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The Israeli Offensive - Can we have just a quantum of solace?

The Israeli offensive against Hamas:

(This is an essay I have written that dates from some time ago. Mind the element of it being written weeks ago)

Just about a month ago, it emerged that Hamas have broken a ceasefire with Israel by launching attacks into Israel. In retaliation, Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza on Hamas targets. Despite solely targeting Hamas targets, Palestinian authorities have claimed that over 1000 people had died in the attacks, and this is set to rise. However, this number is not reliable given that it is coming from Hamas sources who do not distinguish between civilian and soldier deaths. Nevertheless, Israel claims that all Hamas military bases have been neutralised and is now getting ready for a ground invasion of Gaza to finish off the remaining Hamas. From the looks of it, this seems like the biggest Israeli offensive against Hamas in a long time, and can be a very effective one. The ground invasion offers the chance for the threat of Hamas to be quashed.

The events before the Israeli offensive are obscure. The Israeli authorities claim that Hamas broke a ceasefire by firing missiles into Israel. On the other hand, Hamas claims that the ceasefire was broken by Israel who launched an offensive into Gaza. This claim has not been rebutted by Israel, but instead, Israel argued the need for an assault on Hamas because of the illegal smuggling of weapons into Gaza by militant groups. The smuggling of weapons was something that the leader of Hamas stated he will not stop, despite its centrality in the Egyptian brokered ceasefire deal. Militant groups in Gaza are responsible for the smuggling of arms, but leader of Hamas stated that he will not enforce the treaty upon smaller militant groups since they voluntarily accepted the treaty. By continuing to allow militant groups to smuggle arms into Gaza and refusing to stop, Hamas bluntly broke the ceasefire first, and not Israel (as Hamas claims). Also, Hamas has done nothing in order to stop militant groups in Gaza from launching missile attacks into Israel. As a result of the assault on Gaza, Hamas responded by firing rockets into Israel, prompting Israel to step up military operations.
Israel is known across the world for its heavy handed tactics, which I think are completely outrageous tactics. In addition to the heavy handed tactics are the actions of Israel during the ceasefire. Settlements continued to develop in Palestinian lands at a growth of 5% during the ceasefire and controversial military operations did not cease. In June 24 2008, a special operations unit of the IDF surrounded a house and killed 2 Palestinians in an encounter which saw no return of fire by the Palestinians. The IDF forces stopped medical aid from reaching the two men for 5 hours. This is just an example of atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians, condemned by human rights groups and politicians. The state of Gaza during the ceasefire was still under a siege-like state with humanitarian aid being limited to amounts that left the populace of Gaza living in conditions that, whilst not at the levels of starvation, deprived them of basic necessities. The military tactics of Israel, which involve the bombardment of cities, though not unique to Israel, result in the loss of life of civilians. Such conduct towards civilians in a state which is controlled by Hamas – a party which heavily uses propaganda to steer civilians towards its aims – does none but radicalise civilians into becoming militants and suicide bombers. To Israel and the US, the only approach against Hamas is a military solution. There is a destructive policy of not negotiating with terrorists which leads to nothing but military action. Conflict always leads to the loss of life and bitter resentment of civilians expressed towards the ‘enemy’. What I think Israel hope by bombarding Gaza and using collective punishment is for Palestinians to express hate towards Hamas. This is a completely miscalculated aim. This conduct results in none but the radicalisation of Palestinians, causing them to be ever more loyal to militant groups like Hamas and their terrorist tactics.
Israel is guilty of offences that should bring figures in the Israeli army and government in front of the criminal courts in The Hague. The Israeli repression of foreign press, which led to the deaths of many reporters and injuries of many more (including one who was shot repeatedly in his limbs as he lay injured from gunshot wounds. Clearly on his light blue bulletproof vest was the word ‘Press.) There are numerous cases of innocent civilians being shot by Israeli soldiers and being run over by military bulldozers as they form human shields in front of their homes which are due to be demolished. Many of these soldiers are never brought to justice.

The military solution has, for many decades, shown to be completely ineffective, breeding nothing but a new generation of terrorists who vow to avenge Israel for its actions. This is not a holistic solution, and we all know that any solution that is non-holistic results in side effects which can be greater than the original problem itself, causing a cycle of ****. Whilst the holistic approach is not ‘perfect’, it is the better of all the other approaches. Instead of bombarding Hamas and embarking upon military expeditions which are so costly, Israel needs to step back and start negotiating terms with the Palestinians. Hamas are none but a group of angry men. I fully understand why they are angry, but I do not agree with their tactics. I also understand why Israel feels a need to launch assaults into Gaza, but once again do not agree with their tactics. Israel needs to negotiate properly with Hamas in return for promises of no further action against Israel. From the looks of it, Israel is creating a great amount of anger amongst Palestinians, creating new settlements and repressing Palestinians. Israel and the world need to offer real incentives to Hamas to tone down its radical Islamic militancy and to tolerate the existence of Israel. Hamas was democratically elected by the Palestinian people. How can such an extreme party be elected under normal conditions? Palestinians are not living under normal conditions but under siege. Perhaps if Israel starts being more humane the Palestinians might vote back in Fatah (the much more moderate Palestinian party). The problem is that Israel does not seem to want to be humane. Israel is not stupid. They know that a holistic approach which addresses the needs and wants of Palestinians is the best path to peace. I think that the Israel brings its interests before the plight of the Palestinian people. And its interests from the looks of it are to drive the Palestinians from their homes and expand the state of Israel. Peace cannot be attained with the Palestinians with such interests. The borders of Israel have kept on expanding. They need to be relocated to the areas specified by the corrupt UN mandate. However, this is today practically impossible given the increasing population of Israel and the need for a lebensraum (living space). I do not know how this going to happen, but what is needed is for Israel to give back land to the Palestinians and for Jerusalem to become a city for all – Jews, Christians, Muslims etc. Stopping repression and entering a dialogue with Hamas which, by the end of it, sees Hamas as not a bitter enemy of Israel, but a good neighbour seems the only path to peace between Israel and Palestine. The desire for Hamas to completely take over Israel is a worry, but hopefully with proper negotiations, this group of crazed angry men will become more moderate. So far, I do not think that Israel has participated in any meaningful negotiations and until they do, there is no hope of peace. This policy of not negotiating with terrorists is egocentric and typical of a group of ******* pathetic politicians that care about none but their image for some f***** **** election that elevates them to the power that they live for.

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