Israel-Gaza conflict: What has Israel achieved in 26 bloody days?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

where do you get that?

Moreover, what does it actually mean in real terms.

[Boiler 45,749]

where do you get that?

Here on VJ, pages and pages.

[OriZ 3,157]

If Hamas is going to fight Israel, how should they be doing it?

I mean... their ideology aside, it's guerila warfare. It's not like they can go toe to toe with the IDF in a pitched battle is it...

No, they can't. And I'm not saying what they should or should not do. I'm just explaining why it seems to some people that are not willing to look deeper into things, not just glance over numbers, why there are more Israeli soldiers that died than civilians, while there are many Palestinian civilians. The point is it's not cause the Palestinians are targeting soldiers and Israel is targeting civilians. That could not be further from the truth.

[decocker 7,198]

Here on VJ, pages and pages.

oh. we must not be reading the same pages and pages.

[Boiler 45,749]

If Hamas is going to fight Israel, how should they be doing it?

I mean... their ideology aside, it's guerrilla warfare. It's not like they can go toe to toe with the IDF in a pitched battle is it...

They are doing what I would expect them to do knowing what I do about their capabilities and strategic aims.

Having agreed that, what I do not understand is why there is a problem with the consequences.

[decocker 7,198]

me, personally, i'll always have a problem with the consquence of dead civilians. further, this conflict will never end. fighting terror with terror does nothing but breed more terror. it completely baffles me that anyone would support israel's approach to hamas, let alone be cool with billions of tax payer money funding israel, which - big picture here, is also supporting the future hamas.

[Expat1 971]

According to Israel at least 50% are combatants.

Now, as far as the Palestinians not killing more Israeli civlians...been through this so many times before(you guys never listen do you?)...it's not for lack of trying. Brave Israeli soldiers went into Gaza, knowing that the enemy is hiding in tunnels, hospitals, mosques, schools, people's houses like a bunch of cowards. Of course they killed soldiers. They did not fight face to face, they camp around and shoot and run. And again, Israel apologizes for the sirens, shelters and iron dome system.

40-50% actually

Last I heard it was not OK for whole families to get the death penalty because one of their family members "tried" to do something. Seriously?

It is not expected of you however to identify that when 33% of the casualties are women and children under age 15 and 34% of the casualties are men aged 20-29 that might be a problem. In whatever farbed-up world you were raised that's humane because #1 is "underrepresented" and #2 is "overrepresented" but there are still hundreds of dead kids.

You say: The point is it's not cause the Palestinians are targeting soldiers and Israel is targeting civilians

You're right that never was the point. The point is this. Try to focus if you can. Israel is using "spray and pray" and targeting EVERYONE regardless of whether they are fighting, not fighting, involved, or not involved. People who do that are sick fcks. People who support people who do that are also sick fcks. Hope you get that point clearly.

Cowards shoot kids in the back. Bravery is fighting for your rights even when you don't have a chance of winning.

Edited August 13, 2014 by Expat1

[Karee 4,190]

me, personally, i'll always have a problem with the consquence of dead civilians. further, this conflict will never end. fighting terror with terror does nothing but breed more terror. it completely baffles me that anyone would support israel's approach to hamas, let alone be cool with billions of tax payer money funding israel, which - big picture here, is also supporting the future hamas.

As I somewhat sarcastically pointed out in an earlier post, Israel should either end the blockade and land stealing policies or just drop a nuclear bomb on Gaza. Until they do one of these things, then we'll be having this same debate 20 years from now. Probably 50 years from now, although I'm fairly certain I'll be dead by then. Israel hasn't achieved anything with this war except killing and displacing civilians, and guaranteeing that Hamas will have a place in the political realm for years to come.

So the answer to the question posted in the thread title, is Israel has really achieved nothing.

[Expat1 971]

So the answer to the question posted in the thread title, is Israel has really achieved nothing.

Well said

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

As I somewhat sarcastically pointed out in an earlier post, Israel should either end the blockade and land stealing policies or just drop a nuclear bomb on Gaza. Until they do one of these things, then we'll be having this same debate 20 years from now. Probably 50 years from now, although I'm fairly certain I'll be dead by then. Israel hasn't achieved anything with this war except killing and displacing civilians, and guaranteeing that Hamas will have a place in the political realm for years to come.

So the answer to the question posted in the thread title, is Israel has really achieved nothing.

They built a wall and took measures to reduce their own civilian casualties.. That has been very successful... Through this war (or "action" take your pick) they have reduced Hamas ability to inflict damage in the future. That is what they set out to do so they have achieved their goals. They are not trying to achieve anything long term since they don't believe there is one - at least not today.

[decocker 7,198]

They are not trying to achieve anything long term since they don't believe there is one - at least not today.

and this is where we rehash history and it's repetition.

[OriZ 3,157]

Israel is using "spray and pray" and targeting EVERYONE regardless of whether they are fighting, not fighting, involved, or not involved.

If that were true, then the percentage of dead would be in accordance with their percentage in the population, and it is not. The proof is in the pudding.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

and this is where we rehash history and it's repetition.

Yip.. They all hate the roller-coaster but none of them are willing to chance getting off so one more time!

[Boiler 45,749]

God favours the big battalions.

I agree that at the moment it does seem like playing whack a mole, quite what the alternative short or medium term option is, well realistically there is not one.

Certainly if the surrounding regimes ever decided they wanted to get back to killing Jews than each other, the prospects are bleak. However there seems no likelihood of that happening any time soon.

Hamas are an annoyance rather than a major threat, would be messier if they were coming from all directions.

Logic suggests that eventually the Arab surrounding areas will get their act together, however I do not expect Israel to go quietly.

Of course an awful lot can happen in that sort of time span, for example how long can the Saudi's keep it together.

Edited August 13, 2014 by Boiler

[Josh W 3]

Just wondering what the definition of children is.

Short dudes (except midgets) with green masks strapped with explosives and / or caring a rifle.