Gaza: Don’t be fooled by Israel’s shocking crime

By condoning this assault, Western governments are once again colluding with Israeli atrocities and inviting further atrocities in the future

FIRST POSTED DECEMBER 31, 2008

Even by its own dismal standards, Israel's blitz of the Gaza Strip represents a new threshold of savage and reckless militarism. The fourth strongest military power in the world has subjected an essentially defenceless and impoverished population of 1.5m Palestinians to a brutal aerial bombardment, claiming at least 350 victims and more than a thousand injured.

As always, Israeli propaganda has presented the assault as a reluctant response to "terror" specifically Hamas's mortar and Qassam rocket attacks on southern Israel.

There is no doubt that Hamas's military wing should not be firing rockets anywhere near civilian populations, but Qassam rockets are a negligible military weapon compared to the vast firepower that Israel has unleashed on Gaza since its unilateral withdrawal from the strip in 2005. According to the UN, 11 Israeli civilians died from Qassam rocket attacks between 2004 and 2007. In Gaza, by contrast, more than 300 Palestinians died in 2006 alone, a year in which the IDF fired 14,000 artillery shells into the strip.

The world's fourth strongest military power has subjected 1.5m essentially defenceless Palestinians to a brutal assault, killing at least 350

These attacks have formed part of a tit-for-tat process in which both Israel and Hamas have broken ceasefires and used such violations whether real or invented - as a justification for acts of violence. But the emphasis on the Qassam rockets ignores the political context. For the most part they were a desperate and largely ineffectual response to Israel's attempt to subvert Hamas's overwhelming electoral victory in January 2006.

Hamas has carried out some savage atrocities against Israeli civilians, but it has not carried out a suicide attack since 2005 and it has given numerous indications that it is prepared to engage in a political process indications that are mostly ignored by Israel and the western media in general.

Instead of engaging Hamas politically and allowing it to fulfill its democratic mandate, Israel declared it would not negotiate with "terrorists" and set out to undermine Hamas financially and make it impossible for it to govern. When these efforts failed, Israel and the US armed the one-time "terrorists" of Fatah and tried to promote a coup in Gaza. These machinations were thwarted in July 2007, an event that the western media now misleadingly refers to as the point when Hamas "seized power" in Gaza.

Since then Israel has effectively been reducing Gaza to the status of a failed state the better to control and punish its population. The EU, the US and the Palestinian Authority have all been complicit in this process, so it is not surprising to find that all of these actors have been muted, if not openly supportive, in their response to the blitz of Gaza.

The assault on Gaza will resonate across the Muslim world for decades to come

Western governments have generally limited themselves to hypocritical calls for "restraint" and sanctimonious cant about "unacceptable" civilian casualties, while leader writers and media pundits wring their hands at Israel's vulnerability or engage in "blaming the victim" sophistry. As always, Israeli spokesmen insist on the restraint and humanity of its armed forces and express regret at the loss of "innocent" lives.

The rest of us should not be fooled. What is taking place in Gaza is a shocking crime. By condoning this assault, Western governments are once again colluding with Israeli atrocities and inviting further atrocities in the future. Israelis may well take a visceral satisfaction as their air force blasts Gaza and their politicians hang tough. For too many Israelis and too many of their supporters Palestinians and Arabs can never be fully "innocent". Even less so when they have had the temerity to elect a "terrorist" government.

Such satisfaction will not last long. Hamas will undoubtedly take its revenge, and Israel will carry out further acts of futile "counter-terrorism". Even as it exposes the fraudulent "peace process" of the last few years, the assault on Gaza will resonate across the Muslim world for decades to come, providing carte blanche to those who believe that if Israel and its supporters can kill with impunity, then so can they.

FIRST POSTED DECEMBER 31, 2008

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Fortunately the camels were not made monkeys by the sham Bannanapolis charade. It was just an attempt to lure them into a Bush regime strike against Iran. Which begs the question , is Mahmoud Abbas an Israeli double agent?!!

Posted by Iqbal Halani at 10:04am on December 31, 2008

I do not know who Mr Carr is or whether he has any expertise in the area. I also do not know how familiar he is with Israel's geography and strategic position not to mention its history. As he writes, he is not at all aware of the necessities on the ground. If Israel wanted to be savage the death toll would be far higher and not reflect pinpoint targeting; it would not have taken years before Israel finally dealt with a hate imbued neighbour; this has nothing to do with any occupation, past or present; the Gazan Arabs hate and that means even their own whom they judicially murder without due process like they would Israeli schoolchildren. Only an immoral West would condone the existence of a regime far worse than Mugabe's in some ways and certainly comparable (he has not inflicted war and hatred on his neighbours yet). Israel's'purity of arms' doctrine far exceeds GB's or USA's in practice - atrocities are an invention of a fickle Western press not renowned for its strictness and scrupulosity whe it comes to Israel coverage. Placing civilians deliberately in harm's way and salarying the families for their losses means war crimes. Perhaps Mr. Carr would be better suited to documenting the really cruel villains of the piece?

