The Israel/Palestine Conflict Mk. IV

Israeli airstrikes targetting power lines, water infastructure, mosques and even a disabled center. Are you still going to suggest that they're defending themselves or that they're targetting Hamas members? http://www.imemc.org/article/68442


In other news, Egypt initative seems to promote Israeli interest rather than anything remotely fair: http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/hamas-did-not-reject-ceasefire-israel-did

When Israeli forces ask Palestinians in Gaza to evacuate their homes, where would they like them to go? It's 36km, highly populated, and even areas like schools are not safe (even the UN school Al-Fakhoora which was previously bombed with white phosphorus even though Israeli forces knew civilians were taking refuge inside). All the borders are closed. There is literally no escape for civilians, and this is demonstrated in the casualty statistics.

Does too; do your homework.
Also, blockade conveniently overlooked.

Lets not forget the killing of children on the beach. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/07/16/dispatch-israeli-strike-kills-four-children-at-a-gaza-beach/ No reports of recent rockets being fired but the beach is shelled anyway? Hmmm

No doubt the terrorist sympathizers on the thread will justify this somehow.

I hope the liberals in Egypt are happy. Lovely little government they kicked in. Oh well, traitors gna be traitors. Anyways ;L

They were asked to go to Gaza city and given instructions on the exact neighbourhoods to stay out of.

I've seen the leaflet dropped.

They were also told they would be informed when it's safe to return.

Hamas instructed them all to stay put.

Rubbish.

You've seen the leaftlets have you, where are these wonderful leaftlets that are supposedly being distributed?

I've heard about those warning strikes that the israelis use before a more powerful air strike to allow civilians to get to safety. Wouldn't this allow hamas to get to safety as well tho?

Posted from TSR Mobile

They use several warnings.

First comes either a phone call or a text. This can come between 5mins or hours before a strike.

Here is an example.



Then before striking the target, they use a blank 'mortar' which creates a large bang. This is the warning to say the strike is imminent.

Around 1min later the strike comes.

This is why there are so many videos around of them striking buildings. The palestinians have time to set up cameras.

As for Hamas, yes, it does mean they get away - but Israel isn't going for individuals. It's going for the terrorist infrastructure.

If they happen to come across Hamas men about to fire a rocket, then of course they will strike - but so far they have gone after the buildings and weapons storage facilities.

So these air strikes are specifically targeting the builidings which they believe have weapons and stuff, and not the hamas fighters themselves? Ok, that makes more sense.

Posted from TSR Mobile

May I ask why when Israel warns people to evacuate (to UN shelters or out of the country if they want), they do not? Sure, a lot have, but a lot have not done so. They're remained in their homes basically waiting to be bombed even after repeated warnings.

Also, why is Hamas not doing anything to aid its civilians? Any government would tell its civilians to evacuate, to move to UN shelters if they do not have government ones. Yet, Hamas has made no efforts to evacuate these civilians, even going as far as ignoring a ceasefire deal that they were in no position to ignore IF they cared about their civilians.

Is it so that you can show us the pictures of dead civilian bodies and garner our sympathy, or is there some other reason that you could shed some light on?

What needs to be done in Israel/Palestine:

1) UN to immediately impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel, Hamas and Palestinian armed groups with the aim of preventing further serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights by the parties to the conflict. Pending such an embargo, all states must immediately suspend all transfers of military equipment, assistance and munitions to the parties, which have failed to properly investigate violations committed in previous conflicts or bring those responsible to justice. Perfectly reasonable because under international law it is illegal to transfer weapons to countries which are major violators of human rights.

2) UN to mandate an international independent fact-finding mission to Gaza and Israel to investigate violations of international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict.

3) Imposition of sanctions on Israel until and unless it negotiates an end to the occupation according to international law.

These are opinions backed by the International Court of Justice. When apartheid South Africa occupied Namibia, in 1971 the Court stated that if South Africa did not engage in good-faith negotiations to end its occupation of Namibia, that occupation is illegal under international law. Israel has refused to engage in good-faith negotiations to end the occupation of Palestine just as in the case of Namibia and it is now an illegal occupier of Palestine and there should be comprehensive sanctions imposed on Israel until and unless it ends the occupation of Palestine under the terms of international law.

Does it not strike you that there is something wrong with people being told to leave their homes immediately as all their possessions and shelter are about to be reduced to rubble (and them as well if their strong will or illness prevents them from leaving)?

May I ask why when Israel warns people to evacuate (to UN shelters or out of the country if they want), they do not? Sure, a lot have, but a lot have not done so. They're remained in their homes basically waiting to be bombed even after repeated warnings.

Also, why is Hamas not doing anything to aid its civilians? Any government would tell its civilians to evacuate, to move to UN shelters if they do not have government ones. Yet, Hamas has made no efforts to evacuate these civilians, even going as far as ignoring a ceasefire deal that they were in no position to ignore IF they cared about their civilians.

Is it so that you can show us the pictures of dead civilian bodies and garner our sympathy, or is there some other reason that you could shed some light on?

Laughably one-sided and ridiculous. Sorry. It's not within the realms of possibility and frankly you sound a bit wide-eyed.

I assume you want the same done with Turkey that illegally occupies Cyprus and has settlements there?

Strange how we never hear about that on the BBC

Also, what relevance does this have to the picture that was sent. It showed 4 young boys playing in a vast open stretch showing that they were deliberately targeted for whatever reason.