generalspeaking

Alarming, Yes It Most Certainly Is

Shocked and "heartbroken", the United Nations Secretary-General perused the damage done to civilian infrastructure in Gaza in the wake of the Israeli defence of its people and its territory. He pledged aid for the Palestinians in Gaza, in the wake of an estimated 1,300 killed by the Israeli invasion, and the thousands left homeless. Yes, it is heartbreaking.

And how could the outcome be otherwise, with Hamas guerrillas attaching themselves to the crowded communities in which Palestinians live? Rendering it impossible for the soldiers of the IDF to target Hamas, its weapons storage depots, its rocket launchers, its buildings, its fighters, without also targeting the vulnerable population? Was there a choice, other than to sit back and permit Hamas its rocket launching?

Munitions stored in mosques, in schools, within UN buildings. Hamas fighters firing directly at their enemy from their emplacements within schools, mosques, beside apartment buildings. Inviting a direct response. With the full knowledge that the response will be violently inimical to the civilian population sheltering within. They too can be martyrs. And the IDF forces responded as Hamas knew they would.

Where is that singular country on the face of this Globe that would do otherwise? In fact, that would have been as restrained as the military of the IDF, given the circumstances? It is the first duty of any country to defend its integrity of borders and population. The first order of business under such assaults would be to destroy the militias and their equipment to render them incapable of restoration.

Had the IDF pursued that imperative, far greater numbers of Palestinians living in Gaza would have been sacrificed. The people of Israel do care that innocent Palestinians' lives were wasted, their homes destroyed. Had they another option? The Hamas leaders who bear the ultimate responsibility for their deliberate use of civilians as living shields crow their victory at survival.

With the much-anticipated advent of Mr. Ban Ki-moon surveying the horrendous damage and loss of life in Gaza, Hamas preens itself, exultant over that maximum level of media exposure, where censure of Israel is first and foremost, and Hamas leaders crow their triumph, their determination to pick up where they left off; restore their armaments, continue recruiting, resume assaults.

"We've won the war, but we've lost everything" said one Gazan mournfully, adding his opinion to Hamas's "V for Victory" celebrations, as he surveyed the rubble that remained of his home. "This was my house", he said, standing beside a pile of smashed concrete. He isn't celebrating; how very peculiar. But then, he's a sacrifice, not a committed jihadist.

An estimated $2-billion will be required to restore the ruined areas of the Gaza Territory. Saudi Arabia has pledged $1-billion, Kuwait another $500-million, and the United Nations stands ready to supplement the needs for emergency reconstruction. Hamas, glowing with victory, stands ready, hands out, to receive that funding.

This is the second, third day of the truce, the Israeli-declared truce, and the separately, tardily-declared truce of Hamas. Rocket mortars continue to be launched from Gaza into Israel. There are other militant groups within Gaza that Hamas chooses not to control. And then, of course, they will be joined before too much longer, by Hamas rocket launchers.

Hamas is busy re-arranging and re-constructing itself and its resources. Jordan, for example, has reported that a Jordanian aid convey has been commandeered and forced by Hamas to load the humanitarian goods meant for the Palestinians into one of Hamas's warehouses. The goods were meant for UNRWA warehouses.

Under the influence of armed men firing at the Jordanian drivers, there was no objection to transferring the goods to Hamas. This is an old scenario merely replaying itself. Overlooked, of no particular moment. Just the way things are. Oh yes, Mr. Ban, also visited southern Israel, to assess the damage there: "appalling".

For Hamas, it is business as usual.

posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, January 21, 2009