What is so different about what the Israeli army is doing to Gaza’s people, than what Bashar al Assad is doing to the people of Syria?
Nothing. It is exactly the same. It is systematic murder of civilians and children. Israeli jets have pounded Gaza for a sixth successive day that has left 94 people dead and several homes in ruins. Israel justifies the attacks by saying that it is meant to quell Hamas rocket fire into its territory, but how can anyone justify such indiscriminate killing. The attacks have led to a sharp spike in civilian casualties, killing 24 civilians in just under two days and doubling the number of civilians killed in the conflict.
The hundreds of civilian casualties that came about as a result of the last incursion into Gaza about four years ago, drew fierce international criticism of Israel, and this is no different. But, when the US goes on record and says that it respects Israel’s right to defend its territory (which it does), it makes the Jewish state bolder in its efforts.
Israel does have every right to defend itself, but at what cost? Does bombing media towers and killing children constitute self defence? No, it does not. But the penny has two sides - Hamas fighters have fired hundreds of rockets into Israel in the current round of fighting, among them one that hit an empty school.
Schools in southern Israel have been closed since the start of the offensive Wednesday. Apologists will remark that Palestinian rockets have no accuracy, and that schools are not specifically targeted. This much is true. But still, firing on civilians is to be deplored – whoever is responsible.
Egypt, Turkey and Qatar are attempting to broker a ceasefire, but it seems that Hamas and Israel are at loggerheads. The biggest losers in all of this are the ordinary folk of Gaza who have been killed or maimed.
Palestine claims that Israel’s attacks have left 720 people injured – 225 of them children. Israel claims that three of its citizens were injured by rocket fire.
Gaza residents said Israel first sent a warning strike at around 2 a.m. Monday, prompting many people in the area to flee their homes. A few minutes later, heavy bombardment followed. But flee to where exactly? Gaza is a ramshackle collection of buildings that does not allow for citizen safety. Israel knew there would be collateral damage, but how many people is it ready to kill?
In all, 1,350 targets in the Gaza Strip have been struck since the Israeli operation began. Israel and Hamas have put forth widely divergent conditions for a truce. But failure to end the fighting threatens to touch off an Israeli ground invasion, for which thousands of soldiers, backed by tanks and armored vehicles, have already been mobilized and dispatched to Gaza's border.
President Barack Obama said he was in touch with players across the region in hopes of halting the fighting. While defending Israel's right to defend itself against the rocket fire, he also warned of the risks the Jewish state would take if it were to expand its air assault into a ground war.
"If we see a further escalation of the situation in Gaza, the likelihood of us getting back on any kind of peace track that leads to a two-state solution is going to be pushed off way into the future," Obama said. It seems like it is only going to get messier, and ultimately, bloodier.