Israel Steps Up Attacks Against Hamas in Gaza (Strikes Gaza's Only Power Plant)

[morningfog]

Israeli forces pounded Hamas symbols of control and the Gaza Strip's only power plant Tuesday in their heaviest bombardment of a three-week offensive in Gaza, defying international demands for an immediate cease-fire after Hamas militants broke a Muslim holiday lull.

The military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, said the assault on Gaza's Hamas rulers, which has cost more than 1,100 lives, was being "intensified." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israelis late Monday to brace for a long fight.

In a televised address, Mr. Netanyahu had given no sign that the military would go beyond its stated goals—degrading Hamas's rocket arsenal and finding and destroying a network of cross-border tunnels that fighters use to infiltrate Israel. The military needs about another week to accomplish that, officials said.

But the overnight strikes by Israeli aircraft, tanks and navy gunboats on dozens of targets pointed to a wider campaign.

* * *

Another strike engulfed Gaza's power plant in flames, forcing it to shut down, said Fathi El Sheikh Khalil, manager of the territory's power authority.

The main source of Gaza's electricity is Israel, but many of those power lines have been destroyed by the fighting. The damage to the Gaza plant could leave much of Gaza without electricity.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/israel-pounds-hamas-infrastructure-in-gaza-1406625853

"Steps up" is a too sanitized description. Israel is destroying a people. Israel is systematically and intentionally committing sustained war crimes. This is not "self-defense." This is slaughter of innocents.

[cpwm17]

1. I've avoided the word in the past

but there's no need to avoid it now. Israel is committing genocide.

[malaise]

2. I've been using it

although I am beginning to think extermination may be a better word.

[morningfog]

3. And now Israel is planning a long war and set

disarmament of the people of Gaza as a condition. It's disgusting and sickening. How anyone can defend this is beyond me.

[Bettie]

7. If there are any people left in Gaza at the end

How long before they decide to take similar actions against those in the West Bank?

The settlers have to be pushing for that too...or is it more enjoyable to them to steal land in the dead of night?

How can our government support this? It sickens me.

[kysrsoze]

8. Yeah, sadly, that thought has popped in my mind too. I'm stunned at all of this.

[cpwm17]

4. I've used it for some of the evil stuff that the US has done against Iraq

and obviously for what the US did to Cambodia. It's Israel's turn.

Israel is doing as much as it can do to the Palestinians and still remain in the international community.

[ladjf]

5. Ruthless thugs! nt

[BillZBubb]

6. The Jews have historically been persecuted and abused.

It is amazing how, now possessing power, they have no qualms about delivering extreme abuse onto a helpless region.

The Israelis are no better than those who persecuted them in the past.

[Dragonfli]

9. I don't consider the far right Israeli leadership to be synonymous with "The Jews"

People are people and not countries, historically as an ethnicity you are right about the persecution and abuse of the Jewish people, Likud does not speak for Jews anymore than Bush and co spoke for me. It is evil leadership of a country and not a Jewish thing.

That said, the leadership is comprised of Jewish people and as such should know better because of the historical abuse you spoke of, so I get your overall point, but I feel the distinction between an entire group of people that span several countries and the far right leadership of a single country is an important one.

Not trying to pick a fight nor do I believe you meant to broad brush an entire ethnicity, I just wanted to point out it could have been worded better.

[Skidmore]

10. This morning I heard on ABC news that

80% of Israelis support their government's annihilation of these people. Until I hear strident denunciation of this crime, I will assume assent and consent.

[Dragonfli]

11. Even if that is correct, there is that 20%. Also 80% of Israel is a small percentage of Jews.

Did you not read my entire post?

[Pisces]

12. Israels justification for killing the citizens of Gaza is that they voted in Hamas, therefore they

support Hamas and are guilty by vote. I guess the same would apply to Israel. As well as they are polling 80% support
for the military action. To think that this started with a lie.

As Americans we simply have no idea what it would be like to be under this kind of attack or to have your family and
friends killed in front of you. These people are powerless to move out of harms way.

Israel is losing world sentiment. I am sure they still need our dollars. They are losing the youth vote. How shortsighted.

[Dragonfli]

15. I personally believe they have earned sanctions as well as to be cut off from military aid and cash

Good point, by their actions the extreme right wing that they voted in are acting as much like terrorists as Hamas. At this point their criticism comes off as projection.

[BillZBubb]

13. Thanks for the input. I probably could have worded it better.

My intent wasn't to suggest all Jews have fallen into this trap. More that Israel is solidly Jewish, yet the voices of dissent over the current policy aren't very loud there.

There is some dissent in Israel and what I have seen has been eloquent, but it just isn't what I would expect given what Jews have experienced at the hands of others through history.

[Dragonfli]

14. Yes, I agree with you there. /nt