I was genuinely quite troubled to hear reports yesterday that a UN school was hit by Israeli mortar fire killing over 30 innocent non-combatants in Gaza. Any loss of innocent life, as I've said (in my response to a comment on the first Gaza post)is unfortunate and almost unforgivable. Innocent death should be avoided and (again, as I've said) I genuinely believe Israel are putting their own soldiers lives at risk in order to minimise civilian casualties.
However, and there is a big however, the UN, as usual, needs to stop and think before it speaks. They need to quite seriously ask themselves who was to blame for that mistake and the loss of that life. Because while the blame can obviously never be completely one-sided, it is Hamas that need to take the bulk of the responsibility.
It has been stated over and over again in the press that Israel knew the exact location of the UN school and that the school was "clearly marked" as a UN facility. But if this is the argument levelled against the Israelis, that they should have been able to clearly identify the site even with no coordinates because it was "clearly marked", then why do the UN not expect Hamas to do the same?
Mark Regev was on newsnight last night and answered this question very well. It is not the Israelis that were at fault here. Forces on the ground were responding to fire from Hamas. If Hamas militants decide to use a UN facility as a launching pad for firing on Israeli troops or civilians then what are they expecting? Are they expecting that the Israeli troops will hold fire and go away? or maybe wait until the militants decide to move somewhere else? of course they won't, they will return fire.
However, and there is a big however, the UN, as usual, needs to stop and think before it speaks. They need to quite seriously ask themselves who was to blame for that mistake and the loss of that life. Because while the blame can obviously never be completely one-sided, it is Hamas that need to take the bulk of the responsibility.
It has been stated over and over again in the press that Israel knew the exact location of the UN school and that the school was "clearly marked" as a UN facility. But if this is the argument levelled against the Israelis, that they should have been able to clearly identify the site even with no coordinates because it was "clearly marked", then why do the UN not expect Hamas to do the same?
Mark Regev was on newsnight last night and answered this question very well. It is not the Israelis that were at fault here. Forces on the ground were responding to fire from Hamas. If Hamas militants decide to use a UN facility as a launching pad for firing on Israeli troops or civilians then what are they expecting? Are they expecting that the Israeli troops will hold fire and go away? or maybe wait until the militants decide to move somewhere else? of course they won't, they will return fire.
A crime has been committed here by Hamas. Willfully turning a UN base into an offensive military position is sick and unacceptable. Why are the UN not saying this? why aren't they speaking out against Hamas? (it could be something to do with the illegitimacy and entirely illogical nature of the organisation - but I'm sure I'll come to that later). I'm not surprised the Israelis think the UN are out to get them. Their response, and the media's to this incident is truly gobsmacking.
Hamas are continuing their vile conduct in this sorry affair. Choosing to use a UN base as an offensive military position is unacceptable. I grant that the Israelis were perhaps a little careless in their response, but Hamas were outright brazen and unapologetic in using the lives of Innocent children as a shield for their endless aggression.
I do not see how you
ReplyDelete"I grant that the Israelis were perhaps a little careless in their response, but Hamas were outright brazen and unapologetic in using the lives of Innocent children as a shield for their endless aggression."
Well how is OK for Israel to bomb them wrong for Hammas to use them as a shield. Surely they are as bad as eachother.
Nionsense
ReplyDeleteIsrael were and are responsible. They should return to their pre 67 borders and dismantle all settlements. then we may start to regard their claims as legitimate. Until then, they should be regarded as nothing more than a pariah staate, an occupying invader of the land of others.
Still, nothing new there
Well I think you misunderstood me slightly, but even if you didn't, it does not make them the same. Hamas fighters chose to use the school as a location to fire on Israeli troops. That means they made the decision to use the UN flag as cover even tho they knew it would likely result in retaliation. They knew they were putting the lives of the people in that building at risk.
ReplyDeleteBut, as I said in my post, the blame isn't one sided and Israel does obviously need to take some responsibility. I'm not sure what their alternative would have been given they were being fired upon, but firing at a UN building obviosuly isn't ok. The IDF claim that the "fog of war" meant they did not realise what the building was, but I'm not convinced I believe that.
As for you mersey mike, I'm not sure what to say to that. They sound a lot like randonm assertions and not much like reasoned arguments. although yes, i agree with you, Israel should return to their 1967 borders and dismantle all settlements. But for their own security and probably the security of the rest of the Western world, they should not do it while under fire from terrorists.
They shouldn't have invaded their country then, should they?
ReplyDeleteThe Western world would be far safer if Israel did not exist at all - its presence is a threat to world peace simply because of its geographical location. That's a fact, like it or not.
"why do the UN not expect Hamas to do the same?"
ReplyDeletePerhaps because, like most people, they had this ridiculous, sentimental attachment to the notion that Israel are the good guys and Hamas are the bad guys. They expected Hamas to do callous, criminal things, and Israel not to respond in the same way. But I think this current operation will put paid to that one for good. After this, I don't think anybody is going to fall prey to the silly illusion that Israel occupies some kind of moral high ground, or can somehow be distinguished from Hamas. And it looks like that will be the only thing Isreal achieves in this: to destroy any and all support it had abroad.
It's interesting that whenever I speak to a Palestinian supporter they tell me that the world has this notion that Israel can do no wrong. And then when I speak to Israeli supporters they tell me that the world has this notion that the palestinians can do no wrong.
ReplyDeleteThis happens almost 100% of the time when i speak to activists about the issue