When Will Israel Stop?
Although Hamas spokesmen and some journalist dispute the Israeli claim that Palestinian civilians are being used as shields to protect Hamas rockets, Israeli officials cite this claim as the reason for the large number of Palestinian civilian deaths. Assuming that the Israeli claim is correct, or at least that Israeli officials believe it to be true, then the equivalent of a hostage situation exists in Gaza.
Israel's response to Hamas' taking of Palestinian hostages is to ignore the plight of these hostages in favor of preserving the well-being of its citizens. On its face the well-being of Israeli citizens is equated to the lives of Palestinians. Is the sacrifice of Palestinian civilians, for whom the Israeli government is as responsible, for the well-being of Israeli citizens a moral act?
Israeli officials often pose the question of what the U.S. would do if rockets were being fired at its citizens. And additional question should also be posed, " would the U.S. government persist in actions that would likely lead to the deaths of more than 1400 New York citizens by aerial and sea bombardment to stop criminals from firing rockets at New Jersey?" In other words, would the U.S. government cede its responsibility for the lives of New York citizens because it considers the lives of New Jersey residents to be worth more than those of innocent New York citizens. The question posed by Israeli officials ignores that responsibility Israel has for ensuring the lives and well-being of the Palestinian hostages as well as Israelis.
Israel now claims that it is necessary to ignore disproportionate collateral deaths from its actions to destroy tunnels being used to attack Israelis and break its blockade of Gaza. Why is the existence of these tunnels being raised now to justify continued attacks against Hamas and the collateral deaths of Palestinian civilians. To what extent does the destruction of these tunnels balance the likely deaths of the Palestinian hostages--especially when one considers that destroyed tunnels can be re-opened or new ones dug? Israel has known about the existence of these tunnels for at least a year. Why is the existence of these tunnels being raised now to justify continued attacks against Hamas and the extreme collateral damage that will result from continued actions by Israel? Are the tunnels the only targets of Israel's actions actions, or more ominously, is the infrastructure of Gaza [such as it was] being targeted to punish Palestinian civilians for allowing themselves to be hostages?
Israel's response to Hamas' taking of Palestinian hostages is to ignore the plight of these hostages in favor of preserving the well-being of its citizens. On its face the well-being of Israeli citizens is equated to the lives of Palestinians. Is the sacrifice of Palestinian civilians, for whom the Israeli government is as responsible, for the well-being of Israeli citizens a moral act?
Israeli officials often pose the question of what the U.S. would do if rockets were being fired at its citizens. And additional question should also be posed, " would the U.S. government persist in actions that would likely lead to the deaths of more than 1400 New York citizens by aerial and sea bombardment to stop criminals from firing rockets at New Jersey?" In other words, would the U.S. government cede its responsibility for the lives of New York citizens because it considers the lives of New Jersey residents to be worth more than those of innocent New York citizens. The question posed by Israeli officials ignores that responsibility Israel has for ensuring the lives and well-being of the Palestinian hostages as well as Israelis.
Israel now claims that it is necessary to ignore disproportionate collateral deaths from its actions to destroy tunnels being used to attack Israelis and break its blockade of Gaza. Why is the existence of these tunnels being raised now to justify continued attacks against Hamas and the collateral deaths of Palestinian civilians. To what extent does the destruction of these tunnels balance the likely deaths of the Palestinian hostages--especially when one considers that destroyed tunnels can be re-opened or new ones dug? Israel has known about the existence of these tunnels for at least a year. Why is the existence of these tunnels being raised now to justify continued attacks against Hamas and the extreme collateral damage that will result from continued actions by Israel? Are the tunnels the only targets of Israel's actions actions, or more ominously, is the infrastructure of Gaza [such as it was] being targeted to punish Palestinian civilians for allowing themselves to be hostages?
Data from New York Times: The Toll in Gaza and Israel - Day By Day 8/9/14