When Gaza was being strafed by sea and air, 500 Palestinian dead to 1 Israeli dead. Since the ground invasion, that total has come down to 30 to 1 and a daily average of 6 to 1.
Suddenly all those, including Obama, who did not call for ceasefire when Palestinians were being killed like helpless fish in a barrel, urgently, desperately want one now from a new found humanitarian concern.
Some lives matter more than others, apparently.
UPDATE
I should add an important point. 90% of the Palestinian dead are civilians. All of the Israeli dead are soldiers with one exception, and he was a lawful target as he was conveying supplies to front line soldiers. The Palestinian resistance is perfectly legal and legitimate. The Israeli attack on civilians is a sustained war crime.
Ben Gorian Airport is shut-down and all the operators have cancelled their flights to Isreal, and in an effort to stop the total international air travel isolation the operation have been moved to Eilat airport that cannot manage a fraction of the traffic, in keeping an stiff upper lip, that Hamas has manage to disrupt the mighty Isreal despite getting pounded to dust.
All the while UK major TV outlets are broadcasting the events in Kiev airport.
Obama still isn’t seriously calling for a ceasefire. The international community can’t manage a binding call for one in the UN.
A second Israeli civilian was killed: a Bedouin – they aren’t given shelters.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/20/4245914/israels-bedouin-defenseless-against.html
“When a rocket from Gaza slammed into the community of Kaser A-Ser on Saturday, Auda al-Wadj, 32, had no defense. Like 100,000 Bedouin citizens of Israel, al-Wadj lived in a shantytown of tin shacks, with no bomb shelters. He died; four family members were hospitalized.
Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled Sunday that the state is not obligated to provide bomb shelters to the Bedouin. “
Je
Yes – if it were any country but Israel, the media would be reporting that the Bedouin are being used as human shields.
The aftermath of MH17 has taken Gaza away from the attention of the media and hence the great British public.
This is from Swee Ang who founded Medical Aid for Palestinians after she witnessed the horrors of Sabra and Shatila. The Israelis under Sharon let the Lebanese ‘Christian’ philangists in to do their evil.
Dear Friends,
The situation is Gaza is dire and some of us feel unable to do anything except to watch people die. The above is the live link of a letter to Lancet. We will be really grateful if you kindly read, circulate and leave a comment if you want to show your support for the dying people of Gaza.
If each one of us do a small bit, make a small difference, then together we will make a great difference for Gaza.
Best wishes
Swee
~~~
It was yet another Israeli war crime.
http://www.ampalestine.org/index.php/newsroom/statements/161-sabra-and-shatila-28-years-after-the-massacre-justice-is-yet-to-prevail
An open letter for the people in Gaza
Paola Manduca, Iain Chalmers, Derek Summerfield, Mads Gilbert, Swee Ang, on behalf of 24 signatories
“We are doctors and scientists, who spend our lives developing means to care and protect health and lives. We are also informed people; we teach the ethics of our professions, together with the knowledge and practice of it. We all have worked in and known the situation of Gaza for years.
On the basis of our ethics and practice, we are denouncing what we witness in the aggression of Gaza by Israel.
We ask our colleagues, old and young professionals, to denounce this Israeli aggression. We challenge the perversity of a propaganda that justifies the creation of an emergency to masquerade a massacre, a so-called “defensive aggression”. In reality it is a ruthless assault of unlimited duration, extent, and intensity. We wish to report the facts as we see them and their implications on the lives of the people.
We are appalled by the military onslaught on civilians in Gaza under the guise of punishing terrorists. This is the third large scale military assault on Gaza since 2008. Each time the death toll is borne mainly by innocent people in Gaza, especially women and children under the unacceptable pretext of Israel eradicating political parties and resistance to the occupation and siege they impose.
This action also terrifies those who are not directly hit, and wounds the soul, mind, and resilience of the young generation. Our condemnation and disgust are further compounded by the denial and prohibition for Gaza to receive external help and supplies to alleviate the dire circumstances.
The blockade on Gaza has tightened further since last year and this has worsened the toll on Gaza’s population. In Gaza, people suffer from hunger, thirst, pollution, shortage of medicines, electricity, and any means to get an income, not only by being bombed and shelled. Power crisis, gasoline shortage, water and food scarcity, sewage outflow and ever decreasing resources are disasters caused directly and indirectly by the siege…”
• Read the Letter in full
http://www.thelancet.com/gaza-letter-2014
~~~
Over 600 Palestinians are dead and thousands upon thousands homeless.
