to come out.
@James: Do you genuinely believe these stories, equalising the victims with perpetrator? The author of this article is one of the brilliant talent I have come across of world class! Just look at the title of "Invasive Defense"? Israel and for that matter any country in the world can not have the security through military invasions or cold war campaign. Peace with ones self and ones neighbours alone can bring long term a Nation. If Germany can do it, othens can as well..
Rex Minor
@Sexton Blake: The guy is a Robot that your addressing; there are a number of them on ET including the famous ABDUL, they communicate only in one direction. We have just asked the CIA chief to leave the country so that the world cup winners can be greeted without any suveillance. India is the only country which is following the American cold war propaganda tactics.
Rex Minor
@Raj - USA:
Barack is a jewish, Hussain is muslim pure and Obama is African colour, Who could have imagined that he will become the President of the USA and will be asked to recall the Soloman rule of justice, an eye for an eye and no more!!
Rex Minor
@Sun Tzu: You sound like the chinese Philosopher from the antique times; do you realise that we are in the 21st century?
Rex Minor
Same old wailing about the Palestinians who have only themselves to blame as they had rejected every single opportunity to form a new country simply because they want Israel to be wiped out of the map. They elected a terrorist Hamas organisation to represent them - so enjoy the consequences.
@Rex Minor:
This is what is written and revealed in the SCRIPTURES:
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2014/February/Divine-Sign-for-Israel-Hagee-Explains-Blood-Moons/
Events have been happening for centuries accordingly.
" One and a half million of them were squeezed into Gaza due to the creation of Israel and are currently living under siege. On a personal level, is it reasonable for an intruder to come into your house and claim self-defence when you attempt to remove them?" --
SO THE ROOT CAUSE IS THE CREATION OF ISRAEL- The Palestinians assume the land of Israel as their own and treat Jews as intruders which is subscribed by the author and the whole op ed is based on this assumption. . There is no point to argue that Israel will continue to exist ( and also flourish) where it is. it has been accepted by all except few Muslim countries. Now the ground reality has already undergone a change but the perception of Israel's neighbors remain closet in 1400 years behind. Any cry of being victimized after the misadventure of rocket firing, will hardly help. None can counter the logic of Israel's right of self defense. Irony is that Palestine and Israel both use the same argument of self defense.
@Sri Varahadev: Pakistan army has targeted a number of journalists as security riskks and even eliminated several, if their reports contained the element of critique against State violence. This is a usual routine in military controlled countries, both Pakistan and Egypt are the typical examples.
Rex Minor
Rather than obsessing about Israel’s actions in Gaza, it would be a far more productive use of ink for Ms. Khan to write about the humanitarian crisis in North Waziristan wrought by the Punjabi controlled Military of Pakistan’s use of disproportionate methods of force against fellow Muslims during holy month of Ramazan. The silence of Pakistani journalists at the humanitarian crisis wrought by the Punjabi controlled Military of Pakistan is nothing short of appalling. Critising Israel for following the same tactics of the Punjabi controlled Pakistan Military is blatantly hypocritical.
@Vap: The fact is that Israel has built air raid shelters which citizens can go to,once the sirens sound.They also have the anti missile shield 'Iron Dome " which is quite effective in knocking out the rockets.This is the reason why casualties are minimal Those 700 hundred rockets were claimed by Hamas to have been fired into Israel.
"but is that term appropriate for an occupation? What about the self-defence rights of the Palestinians?" --The fact is that those land belongs to Israelis and muslim invaders invaded it during their regime . Just like Persia was invaded by Muslims and all were converted to Muslims . If someone attacks Israel , they will give a fitting reply . Though out the world , Muslims and non-Muslims fight , be it China or Philippines or Thailand or Myanmar or Indonesia or Malaysia or Sri Lanka or India or France or UK or Germany or USA or any african country . I only gave names of Non-Islamic countries .Otherwise list would have been unending . Everybody has understood that something is wrong with Muslims and credit goes to ideologies of Islam .
I agree with the sentiments about Israeli aggression, but when the author says: “American officials will continue to guarantee their unwavering and unconditional support for Israeli aggression in both rhetoric and military aid. Budgets in Washington are tight, but our commitment to Israel’s security remains ironclad. Surely the word aggression was not used by Obama. Many think Israel is doing exactly that, but it calls it self defense. No President can admit supporting aggression in public. Or we missing something here?
@numbersnumbers: Your same old boring, but incorrect diatribe You will never change. Who is pressing your buttons?
people who compare Palestine and Balochistan are the dumbest eyes have seen. Without knowing the ground realities they whine about Balochistan. Anyway another claim of military grade rockets of whom 700 are said to be fired hasnt injured or killed anybody yet, does this warrants the killing of Palestinian women and children ? But anyway facts do not count to Islamophobes they will consider muslims to be terrorists only.
No one wants an occupation - neither the Israelis and certainly not the Palestinians. And the world is sick of the perpetual state of conflict in this part of the world. But one party has continuously refused every attempt at any settlement. Its demands are rooted in faith. It will not rest until the other side is flushed to the sea. It wants it all or nothing at all. No outside force can bring peace until that party wants to. We see this pattern from Africa to Philippines. Selective representation of facts creates arguments not understanding.
It is quite an irony that Ms.Khan has a Masters in Conflict Resolution. Based on this article, she should surrender her diploma. Her dislike of Israel is obvious in this article and she has absolutely no proposal for an amicable conflict resolution in this case. Ms.Khan : Extending your logic, Pakistani army is doing exactly the same thing to the people of Baluchistan; I would be thrilled to read your comment on this.
As usual, author wails about Israel attacking Palestinians, while turning a blind eye (Pen!) to Palestinians continued launching of military grade surface to surface rockets into Israeli cities, hoping to slaughter Israeli women and children!! As long as Hamas/militant groups are clients of support from Iran, calling for the complete destruction of Israel, these escalating conflicts will continue! Let's review, Palestinian groups acquire arsenal of military grade surface to surface rockets (such as that recent shipment of Syrian M-302 long range rockets from Iran intercepted on the ocean) to attack Israel with, but build not a single BOMB SHELTER for those innocent Palestinians who will be endangered by the certain Israeli response when those rockets are launched into Israeli cities!!!
An Eye for an Eye is the policy which is now being followed in the holy land of the middle east. This is from where the world started and this is where the world will end! Moses said to Pharaoh, that he himself will decide what becomes of Egypt and no one else. The Israelites have now the wailing wall and no longer the Temple, which they might loose as well for their actions against the Palesntinians children?
Rex Minor