On some common sayings regarding the recent assault on Gaza
…That Israel is acting in self-defense:
Self-defense is an act of last resort under international law and subject to the constraints of proportionality and necessity. Regarding the former, “Since Israel started its bombardment of Gaza, over 1,100 [now 1,400] Palestinians have been killed, more than 5,200 [now 5,500] wounded. At least 700 civilians are among the dead [now 70 percent of all casualities], including more than 350 children. Thirteen Israelis have died, ten of them soldiers, including four by so-called ‘friendly’ fire,” Democracy Now! reported on Jan. 16, though my drafts can hardly keep up with the carnage. In the first minutes of current Israeli assault on Gaza, more than 225 Palestinians were killed, and at least 700 wounded, more than 200 of them critically. Eleven Israelis were killed by rocket fire since the 2005 Gaza withdrawal. 1,250 Palestinians in Gaza were killed by the Israeli military during that same period, including 222 children.
Schools, Mosques, homes (over 20,000 damaged, over 5,00 destroyed), UN compounds, an international news office and government buildings, which Israel has a duty to protect under the Fourth Geneva Convention, have been destroyed or set ablaze. Thirty-four health facilities were damaged or destroyed. Three UN schools have been shelled. All UN food and medicine in Gaza were destroyed after their warehouse was shelled. Israeli reports stating that UN compounds were launch-sites for rockets have been discredited. In spite of meaningless droning from Israeli President Shimon Peres, the delivery of sufficient aid is being obstructed by Israel, as evidenced by the complaints of UNRWA spokesperson, Christopher Gunness, and Israel’s harassment and attack of aid boats off the Gazan coast.
There is evidence that Israel is using contraband weaponry: white phosphorous, which burns the skin severely until removed; and dense inert metal explosives (DIME), which mutilate without shrapnel, but rather tiny particles of alloy.
…That Hamas broke the cease-fire:
Neither side kept it. Israel refused to substantially ease its blockade, which lasted a crippling 18 months. Hamas permitted sporadic rocket fire following a killing or seizing of its members (not covered by cease-fire). However, a December 2008 Israeli publication shows rocket fire decreased from 2,278 in the six months before the cease-fire to 329 during it, the bulk of which were fired as independent groups were being pacified during the first 10 days, and after Israel’s provocative Nov. 4 air raid on Rafah.
…That Israel pulled out of Gaza and was rewarded with rocket attacks:
Following the removal of the illegal settlers and military presence in Gaza, Israel maintained tight control of the borders, coastline and airspace, strangled freedom of movement, trade and aid. Thus rendering it, in the words of the US envoy, a “giant prison.”
In 2005, Israel refused to seriously engage moderate Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas during an entire year prior to the election of Hamas. The Israeli government similarly refused to negotiate with the moderate Palestinian unity government formed in February 2007. The U.S. and Israel then provoked the Hamas takeover of Gaza in July 2007 by supporting a similar attempt by the Palestinian Authority.
Gaza has never ceased to be an occupied territory since 1967, thus neither has Israel’s responsibility as an occupying power ceased. Most of the 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza are refugees from the Ashkelon and Beesheba regions--the former has ironically been the target of Hamas rockets. They were driven out by the Israeli army in 1948.
Be the first to comment on this article!