SiIngwe: 'Disappointed by the slow US response.': It is called a Tactical Alliance. It is how they operate. That being what it is, why should the US be overly concerned? In the last 10 months more than 2,200 rockets, mortar shells and missiles have been launched from Gaza into Israel. Only am inbecile would be unable to predict the Israeli response. Seeing as how HAMAS has subjected the people it claims to fight for to an Israeli attack in 2008/2009, the US and most other Western nations were letting Israel neutralise launch sites and cachets before calling for intervention. In the end Israel felt that it had gotten a good run for its money and enthusiatically became party to the Egyptian brokered ceasefire.
'Both parties are equally guilty.': If we are talking legally vis a vis LOAC (Law of Armed Conflict), Israel is not guilty, HAMAS is hands down. The principle of Distinction was violated with each and every one of the 2,200-plus projectiles launched from Gaza since Western New Year. Jus ad Bellum (the portion of LOAC devoted to precursors of 3med conflicts) was violated by HAMAS a multitude of times. Specifically, Casus Belli (legal justification for initiatiating armed conflict) was offered to Israel the very first time a Gazan projectile cleared the Border Fece.
If we are speaking of morality, it is subjective...BUT...MOST rational adults tend to judge THAT via intent. One 1 hand we have HAMAS, an organisation whose very Charter vows to EXTERMINATE every Jew on the planet, not just Israelis and/or Zionists (as if that were somehow more just). It is an organisation that proudly targets civilians with the stated aim of killing them. The Israeli intent? Israel dropped literally hundreds of thousands of Arabic Language leaflets warning civilans to disassociate from HAMAS personel, facilities and equipment. It sent literally tens of thousands of phone calls and hundreds of thousands of SMS messages (text messages). Israel Roof Knocked (used non-lethal shells dropped on the roofs of targeted buildings at least 10 minutes prior to a given airstrike, allowing civilains to safely vacate the premises ahead of attacks. Israel diverted deployed missiles via guidance systems if and when civilians were detected post release and aborted bombing runs when civilians moved in the general direction of intended strikes. Israel clearly did not intend to harm civilians. So, if we are discussing intent, HAMAS again is guilty and Israel is not.
Sadly, armed conflict is not a sterile endeavour where certainties are guaranteed. Gaza, in terms of demographical standards, is literally the world's most densely populated territory. It is home to more than 2.2 million people of whom the vast majority are civilians. Using this to their advantage HAMAS hides behind its civilian population. Hydraulically lifted launch pads for Faj'r-5 missiles dot residential areas. Israel was able to neutralise more than 100 of them, ALL in and around residential compounds. HAMAS keeps most projectile cachets in residential buildings. It fires projectiles even as children play around them, as was the sad case of the Qassam rocket which detonated while on the launcher in a residential alley in Jabaliyah, north of Gaza City during the Egyptian Prime Minister's visit to Gaza. Israel unilaterally issued a SOMO (Suspension of Military Operations) for the duration of the visit despite it taking place in the midst of the conflict. This of course did not stop HAMAS from trying to kill Israeli civilains. Kids were playing football around the launcher and when the Qassam detonated it killed 4 year old Mahmoud Sadallah (and his neighbour 22 year old Aiman Abu Wardah). When Sadallah's lifeless body was taken to al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City the media had a field day snapping photos of the Egyptian PM and Gazan (HAMAS) PM Ismail Hanniyeh both tearfully cradling the dead boy whose demise was- naturally- pinned on Israel. In an especially iconic photo utilised by the BBC, the Egyptian PM lovingly kissed Mahmoud's bruised and bloodied forehead and tearfully vowed to stop Israel from killing any more children.
So, morally, I reckon most rational adults- IF made aware of the FACTS- would also find Israel operating from moral high ground.
'Maybe Israel would ease up on its Blockade...': Heavens, let us hope not, at least while HAMAS is running the show. Between 2001 when the 1st projectile was launched, and September of 2005 when Israel unilaterally ceded Gaza and withdrew, there were less than 500 projectiles launched against Israeli civilians. Since Israel left however, nearly 8,500 have been launched. When Israel left they were launching Qassam-2s, rockets that flew less than 3km, never reached high altitudes and did not fly straight. Most notably, they carried 5kg payloads of crudely manufactured homemade explosives. Since then? The Enhanced Grads (Katyushas), the Chinese manufactured WS-E1, flies more than 40 kilometers and carries a 30kg payload of Chinese military grade explosives. More worrisome is the aforementioned Faj'r-5. Iranian made- part of the $300 Million in military assistance Iran gives HAMAS each year- it is 8 meters tall, weighs 1,200kg and carriers up to a 375kg warhead of Iranian military grade explosives. These behemoths fly up to 80km, threatening both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. HAMAS and most "Palestinian" groups will only use a cessation of the Blockade as a means by which to advance their armed cause and harm Israeli civilians. I need to also add that with the Muslim Brotherhood's ascencion to power in Egypt the Egyptian border crossing at Rafah in Gaza has usually had an unrestricted flow of goods, not that the Blockade ever stopped importation of commodities AND contraban given the tunnels in Rafah.
'Ceasefire achieved via US pressure on Israel...': Israel did not need pressure. It had reached the end of the Air Phase and a Ground Incursion is extremely costly both in terms of the economy and in manpower. It also makes it extremely difficult not to squander whatever goodwill it was receiving from the International Community. America's role was simply to serve as the neccessary intemediary for Israel since negotiations with HAMAS were impossible and Egypt was unwilling to deal with Israel at that point (Egypt had once again withdrawn its Ambassador and therefore needed to appear resolute).
