As the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas held on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened that any future rocket fire out of Gaza would be met with “a whole new level of force.”
“If Hamas thinks we will tolerate a ‘drizzle’ of rockets, it is mistaken,” Netanyahu said. “We will respond with a whole new level of force to every instance of aggression against the Gaza-envelope communities or anywhere else in Israel.” The “Gaza-envelope” refers to areas of Israel that are in range of the crude rockets that are fired from Gaza.
The 11-day Israeli bombing campaign in Gaza killed at least 248 Palestinians, including 66 children. In Israel, at least 12 people were killed by rockets fired out of Gaza, including two children. Netanyahu touted the onslaught as an “exceptional success.”
The US stood firmly behind Israel during the violence. After the ceasefire was announced, President Biden delivered remarks and promised to help “replenish” Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. While he had plenty of condemnation for Hamas’ rocket fire, Biden failed to denounce the Israeli killing of Palestinian children.
The bombardment of Gaza was sparked by planned evictions of Palestinian families in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of occupied East Jerusalem. After days of Israeli violence against Palestinian protesters and Israeli police repeatedly storming the al-Aqsa mosque, firing rubber bullets and tear gas, rockets were fired out of Gaza.
The initial barrage of rockets that were fired out of Gaza on May 10th killed no one, and only left one Israeli “lightly injured.” Israel’s first round of airstrikes in response hit residential areas of Gaza and killed 20 Palestinians, including 10 children.
The easiest most inexpensive way to “deal” with Palestinians would be to observe international/UN laws and treat them like human beings. But I guess that’s asking too much for a nation that shares a corruption crib with the USA!
Newspeak no longer recognizes the word “law”. Wherever found it’s being replaced with “rules-based order”.
Exactly. There are plenty of UN documents, starting with the partition of Palestine, to UN resolutions on Israeli occupied territories, on ending occupation, etc.
Various agreements such as Oslo agreement — are not implemented as their sole purpose was to delay any action, and allow time for more settlements. And eventual annexation, something Trump was willing to agree to.
Trump’s gambit failed, as no faith will ever be placed in Republican establishment— no matter how generous.
Let us see if Egypt’s Trojan horse works. The test of its success will be ability to import goods and receive aid in reconstruction, both materials and experts.
If Israel continues to insist on all aid going through Israel — where it is skimmed — than no real progress will happen.
The Israeli-Palestinian problems cannot be resolved in one fell swoop, especially as no attempts were ever made to solve it — only decorative flourishes that resulted in occupied territories being criss-crossed by Israeli only roads, walls and barbed wire fences.
Which means at least extricate Gaza that has no Israeli presence but is locked up by Israel with sea blockade and prevented from relations with global investments and trade.
If any of this is remedied, that would help.
But it is essential st the same time to start pushing on East Jerusalem and West Bank.
There are difference this time in the Israeli and US response.
It started with Hamas chief visiting Moscow. And unusual involvement of Egypt. Egypt opened borders for emergency supplies, and ambulances. This “mediation” by Egyypt did not come from nowhere.
In the past, US made sure NOBODY interferes in Israeli operations. This time, US was mum. This coincided by China presiding over UNSC and setting agenda. Resulting in three votes in Security Council on ceasefire — all three times US the ONLY country vetoing resolutions.
Unlike many previous such Gaza slaughters, this time Israel was supported by only vague and nervous statements from Europe, and open condemnations from all Arab capitals.
Biden, knowing US public opinion, became nervous, saying he is “losing patience with Netanyahu”.
It seems that US has latched onto Egyptian plan, which allows for the first time some unspecified number of peace monitors. US is probably thinking that such great privilege being bestowed on Egypt, such international fame, that it ties Egypt to US.
This is wishful thinking. There are already offers of help in reconstruction. So, the next challenge will be for Egypt to secure such aid independently from Israel. Last time this was attempted , Israel attacked ships with humanitarian aid. Let us see what happens this time when China’s pledge of help materializes.
Netanyahu is too weak now because US was unable to staunchly continue ongoing bombing while Egypt opened borders, sent in emergency supplies and ambulances. A number if Palestinians were evacuated to Egyptian hospitals. Egypt was in the past strongly sticking to US line, Not any more.
Unless Sanders is strong enough to counter right wingers (and a few centrist Democrats), Israel will get the $735 million for precision guided rockets, to “replenish the Iron Dome”, in the words of Obama II, Joe F-cking Biden.
The world governments wring their collective hands, saying “oh my, such carnage, bad, bad, Israel”, and not a G-d D-man thing is done. The Palestinians in the occupied territories do not have an industry, finances, to rebuild. So who will help rebuild? What about the hospitals Israel knocked down?
The day of the announced cease fire, the IDF was back at the mosque where the latest atrocity started, where people were celebrating the cease fire, lobbed tear gas and stun grenades at mosque and the people there.
I swear to G-d, if I see Biden meeting with Netanyahu, and Biden is wearing a beanie, that would be it for me.
Israeli Zionists want the Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians gone so the “greater Israel” can prevail. They want a scorched earth on anything moving in the occupied territories. Men, women, children, babies. Everyone.
Evil personified.
The $735 million isn’t for rockets. It’s for JDAM kits to convert unguided air-dropped bombs into guided bombs.
One other surprise is the support of Arab Israelis of Hamas and demonstrations within Israel that could end up in a civil war…!
Only the people of Israel being jews or arabs can topple their corrupt criminal zionist regime…!
“If Hamas thinks we will tolerate a ‘drizzle’ of rockets, it is mistaken,”
Either Bibi did the cease fire in order to replenish Iron Dome or he is bluffing to save face after changing his ‘mind’ on a ground invasion. As Hamas accepted the cease fire, suspect the latter. However, the rocket attacks were a response to Israel supporting settlers’ stealing Palestinian property. If that continues, expect to see more rocket attacks.
After the next provocation from Israel. What the rest of the world needs to do is protect the Palestinians where they are, keep the IDF out. If Palestinians cannot return to their properties in Israel, then help them make a great land where they are at.
Israel has a wall. The rest of the world should make sure the IDF stays on the Israel side. If there is the will to do it, it could be done.
I’m not sure if the wall splits Jerusalem.
Rockets don’t come out of a vacuum.
It is always Israel that attacks or does something that exceeds the usual brutality against Palestinians.
If ever there was a one sided conflict this is it , Palestinians use home made rockets sticks and stones , Isreal uses state of the art war planes tanks , heavey artillary ect ect , the death toll tells you all you need to know 11 Isrealis killed 200 plus Palestinians killed 65 of them children.
Shows how stupid they are, picking fights with superior forces
How the USA and Brits and many others can see what is going on and still pretend that somehow the rockets are the problem, that Hamas is the whole of Gaza and that children and highrise buildings, hospitals and schools are a threat to the wonderful democratic military state of Israel is deliberate self-deception.
No doubt the germans said the same after the warsaw Uprising.
” Biden failed to denounce the Israeli killing of Palestinian children. “
Palestinians hiding behind their children and sacrificing them to have an excuse to cry
The ICC should concentrate on statements made by Netanyahu during the conflict. He was adamant he was going to obliterate i.e. smash Hamas,nothing would stop him and it would take considerable time. On the other hand Hamas was willing to enter into ceasefire. Therefore during the second half of the bombing Israel cannot say they were acting in self defence whilst if Hamas was going to be smashed then obviously they had the right of self defence.