Israeli Troops Massed on Gaza Border, Poised for Invasion

Israel claimed no country should accept being attacked, while implying that Gaza should do just that

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Israel’s bombardment of Gaza on Wednesday mark only the beginning of military operations, just hours after Israeli President Shimon Peres called President Obama to update him on the airstrikes.

Israel killed the military commander of Hamas in an airstrike on the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Israeli troops have massed on the Gaza border, poised for invasion.

This latest surge of violence between Israel and Gaza militants occurred after Israel shot and killed at least two Gazans and intruded into Gaza with tanks and bulldozers. In response, Gaza militants fired a missile at an Israeli army jeep, wounding four soldiers – to which Israel responded with an extended bombardment of airstrikes.

But the Israeli leadership continue to try and claim Hamas initiated the flare up in violence, issuing the same statements of war rhetoric as always.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that no country in the world would accept a situation in which rockets are fired at its citizens and that Israel can’t accept it either.

In the same vein, Netanyahu did not explain why Hamas should accept a situation in which airstrikes, targeted killings, and total economic warfare are unleashed on Palestinians for years on end.

Israel’s Meretz Party leader Zahava Galon said the program of airstrikes and assassinations in Gaza will not be productive.

“The only way to bring peace and quiet in the long-term to the innocent residents of Sderot and communities in Gaza is through the ceasefire agreement and not high profile assassinations,” Gal-on said.

Nitzan Horowitz, another Meretz member, posted on his Facebook: “Stop the escalation in Gaza. It is a petty bloody circle. War will not solve anything.”

Author: John Glaser

John Glaser writes for Antiwar.com.