Posted by Prof at 12:16pm on December 31, 2008

I lived and worked in the Mid East for twenty years. There are certainly some very charming, and wealthy, Palestinians, they're probably the types to have influenced Matthew Carr to their cause. The average Palestinian is a scruffy troublemaker - the kind that alone almost totally caused and prolonged the 14 years of war in Bierut (as well as thers). Carr is another example of stupid uninformed so-called journalist.

Posted by Philip Thacker at 12:27pm on December 31, 2008

Precisely. Couldn't agree more. This is a timely article on this issue, so often criticism is muted by the constant claim by Israel and Israel excusers that critics are anti-semitic, and their constant justification of their actions as defending their citizens, when the real situation is they are occupying Palestinian land and allowing settlers to continue to build on it. Israel is a militaristic state bordering on fascist, it is seeding militant Islamism with which the rest of the world will have to cope in the coming years.

Posted by Peter Simmons at 12:37pm on December 31, 2008

Well that's ok then says Mathew Carr if Hamas during a so called cease fire actually fired over 2000 rockets into Israel so what they must have deserved it. If Hamas drive up into the school yard or your farm and fire a few rockets then flee before Israel has a chance to retaliate that's Ok Israel mustn't hurt civilians whereas Hamas is allowed to kill and maim jews. The double standards of left wing liberal fascist type journalists is amazing. Dead Jews are OK but dead Muslims are not. If Hamas stops firing missiles the Israelis will stop attacking them with rockets. At least the Israeli's are trying to get Hamas terrorists whereas Hamas just want to kill jews.

Posted by Philip Gosling at 1:19pm on December 31, 2008

In Mr Carr's universe, none of the institutionalized hate and bigotry of the Arab world is shocking or disproportionate. Nor does he acknowledge that the hatred he ignores has been the cause of much of the violence and mayhem we see today. Day in and day out, for decades, the Israelis and Jews are bombarded with vicious and vile hate from the Arab world. Day in and day out, Israel is promised destruction, violations of the most heinous kind and 'rivers of blood.' We are told that thousands of volunteers are ready to answer a religious call and bring mayhem, violence and death to the Israelis and Jews everywhere. In fact, the Arabs will tell you that there are not enough calls to genocide and there is not enough hate and racism directed at Israel and Jews. In schools, media and from the pulpit, calls for genocide, bigotry and hate are considered 'proportionate' and reasonable. There is no such thing as a disproportionate response to calls for genocide. All conflicts end with disproportionate response. The Israelis are entitled to defend themselves from those who openly or not so openly call for their annihilation. Peace among nations is arrived at when the cost of war becomes overwhelming. If we responded to atrocities in Darfur, Sierra Leonne or the Congo, millions of people would be alive today,. Lastly, while civilian deaths are always regrettable, Mr Carr needs to be reminded that according to the UN, some 60 plus civilians have been killed. Over 300 of the dead have been identified as Hamas militiamen, all of who fought because the call to commit genocide was something they endorsed. Israel does not deliberately target civilians unlike Hamas, nor do Israelis celebrate the death of civilians, unlike the Palestinians. Mr Carr cannot hide the Palestinian and Arab world hate, racism and bigotry that fuels the Middle East conflict go away no matter how mightily he tries. Peace in the Middle East is a simple matter. For decades, the formula has been agreed upon by the UN, EU, Quartet, etc.: * Cessation of hostilities. * Diplomatic recognition. * Secure borders. Which of these things are too onerous a burden for the Palestinians?

Posted by Alex Harris at 2:15pm on December 31, 2008

Thank you Mr. Carr for giving us a little truth. Gordon Brown is too stupid to understand the situation, and Blair has avoided visiting Gaza, and as P:ilger states he is in the Israeli pocket

Posted by James Morley at 3:03pm on December 31, 2008

This is typical of this kind of reporting, Palestinians can do anything they want, fire rockets for years however indiscriminately, but there must be no response by Israel, Gaza was left to the Palestinians to build for themselves, a future if they could, instead they chose Rockets, kidnaping and threats to destroy Israel, their avowed aim, how would any Nation react, they don't want Peace, Iran stands behind them to create and ferment trouble, just as they stand behind women and children as a shield, but the world is blind and deaf to anything Israel says, just as they were in Europe when they slaughtered our families, it seems only we can protect ourselves.

