Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the nation’s military to “intensify even further” the ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip, which have killed dozens of people and hit several hundred targets in the past 48 hours. The Israeli Air Force bragged that they have hit more targets in the first two days of this conflict than they did in the entire week-long November 2012 one.
Israel’s military apparently has no shortage of things they’d like to hit, either, as military spokesman Brig. Gen. Moti Almoz says Israel has “thousands” of additional targets in mind for strikes in Gaza, even before what seems like an inevitable ground invasion.
President Shimon Peres confirmed earlier in the day that a ground invasion is being planned, saying it will “happen quite soon.” The Obama Administration, which has been endorsing the Israeli attacks, says they are “cautioning” against a ground invasion, and hope Israel can achieve its goals without one.
Exactly what Israel’s goal in the war is remains uncertain, with some talking up the idea of “crippling” Hamas. Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon says that the operation will get wider and wider in the coming days to “ensure the safety of Israeli citizens.”
Since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in June of 2007, this is the seventh significant military exchange between Israel and Hamas. Both sides are insisting, as usual, that the other is the real aggressor, and that they are only acting defensively.
Netanyahu took the claims a step further, arguing Hamas is guilty of “double war crimes,” and was fully responsible not only for the minor damage their attacks have caused to Israel, but also for all of the civilians killed in Israeli strikes.
It is time for every western "civilized" governments, if there is such thing, to act against Israel apartheid regime and boycott the country, Israel doesn't deserve nor understand any other language but a forceful international boycott. From Sweden to England to USG to Germany need to act before Israeli massacre of innocent people continue.
Both sides say the other is the aggressor, but only one is right: the one that’s under illegal occupation in an open air prison and is being invaded and bombed by massive Israeli terrorism. Wonder if Israel will bust out the US provided chemical weapons again.
Well Netanyahu has made one mistake here, he has said that Israel's response IS A WAR CRIME, although he has just said it is all the fault of HAMAS, isn't that the exact same argument the Germans made when they after the assassination of Rhinehard Heydrich they obliterated Lidice!
It seems that every time there is any attack on the Palestinians, Israel uses an excuse straight out of the WWII German Excuse playbook along with the exact same rationale! Bibi it was a war crime then and is a war crime now! By the way you committing a war crime because you have alleged they have committed a war crime doesn't absolve you of YOUR war crime!
Netanyahu is pulling his standard 'X made us do it' scam. This was used as a so-called defense by men in some rape cases, e.g. 'the woman was asking for it (i.e. to be raped) because she was wearing a short skirt' and seen for what it was. It is time (actually way beyond it) that the vile apartheid state of Israel was declared a failed state.
Nuttyyahoo (blames) Hamas for Palestinians killed from the air strikes (he) ordered?
This clown and O-boom-er are smoking from the same crack pipe. It boggles the mind how
the world continues to allow this Zionist scum to get away with this atrocity.
Where is the UN? I thought bombing a densely packed population center was considered
a crime against humanity. Looks like this depends on (who) does the bombing, and (who)
is considered humanity.
Netanyahoo should be careful bandying the term "war crimes" around. He could just as easily look in the mirror and utter the same to himself. But as long as he owns the USG he will never stand in the docket to face the tribunal. Pity.
This new round of devastation being thrust upon the relatively out-gunned Palestinians has the stink of desperation on the part of the Israelis. I suspect that there will be ample opportunity for the USG to grow some stones and prove their "exceptionalism" and perpwalk Israel's leaders to the ICC court in Den Haag.
So what's the goal here, Netty Child Killer? To turn the entirety of Gaza into a moonscape? To, make sure every viable structure is completely destroyed? How many actual targets can there be in such a tiny and overcrowded strip of land? It's really too bad Hamas sided against Assad, now they really have no friends…not so shrewd are they?
This guy is a murderous dog. Hanging is too good for him. Burning is too good for him. He should be torn into little bits and pieces and buried ALIVE for his boundless evil. And as for the "people" who defend this sort of thing, I don't know what is wrong with you, but showing your support for this sort of butchering of largely hapless civilians is insane and reveals a lot about your soullessness. You would express such outrage if someone was bombing a town full of jewish civilians, and no doubt are aghast over old timey Naz! war crimes.
How is this any different?
I love how quiet Obama is, the phony. The complicity is astounding. 30 years ago, maybe even 20, the President would have said something…for anyone who doesn't believe Israel owns the president's balls these days, look at how Obama basically bends at the knee to the murderous thug. I am so ashamed.
“Exactly what Israel’s goal in the war is remains uncertain”
Since the invasion and dictator occupation of 1948, this U.S. military base called Israel has had but one goal, by terrorism to maximize profit in trading Western war materials for Middle-East oil. For nothing corrupts the morals of society more then a government that allows them to steal at gunpoint all the land their heart desires.
a nice recruitment drive for the al baghdadi caliphate before they get under way toppling some arab capitals.
Logical consequence of the US capitulation over Crimea. Hamas is emboldened. A frightened Israel overreacts. We'll see a lot more of this.