Don’t Panic: Why is Israel bombing Gaza?
January 3, 2009 at 11:20 am by Andisheh Nouraee in Don't Panic
(Photo by Sameh Habeeb)
Israel says it’s attacking Gaza to stop cross-border rocket attacks into southern Israel by Hamas militants. Because launching rockets at populated areas is an act of war, Israel says its bombings are justified.
Hamas is attacking Israel with rockets because Israel has enforced a devastating economic blockade against Gaza for the past year and a half. Additionally, Israel’s military has controlled Gaza’s borders, airspace, and sea access for 41 years. Because economic blockades are an act of war, Hamas says its rocket strikes are justified.
In other words, Israel is attacking Gaza because Gaza was attacking Israel because Israel was attacking Gaza. Ctrl-A. Ctrl-C. Ctrl-V. Repeat.
Instead of talking about which side is at fault, let’s focus for a minute on all the innocent people who are suffering.
The Gaza Strip is a tiny and crowded Arab enclave on the Mediterranean — as small as Little Rock, Ark., but with 1.5 million people jammed in. It’s as densely populated as Bangkok.
On Dec. 27 and 28, Israel dropped more than 100 tons of bombs and missiles on the place. Israel insists its weapons are aimed at Hamas combatants, not civilians.
Sadly, many innocent Gazan civilians have thus far failed to make the distinction between bombs intended for militants and bombs intended for them. It seems that when bombs land on the heads of Gazan civilians, they die regardless.
As of New Years Eve, the United Nations says 320 of Gaza’s 1.5 million residents have been killed by Israeli airstrikes. An additional 1,400 have been injured.
The U.N. claims that 62 of those killed are civilians. The U.N. also says its civilian death count includes only women and children. Either there’s no such thing as a civilian man in Gaza, or the U.N. is vastly undercounting the number of civilian dead.What’s more, the wounded survivors of Israeli air-raids are being treated in hospitals that are desperately short of supplies.
Israel’s economic blockade of Gaza, imposed when Hamas took over Gaza in 2007, has caused severe shortages of, well, nearly everything. In November, the BBC reported that Gaza’s hospitals had run out of 85 types of medicine, as well as items like cottons swabs and spare parts for x-ray machines.
Overall, the blockade has stopped 75 percent of the goods that used to flow into Gaza. Just to be clear, when we’re talking about imports, we’re not talking flat-screen TVs and J. Crew sweaters. Gaza was disgustingly poor before the blockade. We’re talking about food, fuel, cement, paper for school children, and shoes – things people need to live.
Israel’s offensive hasn’t stopped Hamas rocket attacks, either. Israelis are suffering, too.
According to the Jerusalem Post, three people were killed and 21 injured when approximately 70 rockets hit several cities and settlements in southern Israel on Dec. 29.
Hamas rockets are small. If they hit you, you’ll die, but they can’t knock down apartment buildings. The rockets aren’t especially deadly, but they’re terrifying.
Depending on whose estimate you believe, 300,000 to 500,000 Israelis are within range of Hamas rockets. Southern Israel’s economy is hurting as consumers hunker down. A widely re-printed Associated Press story illustrates the psychological impact of the attacks by noting an increase in bed-wetting among Israeli kids.
I wouldn’t have bothered bringing up the bed-wetting if not for the fact I’ve come across several stories about it recent months — including one last week on the BBC. Clearly, a lot of people in Israel think mass bed-wetting is a big deal. It’s a good illustration of the relative impact of the fighting on both sides. Palestinian kids in Gaza are being killed and maimed by one of the world’s largest air forces. Israeli kids are scared and pissing themselves.
I don’t envy either party, but there’s no question which side is suffering most.
Sameh Habeeb is a 23-year-old journalist in Gaza City. He blogs at gazatoday.blogspot.com and posts his photos at picasaweb.google.com/sameh.habeeb.
The photo above was taken last weekend, part of a series of photos Habeeb took at what appears to be a hospital in Gaza. He gave me permission to use the photo, but his Internet connection failed before I could get all of the details. Based on other photos in the series, I believe the man depicted the photo is dead.
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:45 am
Seriously y’all put this trash on your blog? This is laughable apologist rhetoric.
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Thanks and keep the good work. May Allah keep you and your loved ones safe, and above all everyone in Gaza.
January 3rd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Moses was never a born desendant from Germany nor Europe, yet European decide the destiny of Semitic blood line. Sad. Jesus name is honor more in the Quran, than the Torah, yet,Christian support this non sense. One day peace will become the rule of the land. Israel for all.
January 4th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Yes, the Palestinians are suffering the most, but not from Israel, but rather their own militants who they have allowed to flourish. Israel has every right to defend itself, including extinguishing all terrorist threats. When Muslim terrorists are universally condemned by fellow Muslims and their attacks stop, only then will peace and stability exist.
January 4th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
That little skirmish over there is going to pale in comparison to the one looming between Bibb and Monroe County: http://www.wmccnews.com/2009/01/03/border-war/#comments
January 4th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Conspiracy by Israel to transfer the Palestinians from Gaza after they feel that there is nothing left to live with.
They destroyed almost every thing, residents, hospitals, mosques,Government buildings, etc…
The Gazans are desperate, not only because of Bombing, shelling and the enormous number of killed and wounded persons but because the whole world turned a blind eye toward their catastrophe, because the world is taking the side of the aggressor not the victim
We are living in a crazy world! which money and interests control it, not the human being welfare
January 5th, 2009 at 9:03 am
http://www.holyland-orlando.com
Wonder if they will start mock religious genocide in Orlando anytime soon?
January 5th, 2009 at 10:36 am
The “world” is not on Israel’s side. The UN routinely condemns Israel with no similar words for the so-called Palestinians. The only real allies to Israel are the US and Great Britian. Predictably, France just denounced the Israelis without a peep about Hamas.
The world should condemn the Hamas practice of indiscriminately launching thousands of unguided rockets into Israeli civilian areas.
January 5th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
If America cares and love the Israelies why not just home them in USA (after all they are one of their states) and save all the problem in the world. They know this will give peace and stability to muslim world which is a no no.. No body wants you 4 x 4
January 6th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Civilians have always been targetted in wars. The cities of Germany, filled with women and children were bombed, Britain bombed, Iraq bombed, Japan bombed, US(9/11) bombed.
So what? Take away the bombs and we use machetes(sp). I think that our species is on its way to extinction and when it goes, the earth, sky and any other species with moral values will breath a deep sigh of collective relief.
January 17th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
“mankind will have to put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind.”
January 17th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
allow egypt to absorb gaza and administer it as a partially independednt state.
and allow jordan to do the same with the west bank.
problem solved.
next!