| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply | |
| Posted by: | Steven Rose | |
| Date/Time: | 25/03/24 14:09:00 |
| Hi Ivonne I do understand that there are civilians in Gaza. I mentioned them explicitly in my post. I also understand that it is possible to despise Hamas and criticise the actions of Israel at the same time. In fact I pointed out that critics of Israel are offended at the suggestion that they are apologists for Hamas. But I am afraid you have not answered my second question. How is Israel supposed to remove the threat of repeated attacks from Hamas? Israel may have an enormous army, but when Hamas militants fire from schools, hospitals and residential buildings, using the people of Gaza as human shields, it is impossible to eliminate them without causing civilian casualties. The analogy with the IRA is misleading. The IRA were a terrorist organisation operating within the UK and consisting of fewer than 1000 activists at any one time. Though they killed some civilians in dreadful pub bombings and other terrorist outrages, they mainly targeted police and army personnel. Their aim was to achieve a united Ireland, not to wipe out the Protestant community of Ulster, nor to exterminate the population of the British mainland. Hamas, in contrast, have taken control of a foreign territory where they enjoy considerable popular support. They possess an army of over 20 000 militants and their stated aim is to exterminate the Jewish population of Israel, as demonstrated by the atrocity of October 7. A better analogy of the conflict between Israel and Hamas would be the war between Britain and Nazi Germany. The RAF caused more civilians casualties in a single night of bombing over Hamburg than the total death toll in Gaza, but Britain continued hostilities until the Nazis finally surrendered. |