Posted by sidney sands at 3:56pm on December 31, 2008

Muslim World? Like Egypt? There isn't a Muslim World, any more than there is a Jewish, Hindu or Christian World - The real question is why was no-one in Gaza stopping rockets being fired at Israeli civilians?

Posted by McQueue at 4:17pm on December 31, 2008

What naive misleading twaddle.

Posted by Jack at 4:35pm on December 31, 2008

I seem to remember that Israel was established by using terrorist attacks against the British followed by ethnic cleansing. So israel is a terrorist state. Am I right?

Posted by Daniel Pallant at 4:42pm on December 31, 2008

I am old enough to remember another leader with a final solution, Adolph.

Posted by Ron Welsby at 8:22pm on December 31, 2008

Some potentially valid points are lost in this polemic. Proportionality is a difficult concept in assymetrical warfare and deserves a more rounded analysis than this.

Posted by Fred Smith at 9:50pm on December 31, 2008

A feeble article. Gaza is part of Israel's land that was given back to the Gazans and Israeli settlers removed. The only reason Israel keeps tight control on the borders is to keep suicide bombers out, that's the only reason there have been no suicide bombings for a while. Gazans, through their leaders, don't even want Israel to exist, and have called, like many Arabs, for Israel's destruction. Add to that the constant fear of rockets landing in nearby Israeli towns. You can't equate actual lives lost, when the people of Sderot and other places have not been able to leave their homes without fear of rocket attacks for years. Also, if Gaza is that terrible downtrodden place because of Israel, why doesn't Egypt open its border and help the Gazans? Probably because they don't want the terrorists on their soil any more than the Israelis do. Also, we may ask why various Muslim nations and groups only supply weapons, and not food or supplies to Gaza. The answer is that they don't care about the civilian population, they just care about attacking Israel, and making Israel look bad. If Israel was firing rockets into Jordan, or Lebanon for years do you think that they would just sit back and do nothing? Perhaps they are as stupid as you. We can also ask why the Gazans have terror centres and rocket launching sites in schools, hospitals, and other public institutions. Why, could it be that when anyone attacks these sites they may inflict civilian casualties? Wow, then people like you cry wolf. The Arabs are masters at manipulating world opinion against Israel. They do it through lies and callous disregard for the welfare of their own people. Of course Israel is not perfect, but at least it's a democracy and they don't constantly try to destroy their neighbours. If only the Arabs would do the same.

Posted by Leslie Levi at 10:20pm on December 31, 2008

The writer should research all areas he chooses to comment on. Did he find out how many Palestinian civilians and Fatah members Hamas made disappear since taking power? Clearly a member of the Neville Chamberlain appreciation society and leading member of the 'Too Scared to Say Anything Negative About Our Islamic Friends' group. Keep up the good work. You make me so proud to be British!

Posted by Ribber at 11:35pm on December 31, 2008

You would be better going to Geneva & your anti-semitic rhetoric would be appreciated by delegates at the convention. Hamas are thugs & murderers, throwing Fatah members from the top of buildings & hanging them from lamposts, when they took over Gaza. Israel left that region, thinking a society would be built, but instead it became a launching pad for rockets. Did you not know that?. Even a girl, whose sisters were killed in this present bombing, has said Hamas are responsible for all wars. For a journalist you don't know much. You know to demonise Israel.

Posted by marbenno at 12:23am on January 1, 2009

How can you say that Qassam rockets are a negligible military weapon. They terrorise many innocent civilians, women and especially children who grow up in the fear that as soon as they hear sirens they have to take cover within 15 seconds. Why do you find the fact that Hamas shell these people for absolutely no reason acceptable. These people deserve protection and let me remind you that it was Hamas who chose to break the cease fire!!!!!

Posted by Bico100 at 12:22pm on January 1, 2009

Israel wants to remove Gaza from its territory. Gaza wants to remove Irael from its territory. The problem is that when the Western governments decided where Israel should be situated there were far mor Jews invovled in the process than Palestinians. So the decision was made to locate them in the"promised land" which was then occppied by the powerless Palestinians. A recipe for eternal war if ever there was one. It is similar to the western nations carve up of Africa, when lines were drawn on maps by people who had no knowledge of the situation on the ground, with no regard to the indigenous population's views, resulting in massacres and ethnic cleansing by the very short sighted black neo-governments. Since the western nations have been doing this for thousand of years in Europe and Asia, they never look at the histories and in their hubris think they can do it better anyway. So, we end up with "failed states," whicih were created by the western nations such as Iraq, Afghanistan, the African nations and now the fractured middle east where the Jews were put down in the middle of their eternal enemies. The only solutions will appear when the local populations are reduced by war and starvation to a level where they can no longer opppose anybody. In addition to the above, America regards Israel as its forward base in the middle east and intends to keep it at all costs, disregarding the remnants of the crusaders' forts from 1000 years ago. Negotiations, force of arms, nothing will have any effect unless a strong outfit like America takes over and imposes a colonial sytem. Putting up a local dictator has been seen to be unworkable, so the Americans and their European allies will have to get totally involved in ruling the area for the foreseeable future, at vast cost to them, but they caused the mess in the first place. Fred Lovett.

