On 19-Dec-2008, the six month cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians was ended by Hamas. Despite an appeal on 25-Dec-2008 by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for the Palestinians to stop firing rockets into Israel and opening border crossings to allow 90 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the Palestinians chose to continue launching dozens of rockets and mortars into southern Israel terrorizing over 700,000 Israeli residents within range of the barrage.
On 27-Dec-2008, Israel launched air strikes on Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip to attack the militants responsible for the rocket and mortar fire. More than 280 Palestinians are reported killed and over 1,400 wounded. Although most of the dead (322 of 384 as of 30-Dec-2008) are militants, the media largely focuses on the children inadvertently hurt or killed in the raids. Terrorist sympathizes are intent on painting an image of innocent Palestinians being victimized by Israeli aggression, while the terrorist provocations initiated by Hamas (and censured by Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit) are largely ignored. They urge restraint on the part of Israel, expecting Israelis to tolerate a constant onslaught of rockets and mortars from Gaza.
Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan said Gaza’s ground is not covered with fragrant flowers, but with men and women suicide bombers.
Meanwhile, Iranian anti-Israel demonstrators gathered in solidarity. Thousands were seen chanting “We will fight. We will die. We will not compromise!” and calling for the demise of the “Zionist regime”.
The Gaza population of 1.5 million is infected with homicide and suicide bombers, rocket launchers, mortar-firing militants, and Hamas-supporting terrorists. They are uncompromising and unrelenting. As with any military conflict in which no political solution is possible, the only resolution will be for one side to force the other to unconditionally surrender or for one side to be totally annihilated. Hamas is unlikely to ever surrender, so the only viable outcome must be the latter. The question is whether Israel has the resolve to carry it out.
Updated: France has proposed a 48 hour suspension of hostilities to enable Hamas to regroup, rearm, and feign a cease-fire, as its leaders avoid their homes in fear of being targeted.
With Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan opposed to Hamas, because of Iran’s meddlesome support and influence, and Hezbollah offering little more than moral support, Hamas appears isolated and wholly overmatched.
