Operation Summer Rains: Day Twelve

The IDF pulled out of northern Gaza yesterday, after a few days of intense fighting which saw approximately 50 palestinians – the vast majority of them armed terrorists – and IDF soldier Yehuda Basel, killed. The current focus of the operation is near the Karni crossing, where forces are searching for suspected terrorist tunnels. Troops are also continuing to operate in the Dahaniya airport region in southern Gaza.

 

While the IDF has managed to kill more terrorists, a number of civilians have been killed – as is to be expected when terrorists freely move about and attack the IDF from populated areas. In one incident echoing the Gaza beach incident of almost a month ago, an explosion in a house on the outskirts of Gaza City last night, killed 3 members of a family, with everyone ready to blame Israel. But an initial investigation has revealed that the IDF was not to blame for the incident. In another incident today, an 18-year old was killed after a botched airstrike against Hamas terrorists.

 

Despite the relatively low number of civilian casualties, the UN – in a three page statement – is blaming Israel for a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In this statement, the UN implies that Israel is deliberately targeting civilians, and does not even mention the kidnap of Gilad Shalit.

 

10:10PM: Hamas are threatening to hit us hard because we rejected their “ceasefire” offer. How utterly unreasonable of us.

9:45PM: According to Reuters, witnesses have reported an explosion north of Gaza City.

9:35PM: Ha’aretz reports how internationally acclaimed author and former Peruvian presidential candidate, Mario Vargas Llosa, is “ashamed to be Israel’s friend.”

“Israel had become a powerful and arrogant country, and it is the role of its friends to be highly critical of its policies,” Vargas Llosa said.

On the Israel Defense Forces operation in the Gaza Strip, Vargas Llosa told Haaretz that “my impression is that among military and security circles there is a lack of confidence in your new Defense Minister. He was soft and moderate during the election campaign, and it looks like the current activity of the IDF is being used by the army in order to test him and the new government, and push them to take more extreme measures in order to prevent any change of Israel’s policy toward the Palestinians.”

“Israel’s response to the abduction of the soldier and the firing of Qassam rockets was excessively severe,” he said.

Acclaimed author, former Peruvian presidential candidate, and security expert.

“Undoubtedly the abduction of the soldier is an unacceptable move, and the firing of Qassam rockets proves that there are radicals on both sides, but the Israeli response is out of proportion. Paradoxically, the extremists on both sides have a shared agenda and its purpose is to prevent any chance for negotiations and mutual concessions.”

I love his use of the English language: kidnapping a soldier is merely an unacceptable move. I also fail to see how the firing of Kassams by palestinian terrorists proves that there are radicals on both sides.

7:48PM: Poll results indicate that a majority of palestinians support kidnappings and Kassam fire.

Which should make you question the oft-made contention that the palestinians voted for Hamas solely on the basis of their dissatisfaction with Fatah, and not because of their support of terrorism against Israel.

 

7:45PM: More Kassams have landed near Ashkelon.