Hamas is playing a dangerous game with Gazan lives
SO FAR Hamas’s military campaign against Israel has been a dismal failure. Thanks in part to Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system, some 1,200 rockets fired at Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other cities have caused only one Israeli death and a few other casualties. Attempted commando attacks via the sea and a tunnel were stopped short, and a drone that ventured into Israel was quickly shot down. Yet Hamas on Tuesday rejected an Egyptian cease-fire proposal that was supported by Western governments and the Arab League and had been accepted by Israel.
Why would Hamas insist on continuing the fight when it is faring so poorly? The only plausible answer is stomach-turning: The Islamic movement calculates that it can win the concessions it has yet to obtain from Israel and Egypt not by striking Israel but by perpetuating the killing of its own people in Israeli counterattacks. More than 200 people, including a number of children, have already died in Gaza; Hamas probably calculates that more deaths will prompt Western governments to pressure Israel to grant Hamas’s demands.
So far, the tactic is not working. Secretary of State John F. Kerry on Tuesday condemned Hamas for rejecting the cease-fire and “using the innocent lives of civilians .?.?. as shields.” But Hamas’s commanders, who have burrowed into underground bunkers, appear to be doubling down. They are urging civilians who have left their homes to return, including some 15,000 who evacuated the northern part of Gaza in response to Israeli warnings. The cease-fire proposal was answered with a new barrage of missiles aimed at central Israel.
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To its credit, Israel has used sophisticated technology, including targeted text messages and dummy warning missiles, to minimize civilian casualties. But innocent people will inevitably be killed in attacks on launchers and missile factories that are purposely placed in densely populated areas. The right response of the international community is not to surrender to Hamas’s despicable tactics but to continue insisting that it unconditionally accept the cease-fire proposed by Egypt.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/hamas-is-playing-a-dangerous-game-with-gazan-lives/2014/07/15/cc5f101e-0c3b-11e4-8c9a-923ecc0c7d23_story.html
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....them in their propaganda efforts vs. Israel. For one, covering for Hamas war crimes (shielding) vs. Gazan civilians. Denying, explaining away, mimimizing....
It's disgusting that westerners know full well of Hamas' war crimes against its own people, support such crimes against humanity, and are thereby helping Hamas win the PR war. These western sanctimonious bigots, like Hamas, use Palestinian civilians as pawns in their vile cognitive warfare vs. Israel. The best part is they have the audacity to masquerade as "pro-Palestinians".
Mondoweiss, ElectronicIntifada, NGO's and other media reluctant to report on Hamas war crimes against its own people. They're all covering for Hamas.
All these organizations and leading figures made excuses for Hamas rejection of a ceasefire, because apparently not enough Palestinian blood had been shed yet. They support Hamas' war vs. Israel, even if only Palestinians are getting killed.
So it turns out that self-proclaimed "pro-Palestinians" who spent the past couple weeks outraged by Palestinian casualties will continue supporting Hamas' ongoing war, with certainly more Palestinian bloodshed to follow. They'll claim not to support Hamas but they support Hamas' agenda. They certainly will not call Hamas out for what they're doing.
Mondoweiss shills recently posted the following sympathetic, pro-Hamas piece:
Understanding Hamas:
http://mondoweiss.net/2014/07/understanding-hamas.html
Pretty sick stuff.
