This Ongoing War: A Blog: 17-Nov-12: Small, perhaps marginal, aspects of events here that might not get the coverage they deserve

Saturday, November 17, 2012

17-Nov-12: Small, perhaps marginal, aspects of events here that might not get the coverage they deserve

Taking cover: Israeli child in the southern Israeli community of Kiryat Malachi. Three civilians were killed
in their homes on Thursday when a Gazan rocket fulfilled its intended jihadist purpose [Image Source]

Do pigs fly? EU's foreign minister says it's Hamas actions that are causing this battle and these human losses. From the WAFA Palestine News & Information Agency today [online here]:

EU’s Ashton Blames Hamas for Israeli Raids on Gaza

BRUSSELS, November 17, 2012 (WAFA) – European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton Friday held Hamas responsible for the Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip that had so far left 40 Palestinians, including women and children, dead and more than 400 injured, most of them civilians. Ashton also justified the Israeli airstrikes that started on Wednesday saying in a statement that Israel has the right to protect its population.
“The rocket attacks by Hamas and other factions in Gaza which began this current crisis are totally unacceptable for any government and must stop,” said Ashton. “Israel has the right to protect its population from these kinds of attacks,” she added, but called on Israel “to ensure that its response is proportionate.” [More]

And a small (very small) reminder (via Israel's MFA) of what it can mean to put yourself into the hands of the thuggish terrorists. [The source is online]. You might ask yourself how the jihad-addicted thugs of Hamas find time for this kind of craziness when they are under constant bombardment from Israel. Evidently ideology routinely trumps sense.

Hamas Detains Foreign Journalists in the Gaza Strip

November 17, 2012
Hamas is not allowing at least 22 foreign nationals who wish to exit the Gaza Strip for Israel to do so. Among the members of the foreign press being detained are nine Italian citizens, six citizens of Japan, one Canadian, one South Korean and a French national. In addition, two Turkish Red Crescent members have been refused exit. This violation of the human rights of neutral foreigners is yet another example of Hamas’ attempts to manipulate and pressure the press. For its part, Israel is keeping the Erez crossing into Gaza open, allowing passage to the foreign press, diplomats and humanitarian workers.

Incidentally it's Palestinian Arabs who know better than most other people what it can mean to become subject to the kindnesses of the thugs from Hamas [an earlier report here via the Ma'an news agency.]

As we noted earlier this evening, the scale of Palestinian Arab losses in Gaza is way out of proportion to the scale of the Israeli attacks. Clearly (to anyone with some degree of open-mindedness on this), the IDF is doing somersaults in the air to avoid causing unnecessary damage and human loss, even while seeking very vigorously to neutralize the Gazan terrorists and their vast arsenal of rockets. The item below comes from the Palestinian news agency Maan.

Israel texts Palestinians in Gaza

Published this evening 17/11/2012 23:09 [Online here]
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israel on Friday warned residents of the Gaza Strip to stay away from Hamas operatives, Palestinians who received the messages said and the army confirmed.
"The messages were sent to 12,000 residents of the Gaza Strip," an army spokeswoman told Ma'an. "It warned them to stay away from Hamas operatives," she said.
Rana Baker, a Palestinian blogger in Gaza, said her father received one of the messages. She uploaded a picture of a message that showed the sender as "IDF".
"The next phase is on the way. Stay away from Hamas elements," it read.
On Thursday the Israeli army said it dispersed leaflets above several locations in the Gaza Strip warning residents to stay away from Hamas and other armed groups.
"The leaflets stress that Hamas is dragging the region toward violence, and that the IDF is prepared to defend the residents of the State of Israel until quiet is restored to the region," an army statement said at the time. The text of the leaflets said: "For your own safety, take responsibility for yourselves and avoid being present in the vicinity of Hamas operatives and facilities and those of other terror organizations that pose a risk to your safety.
"Hamas is once again dragging the region to violence and bloodshed. The IDF is determined to defend the residents of the State of Israel. This announcement is valid until quiet is restored to the region." The leaflets were signed: "Israel Defense Forces Command."

There's a video here showing the mass distribution of those Israelis leaflets into Gaza.

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