Posted by Fred Lovett at 4:45pm on January 1, 2009

How can anyone who has followed what the Hamas has done to make people (Jews, Christians & Muslims) in Israel, adults and children, be constantly in fear of being killed or wounded for the past 4 years. There is no solution for stopping the rockets that hasn't been tried that would bring peace, so now Hamas is getting the answer.

Posted by RollingK at 8:46pm on January 2, 2009

Wonderful pungent argument. I have finally come out of the closet as someone who does not believe that Israel should exist. Particularly based on all sorts of nefarious arguments that are increasingly debunked by archeology and based on a whole load of emotional guilt inducement and threats (like Jewish mothers). If both Jews and Palestinians are Semites then one country should be the solution not two.. Thank you for this Melody Kemp Vientiane Laos.

Posted by melody kemp at 4:41am on January 3, 2009

Right on the button. It is truly how it is.

Posted by mashoud janjua at 10:12pm on January 4, 2009

Well written. I couldn't agree more.

Posted by Samantha Dobson at 1:11am on January 8, 2009

No, Fred Smith,Gaza in Biblical times never belonged to Israel. What the Jews will never admit to is that despite all efforts to bring peace to the region, Jewish settlers are free to attack Palestinians on their own property w/IMF standing by protecting THEM while they destroy crops and beat/kill Palestinians at will. What Israel needs to acknowledge is that today, the biased media no longer keeps your dirty linen hidden... there are just too many other sources that expose the crimes Israel commits against unarmed civilians. Israel says the Palestinians fake the photos they publish. What? Not enough REAL ones? Please, don't insult our intelligence even though you truly believe everyone else on the planet is cursed by God with stupidity and doomed to Hell. This individual prays to God, and I know God's Law includes the Jewish people along with everyone else. God does not exclude ANYONE from sin or crime. AMEN!

Posted by Dean Morgan at 2:49pm on January 8, 2009

A lot of Israel excusers here seem to think that Israel observed the ceasefire while Hamas 'during a so called cease fire actually fired over 2000 rockets into Israel' got any proof of that? The reality is that for six months Hamas HELD the ceasefire while Israel did everything it could to make life a misery for the people of Gaza; cutting off power and water, preventing aid and medicines getting in and the sick getting out. Then, when Hamas had still failed to respond, it started shelling them. At which point Hamas reacted and started firing rockets - home made, barely capable of doing any damage. Don't try to rewrite history in your desire to paint Israel the victim when the death toll of innocent civilians and especially children rises daily. Like finding excuses for the Nazis - they had to do it as the whole of Europe were against them and the French resistance were killing Germans after all. Now the Israeli nazis are bombing UN buildings and aid trucks, ushering women and children into a building and then shelling it, leaving small traumatised children clinging to their dead mothers for four days while they periodically fired on the building. You don't get any sicker than this. Israel must be stopped. I would be in favour of a UN force invading Israel and disarming it, we've had enough of these racists, they have to be stopped once and for all. No one should be trading with the fascist state, no one should be buying their produce.

Posted by Peter Simmons at 11:39am on January 9, 2009

To the Israeli apologists here I would like to point out that in the 1980s we in London were bombed by a fanatical terrorist group in Ireland. A proportionate response wouldn't have been to go and bomb the Catholic areas of Northern Ireland, or even New York (where most of their funding seemed to originate). Proportionality does not mean "one eye for one eye, one tooth for one tooth" - proportionality means that you address the root cause of the problem, and where necessary you take action against the people attacking you (not indiscriminately attack a whole community).

Posted by Mark at 2:27pm on January 30, 2009

What shocking crime? Does Mr Carr think that Winston Churchill was wrong to rebuff the Nazi's? Just so all of you get it right - the modern Muslim states have become the new anti-Semitic Nazi's, and Israel rebuffing Islamism of the worst sort is a laudable endeavour.

Posted by John Valentine at 4:47pm on March 18, 2009

Just noticed, during a bout of egosurfing, that Dean Morgan (above) may have confused my comment (ie Fred Smith) with one by Leslie Levi, underneath my comment. My comment was about the difficulty of applying the concept of proportionality in assymetrical warfare, rather than whether Gaza is part of Israel or not.

Posted by Fred Smith at 10:39pm on June 8, 2009