UN Human Rights Chief Doubts Legality Of Israeli Air Campaign

[awake]

Source: The Huffingpost

GENEVA (AP) — The U.N.'s top human rights official says she is alarmed that Israel's air campaign in Gaza may violate international laws prohibiting the targeting of civilians.

Navi Pillay says the Israeli military, which claims to have hit more than 1,100 targets that it says are mostly rocket-launching sites, and the Gaza militants, who have fired more than 550 rockets against Israel, must abide by international law.

Pillay said in a statement Friday she has "serious doubt about whether the Israeli strikes have been in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/11/un-human-rights-israel_n_5577645.html

[HERVEPA]

1. Any comments on what the Hamas rockets are targeting?

[awake]

2. Can one even target anything with a Hamas rocket?

As far as I know the Hamas rockets are trying just to hit anything in Israel that they can. Both side seem to believe in a "eye for an eye" which will never solve anything.

[HERVEPA]

3. Yup.

I'm a strong supporter of Israel's right to defend itself, but I am disgusted with Netanyahu and his ilk.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

21. Usually? A random brick wall.

[blackspade]

4. An appropriate response might be to just target the launch sites...

But hitting and leveling apartment buildings because a 'bad guy' might be present is stupid and counterproductive.
I think the PTB in Israel want the cycle of violence to continue. That's where the power comes from.

[Android3.14]

5. An even better response would be if Israel stopped stealing land

Ya think?

[nyabingi]

6. Israel is only interested in

"mowing the lawn" (i.e., killing some arbitrary Arabs in Gaza) to supposedly degrade Hamas' ability to increase the effectiveness of those oh-so dangerous rockets they fire all the time (the ones which usually hit nothing lol). The real reason they "mow the lawn" is to terrorize the Gazans to let them know they are fully at the mercy of Israeli whim.

Israelis need to get rid of their viscious, anti-Arab government and vote in more leftist representatives if they intend to live peacefully with their neighbors and eventually resolve longstanding problems.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2012/1120/Israelis-ponder-alternatives-to-mowing-the-lawn-in-Gaza-video

[Baconeater]

7. What would the USA do if Mexico Attacked

Or any sovereign country for that matter:
http://baconeatingatheistjew.blogspot.ca/2014/07/what-would-usa-do.html

[delrem]

28. Mexico isn't under continuous unending total siege.

Mexico's resources aren't being blatantly stolen.
The US doesn't fire at will at any Mexican anywhere in range of the border.
The US isn't building "settlements" in Mexico, serviced by US-only roads, stealing the Mexican aquifer, putting Mexicans under US military rule.
.... AND SO ON ...

There's that's small difference.
But yah, if the US started doing all that to Mexico there would *of course* be inevitable retaliation, and no doubt whatsoever the US bipartisan politicians and bipartisan MSM and bipartisan MIC would not recognize their own provocation, and no doubt whatsoever the US would feel entirely justified in retaliating unmercifully to the "terrorists".
However, it isn't happening so the "what if" scenario is a dumb idea.

[Baconeater]

32. The difference

The difference is Mexico lost the war and didn't try to push Texas in the sea. The rockets are coming from Gaza, Gaza was "ethnically cleansed" when the Jews left 10 years ago, and as soon as they left, bombs started flying into Israel and have continued ever since. There is a reason for blockades in Gaza, not just by Israel but by Egypt too.
The Palestinians have had numerous opportunities to accept a state, starting in 1948. I'm no fan of the settlements but the settlements didn't exist prior to 1970 and the Arabs were trying to push Israel in the sea before that.
So please give me a break with who is provoking who.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

12. Yes. Taking out anti-aircraft batteries, military airfields, weapon and fuel depots, war ships....

You can hit the other side's ability to conduct a war.

There are those that say targeting communications and command and control should be banned as they are also used for aid operations and the commanders would be the ones to call for surrender.

But that's an actual WAR between countries where one elite force goes up against another elite force.

This isn't a war.

[hack89]

16. And if one side collocates those legitimate targets within civilian areas?

what then?

International law says they are still legitimate targets. The proper thing for Hamas to is evacuate all civilians from the vicinity of potential targets instead of encouraging voluntary human shields.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

17. Sticking an anti-aircraft gun in a suburb was why the Pentagon talks "smart bombs"....

They love to pretend civilians are safe.

[hack89]

20. Putting missile storage bunkers in the basements of apartment buildings

is the kind of shit Hamas pulls all the time.

Hamas can do a lot more to minimize civilian casualties. But civil casualties are what they want.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

22. Damn shame they're never disappointed.

[hack89]

23. When you start wars

Then bad things can happen. Hamas could consider not shooting rockets if they are that concerned.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

24. This was good...

http://www.panarabiaenquirer.com/wordpress/new-hamas-rocket-design-comes-third-in-gaza-city-high-school-science-fair/

[hack89]

26. The real ones from Iran are the real concern. nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

27. Funny how Iran is also the rival of the Saudis and they get the blame for everything.

[delrem]

29. The Saudis are the good guys, the Iranians are the bad guys.

That's all anyone needs to know about that aspect of "the war on terror".

Next?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

30. Whew! Glad that's cleared up! I was worried for a while there that it was all about oil again.

[delrem]

31. Nope. No $$$ are concerned!

It's entirely about who are the good guys, and who are the bad guys.

I hope you will eventually learn to pay attention.

[hack89]

33. Iran has been caught red handed smuggling weapons to Gaza

Where else is Hamas getting their long range missiles?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

34. HOW are they getting them? Through Egypt? By boat?

[hack89]

35. Both nt

[Spitfire of ATJ]

36. Most I've seen look home made from plans.

[hack89]

37. Syrian-made M302 rocket fired by Hamas at Hadera

The long-range projectile fired by Hamas in Gaza at Hadera is an M302 Syrian-produced rocket, according to initial analysis on Wednesday of the remains of the rocket fired at the city on Tuesday.

The attack represents the longest-range rocket strike by Hamas on Israel to date. It came amid a heavy barrage of dozens of long-range rockets directed at greater Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as well as Ashdod, triggering air raid sirens across the country. One rocket fell in Jerusalem, but failed to cause injuries.

In March, the Israel Navy intercepted an Iranian arms ship destined for Gaza, which included 40 Syrian made M302 rockets that had a range of between 90 to 160 kilometers.

http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Syrian-made-M302-rocket-fired-by-Hamas-at-Hadera-362008

[hack89]

38. Iran connection: Why are Gaza rockets reaching so deep into Israel?

UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. — Evidence that Hamas is firing more sophisticated weapons at Israel – including longer-range rockets – than in past conflicts is focusing a new light on Iran’s role in arming the militant organization.

As Israel is contending with rockets launched from Hamas-controlled Gaza that are reaching deeper into its territory, a classified United Nations Security Council report concludes that a shipment of weapons intercepted by Israel on a cargo boat in the Red Sea last March originated in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.

At the time, Iranian officials denied any knowledge of the arms, which were found in 20 crates buried under bags of cement. Iran is barred from exporting weaponry under an arms embargo approved by the Security Council in 2007.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2014/0709/Iran-connection-Why-are-Gaza-rockets-reaching-so-deep-into-Israel-video

[lark]

10. SOP for Israel

Until we stop funding their military, they will continue to rely on that and screw every other option.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. Actually, it's until we stop vetoing every call made by the U.N. that they're being naughty.

[lark]

14. Actually, I think the money is far more important

I don't think that Israel gives a flying F about the UN and any of their resolutions.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

18. Must be why they violate so many resolutions. What's the count? 75?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

11. Everyone knows it's collective punishment.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

19. That was sneaky.