to not understand how you can fire missiles targeting civilians and it not be a war crime

[Itsaboatjack]

now I'm not especially knowledgable about the problems in the middle east but surely firing missiles into a city intentionally killing civilians is some kind of war crime?

Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland, reporting from Gaza, said: "We have seen an intensification of firing from both sides.

"If the Israeli army is seeking to kill those firing rockets, the fighters are not in those locations. We are seeing the fighters have far more sophisticated weapons now, especially in the actual launching systems.

"They are able to operate them via remote control. They have been buried in the ground either days or weeks ago, so trying to target these locations is rather futile."

If London came under constant missile attack being fired from within Dublin by militants with the full support of the government, you can bet your bottom dollar they would respond! The Ira used to phone in warnings, Hamas targeted schools.

Hamas is FULLY responsible for the consequences of its actions, especially because it's MEANT to be protecting its own people and operating in their best interests. The only reason there are air strikes in gaza is to stop the missiles. The missiles stop, the air strikes will stop. Simple.

Interestingly I was just reading that the reason Israel assissanted Jabari was because Hamas started firing missiles whereas previously it has been Islamic jihad and others. Clearly Hamas was just as keen to see an escalation.

Proportionate responses are allowed and, unfortunately, civilian deaths are too. I don't support the current Israeli govt but, to be honest, listening to my family and friends in Israel, it has to stop - how else can the missiles be stopped? Israel withdrew from every last centimeter of the gaza strip!

Ohbugger

Money isn't the problem in the Palestinian territories. For example, the pa got $1.5 billion in 2009 which was typical of recent years. Where's all that money gone? That's what I'd be asking if I were Palestinian.

Strange that you recommend islamic aid rather than a secular charity like, say, oxfam or UNICEF. I guess that might hint at your agenda.

'how else can the missiles be stopped?'

Not like this. This is a recipe for conflict, hurt and revenge lasting for generations.

And 'the missiles stop, the air strikes will stop' - it was Israel who broke the ceasefire in the current round.

Dreaming

Maybe that's why they are targeting the leadership

I don't think shelling Palestinians into oblivion is going to encourage a ceasefire.

And whilst it's terribly good of Israel to withdraw from the Gaza Strip,it being land that doesn't belong to them and all, perhaps giving back some more land might pacify the Palestinians? Land that belonged to them before Israel completely disregarded the agreed borders?

The missiles can only be stopped by resolving the conflict.

People have this mistaken idea that there's a military solution to everything. There isn't. Insurgencies are almost never defeated by military means (and when they are, it's only with an accompanying tremendous loss of civilian lives, as in Chechnya).

Didn't Israel engage in strikes before to stop the missiles? And yet here we are. And no doubt, if nothing is done to resolve the conflict, we will be here again.

Israel will never be truly safe until it reaches a political settlement. THAT is where all the effort should be directed, not futile military tactics that only prolong the agony.

You can't possibly think that just because Israel withdrew from Gaza, that the Gazans have no grievances. They are stateless, they have no rights, they are trapped in a tiny and impoverished territory, they are suffering hugely.

I know you will say, That's Hamas' fault! But it takes two to tango. Hamas cannot unilaterally declare peace. This has to be a joint process and Israel is not doing anything in that regard either.

It wasn't Israel which broke the ceasefire. Hamas had started firing rockets towards gush Dan, I have a friend who lives on a kibbutz near beer Sheba, the were plenty of rockets and missiles before jabari was killed. This is why Israel has international support in this case.

Neither Oxfam or Unicef has an emergency campaign running to get supplies into Gaza. Islamic Aid happens to have one under way already. People need help fast, delivered by organisations which can get in and get organised quickly, and have the contacts to operate in the region. Or would you rather more people died while we wait for the secular organisations to get their act together?

I agree dreaming that long term peace is the only solution.

But, now, Hamas has to stop.

Hamas started firing rockets after two Palestinian children playing football and a baby were killed. Presumably with the intention of provoking exactly the response that occurred.

There are plenty of organizations active in the gaza strip and organized to deliver aid. Its not the jungles of congo.

Again, it's not a problem of resources. The resources are there

pretty jaw dropping article in the Jerusalem Post

THE DESIRE to prevent harm to innocent civilians in Gaza will ultimately lead to harming the truly innocent: the residents of southern Israel. The residents of Gaza are not innocent, they elected Hamas. The Gazans aren?t hostages; they chose this freely, and must live with the consequences.

Fine, why don't you post a link to secular organisations running current fundraising campaigns for Gaza so that people can donate to them if they'd prefer?

The longer this goes on,the more likely it is international public opinion will turn against Israel. Israel's military and it's technology by far outstrip Hamas. Israel are firing missiles,superior missiles,at residential areas. That is illegal under international law. Israel is lucky that international law is not binding.

Of course,America and the UK will continue to support Israel's actions and the situation will continue to deteriorate.

I would imagine Hamas may well agree to a ceasefire if Israel agreed to give stolen land back.

That's total rubbish about the reason for the current violence ohbuggered

Hamas don't need an excuse to kill Israeli citizens, it's part of their raisin d'être.

The blame for this current round of violence has been placed firmly in the Hamas camp.

squoosh that headline really is jaw dropping. And disgusting.

'There is no justification for the State of Gaza being able to shoot at our towns with impunity. We need to flatten entire neighborhoods in Gaza. Flatten all of Gaza. The Americans didn?t stop with Hiroshima ? the Japanese weren?t surrendering fast enough, so they hit Nagasaki, too.'

You'd probably think differently if you were under fire, Alis. Very easy to sit here in judgement

Yeah,I'm pretty sure the people living in the Gaza Strip are feeling pretty terrified and wronged at the moment.

Forgive me for not liking the utterly disgusting tone of that headline and forgive me for not understanding why Israel ever thought it could steal land from the rightful occupants by continually overstepping the agreed borders. Forcing said occupants into a piece of land 40km long. Home to 2 million people.

No,it is not the fault of the average Israeli civilian,no they don't deserve to live in fear either. But surely they can see why this is happening?

' Meanwhile, largely unreported by Western media, the death of Ahmad Abu Daqqa was mourned in Gaza.[2] -- If one can identify the fillip that set of the latest cycle of violence, it was the fatal shooting on Nov. 8 of this 13-year-old boy as he played football in the vicinity of an Israeli raid into 'Abassan village, east of Kahn Yunis,'

Convenient to think it's rubbish, but not true. Try following some links here.

Oh and that article I linked to was written by Ariel Sharon's son Gilad.

Sounds like a call for genocide to me.

Actually' alis, there have never been any agreed borders since the Palestinians continued to cling to the idea of destroying Israel and no agreement has ever been reached.

Israel withdrew from every inch of gaza, it's not under siege - it has a border with Egypt, why doesn't egypt open its border and welcome its Palestinian brothers with open arms?

I don't agree with that article but understand where it's coming from. I'm sure you'll find even more vitriol from Palestinians towards Israelis if you search on the Internet,

If that's a call for genocide swoosh, presumably also Hamas saying they will open the gates of hell on the Jews is also a call to genocide?

You are rather one sided methinks