Israeli terrorism: Strains of Conflict

"Children are at risk from hypothermia, they are malnourished, there is not enough food, and the situation is getting desperate. Thousands of Gazans are reported to have fled their homes, despite the dangers of moving around outdoors in the territory."

by Dr. Abdul Ruff

(January 07, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) Israeli forces have widened their attacks in the Gaza Strip and expanded their targets. As its terrorism spell continues unabated, Israel ignored mounting international calls for a cease-fire and said it won't stop its crippling 11-day assault until "peace and tranquility" are “achieved” in southern Israeli towns. Israeli forces seized control of high-rise buildings and attacked several mosques in a relentless campaign against Hamas militants that took an increasing toll on civilians. Hundreds of dead bodies and wounded ones are on Palestinian streets. The UN says at least 25% of those are civilians. The Jewish smear campaign has several reasons and targets. Tel Aviv talks about fresh attacks. The ugly faces of anti-Islamic world are seen in global media.

The heaviest fighting in the Gaza Strip since the 1967 Six Day War is taking an enormous toll on the territory's civilians. The territory's fragile medical system was already facing key shortages of equipment, spare parts, specialists and some medicine due to the international sanctions against Hamas-ruled Gaza. The problem has only gotten worse during the war. The crowded, chaotic and bloodstained hallways of Shifa Hospital in Gaza City are now makeshift operating areas. The hospital was overwhelmed with civilians. Bodies were two to a morgue drawer, and the wounded were being treated in hallways because beds were full. The medical system is particularly strained. Doctors, nurses, field medics and ambulances drivers are struggling under increasingly dangerous conditions to care for the wounded. The innocently looking UN says at least one-quarter of the more than 600 people officially killed in Gaza so far have been civilians. At least 20 Palestinian children were killed during the day Monday, said Dr. Moaiya Hassanain, a health official. Most confirmed deaths have been civilians.

Israel invaded Palestine and killed innocent Palestinians, but the USA just as usual blames Hamas, the so-called “Islamist terrorists” for Israeli terrorism. Israel also says Hamas is responsible for the current terrorism on innocent Gazans. India, a former Non-aligned leader keeps sits mouth and other parts shut.

Israel has allowed several tons of medical aid to enter Gaza since the fighting began, and for now, the U.N. says, there are enough of most medicines. But getting the supplies safely distributed from the warehouses to the hospitals and clinics, aid groups say, has been nearly impossible. Ground fighting is raging across the territory. Gaza has been cut in two by Israeli infantry and tanks.

A European Union delegation met with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. "The EU insists on a cease-fire at the earliest possible moment," said Karel Schwarzenberg, the foreign minister of the Czech Republic, which took over the EU's presidency last week from France. Rocket attacks on Israel also must stop, Schwarzenberg told a news conference with Livni. The EU brought no truce proposals of its own because the cease-fire "must be concluded by the involved parties," he added.

Israel's operation has sparked anger across the Arab world and has drawn criticism from countries such as Turkey, Egypt and Jordan, which have ties with Israel and have been intimately involved in Mideast peacemaking. In Beirut, Lebanon, protesters tried to pull away barbed wire blocking their path to the U.S. Embassy. They were driven back with heavy blasts of water. Some Egyptian ambulances have been allowed into the embattled Gaza Strip, presumably to pick up badly wounded civilians for treatment in Egyptian hospitals. Israeli warplanes and drones remain active along the frontier, drawing fire from Hamas militants.

Arab delegates met with the U.N. Security Council in New York, urging members to adopt a resolution calling for an immediate end to the attacks and a permanent cease-fire. At the same time, diplomats and European leaders traveled the region in an effort to stop Israel's expanding ground and air offensive. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was due to attend a UN Security Council meeting, along with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France and Britain, in an attempt to put pressure on the Security Council to act decisively.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who unsuccessfully proposed a two-day truce last week, met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who lost control of Gaza to Hamas in June 2007. Europe "wants a cease-fire as quickly as possible," Sarkozy said after meeting Abbas, urging Israel to halt the offensive, while blaming Hamas for acting "irresponsibly and unpardonably." Sarkozy is in the Middle East trying to gather support for a ceasefire and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, whose country holds the EU presidency, is also in the region.

It seems Israel tries to cover up its terrorism and says it has three main demands: an end to Palestinian attacks, international supervision of any truce, and a halt to Hamas rearming. Hamas demands an end to Israeli attacks and the opening of border crossings to vital cargo. The State Department said the U.S. was pressing for a cease-fire that would include a halt to rocket attacks and an arrangement for reopening crossing points on the border with Israel, said spokesman Sean McCormack. A third element would address the tunnels into Gaza from Egypt through which Hamas has smuggled materials and arms. President George W. Bush emphasized "Israel's desire to protect itself." The situation now taking place in Gaza was caused by Hamas," he said.

Children are at risk from hypothermia, they are malnourished, there is not enough food, and the situation is getting desperate. Thousands of Gazans are reported to have fled their homes, despite the dangers of moving around outdoors in the territory. Living conditions in Gaza are reported to be deteriorating sharply, with supplies of fuel and food not getting to where they are needed. Many in Gaza are also without running water or electricity.

UN and other bodies just keep talking while innocent Palestinians get killed by the Jewish terror state. India used to condemn such terror attacks of Israel before, but now, realizing that world has comprehended Indian’s own terrorism in Kashmir, does not criticize a fellow terrorism any more. However, no Islamic nation or any other nation caring for universal humanism or stands for humanitarianism has come forward so far to stop the Israeli terrorism by forces. The deputy head of Hamas' politburo in Syria, Moussa Abu Marzouk, rejected the U.S. proposal, telling the AP the U.S. plan seeks to impose "a de facto situation" and encourages Israel to continue its attacks on Gaza. But world has made Israel a powerful country now and pleads Israel to end hostilities.

That is tragedy of humanity, not just of the Palestinians. Gaza will free Palestine.
- Sri Lanka Guardian