Protect civilians from the impact of hostilities ( Gaza Strip )

[Jefferson23]

A house bombed in Gaza. Photo: Ibrahim Abu Mustafa, Reuters, 8 July 2014


Shortly after midnight today, 8 July 2014, the Israeli military launched Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip. According to media reports, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu instructed the defense establishment “to conduct a continuous, long and forceful operation in Gaza. We have to be prepared to go all the way, and even a ground offensive is currently on the table." The media further reported that the military was preparing to call up reservists.

Since last night, the military has continuously bombed various parts of the Gaza Strip. According to the IDF Spokesperson, by the afternoon, the military has attacked some 100 targets, including the homes of senior Hamas activists, launching infrastructure, tunnels used for mounting attacks, and training bases.

The media also reported that by this afternoon (8 July), armed Palestinian organizations in the Gaza Strip had fired some 50 rockets and mortar shells at southern Israel.

B’Tselem’s initial investigation found that since the operation began, approximately 10 people were killed in several attacks throughout the Gaza Strip. Of these, to the best of B’Tselem’s knowledge at this point, seven persons – most of them minors – were killed when the home of alleged Hamas activist ‘Odeh al-Kaware’ah was bombed. Another 25 persons were reportedly injured in the incident, some of them severely so. The initial investigation indicates that as the homes of other Hamas activists had been bombed (as the IDF Spokesperson reported this morning), many area residents gathered around al-Kaware’ah’s home to prevent its bombing. It is unclear as yet whether the house was still surrounded by people at the time of the bombing. According to Israeli daily Ha’aretz, defense establishment officials stated that the bombed family home was the target of the aerial attack. B’Tselem is currently investigating the circumstances of the attack and whether the military was aware of civilian presence close by.

This morning, the IDF Spokesperson stated that the military had deliberately bombed four homes of persons defined as senior Hamas activists, without mentioning whether the homes were legitimate military objectives, such as, for example, ammunition storages. International humanitarian law permits attacks only against targets that effectively assist military efforts, when attacking them can gain a military advantage. The homes of Hamas activists are not, in themselves, legitimate targets, especially when family members reside in them. Defining them as targets is neither reasonable nor legal and permits harm to civilians who are supposed to be protected by international law.

B'Tselem reiterates its demand that all parties to the hostilities take all possible measures to prevent harm to civilians. The rules of war obligate all parties to a conflict to do their utmost to defend the civilian population. Deliberate targeting of civilians is expressly prohibited.

http://www.btselem.org/gaza_strip/20140708_gaza_operation

[shira]

1. Protect civilians? While proclaiming Hamas has a given right....

....to shoot rockets at innocent civilians? Reminds me of Larry Derfner's insanity about the Palestinians having a right to terrorize Israelis.

Madness.

If I'm wrong, let's see Israel's most vocal critics condemn the Larry Derfners, Richard Falks, and Richard Silversteins who believe Hamas has a right (and is justified) to blow up innocent civilians.

Protect civilians?

What a sick, fucking joke.

[Jefferson23]

2. Thanks for the kick. n/t

[Scootaloo]

5. I didn't see such a proclamation in the piece, Shira

Did Nahum Shahaf tell you about it?

[shira]

21. The majority belief here by Israel's critics is that Hamas has a right….

…and is justified doing what they do to innocent civilians, in the name of resistance.

I just think it's hypocritical to post about protecting innocent life while advocating such a depraved view.

[Fozzledick]

3. Stop shooting rockets.

Or is that too obvious?

[Scootaloo]

4. How many Palestinian civilians deserve to die per rocket?

is there a formula?

[Fozzledick]

6. Ask Hamas

They're the ones bragging about how successful they are at herding women and children on to known targets to produce bloody pictures for propaganda.

[shira]

7. Hamas & Islamic Jihad apparently have a right to do what they do.

Their actions are justified, even when they deliberately fire rockets at Dimona hoping for the worst.

Israel has no right to try to stop them from nuking the area.

[Scootaloo]

9. I'm asking you

You're the one excusing the killing of civilians here. I want to know if there's an actual formula at work here.

[Fozzledick]

11. Dodging the issue again - Hamas is responsible for the deaths resulting from their attacks.

I can understand why you don't want to openly discuss their war crimes.

What I don't understand is why you always want to let them get away with it and continue shooting at civilians.

[Scootaloo]

14. Yes they are

However to the best of my knowledge, Hamas hasn't killed anyone in this fight yet. I hope that record continues, of course. If it doesn't, absolutely Hamas is responsible for those deaths.

Israel, meanwhile, is responsible for the deaths Israel is causing.

This isn't a difficult concept.

[Fozzledick]

15. Why are you still trying to make excuses for Hamas for the deaths they caused?

[Scootaloo]

16. Because thus far they haven't caused any in this latest bout of stupidity

[shira]

22. Well on that basis, we shouldn't do anything about people…..

….who intend to murder others but fail in doing so. Hell, we should let them keep trying until they either get tired of trying, or until they succeed.

What a great policy in dealing with Hamas.

[King_David]

8. How many cities should be hit by rockets before Israel

Is "allowed" by the world to put a stop to it. ?

Of course the Jewish state is unique. Hence it's expected to just roll over and go like lambs . But hey we don't do that anymore.

[Scootaloo]

10. Blowing up civilians doesn't stop rockets

if it did, rockets would have stopped a long time ago.

[King_David]

12. You right

That's why they target Hamas commanders and rocket launchers but Hamas hides these in schools and hospitals .

What's your suggestion just do nothing ?

[Scootaloo]

13. Well of course Dave.

So long as your stated target is something other than the bunch of civilians nearby, it's okay to kill those civilians in the blast. No problem, your hands are clean.

[shira]

23. Your problem is w/ International Law. Countries have every right to defend…..

….their citizens from enemy attacks. In a democracy, people will demand that their gov't protect them, or else the gov't is out. So what do you expect Israel to do? No other country would take it, as you suggest Israel should do.

When do you start advocating against Geneva conventions allowing for nations' self-defense? Lemme know.

[Scootaloo]

24. Well, since you very adamantly insist the geneva conventions don't apply to Israel...

It'd only be fair if i made the same argument.

But I'm not. instead I'm pointing out that blowing up children does not make Israel safer.

[Jefferson23]

18. I would not trust a video Hamas put out any more than I trust a video released for consumption

by the Israeli government.

Human rights groups generally give an account one can trust.

[azurnoir]

19. Judging from Israel's actions since June 12 and some of the responses on this thread

what is essentially an attack against all Palestinians in first the West Bank and now in ever more extreme ways in Gaza is being carefully couched as being against "Hamas" when the truth is there for anyone to see

[Jefferson23]

20. +1

Thank you, azurnoir.