Totally agree Craig. Ramzi Baroud gave good advice on Palestinians right to defend themselves..”Those who still found loopholes in international law to deny the Palestinian people the right to defend themselves had to deal with yet another resolution. Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Convention of 1949, (Act 1 C4), passed in 1977, declared that armed struggle can be used, as a last resort, as a method of exercising the right of self-determination. One can hardly argue that Israel’s decades long occupation of Palestinian land, the full-fledged apartheid regime it instituted in the Occupied Territories, the loud violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention, the seizer of the land, the destruction of property, and most importantly, the refusal to honor nearly 70 United Nations Resolutions amid daily killings and assassinations of Palestinians, acts recognized by the Convention and by leading human rights groups as war crimes, qualify Palestinians, as it always did to fight back using armed struggle”.http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article1605.htm
Glad you’re continuing to put this up, Craig. I’m currently struck by the rising furore being reported re our sales of arms to Russia. Presumably this derives from our righteous condemnation of Russia’s re-annexation of Crimea.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/07/22/uk-ukraine-crisis-britain-russia-idUKKBN0FR2KH20140722
I don’t need to labour the non-parallel with our total military co-operation with another state engaged in annexing territory, do I?
Ok, I will. For you:
http://www.caat.org.uk/resources/export-licences/licence?region=Israel
Yes, another remnant echoing into the present from British foreign policy meddling… when the British gave the Zionists the nod. From the failed state of Pakistan, the Sri Lankan civil war and more, THIS really is LIVING Apartheid, raging, burning with no end of the fire in sight.
% wise, sources are saying Hamas have killed far more of their enemy’s military personnel than the Israelis have of theirs –with 70% to 80% of the death’s attributed to Israel being civilian.
http://www.globalpost.com/…/day-14-fighting-rages…
Day 14: Fighting rages unabated after deadliest day of Israel-Gaza conflict (LIVE BLOG)
http://www.globalpost.com
Meanwhile, while protest has some value, I think help has more. I make no apology for reposting this link:
http://www.map-uk.org/
Dealing with Gaza, as well as Ebola…heroes:
http://www.msf.org.uk/
And as always:
http://www.icrc.org/eng/where-we-work/middle-east/israel-occupied-territories/
Not forgetting the specialists:
http://www.palestinercs.org/en/
GIVE, please.
Who wouldn’t take up arms if he could to defend his family and the community he lives in against fascist slaughterers on the rampage?
I reckon the defenders probably lost lots of lives to capture that single Zionazi soldier. They are brave and we should salute them.
(ok, ok, I was sick of the default icon)
A very good point.
I’m interested by the language, the “Israelis” say they are attacking “Hamas” terrorists.
Aren’t the Palestinians who happened to democratically vote for “Hamas” Israelis too?and,the “Israelis” who are attacking these Palestinian are not “Israeli” because they do not include Palestinians.
Shouldn’t we correctly say that this is an attack by Jewish Israelis (or perhaps Zionists) on Israelis of Palestinian descent?
I see Nick Clegg is attacking David Ward for telling the truth (again). It is going to be hard to discipline Ward after next year, when thanks to his support for the Palestinians he will be the Lib Dems only MP.
I’m trying to remember who said exactly the same as Ward in 2008 or before. There was at least one – a prominent Israeli politician. And Baroness Ashton? Someone remind me please.
Baal
“I don’t need to labour the non-parallel with our total military co-operation with another state engaged in annexing territory, do I?”
You can try but it doesn’t hold up. The embargo against Russia does not exist. It is a PR lie. We are happily exporting to Israel and Russia:
http://www.caat.org.uk/resources/export-licences/licence?region=Russia
Ba’al Zevul – quick google
“Personally, I couldn’t help but think of a rather similar 2008 remark made by Ehud Barak, former Israeli prime minister and decorated general: “If I were a Palestinian.. I would have joined a terrorist organisation.””
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/07/22/justine-miliband_n_5611702.html
On the Political Puppets thread ref David Ward.
http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2014/07/political-puppets/#comment-468918
Taub is after him now. A laughing stock like Clegg.
MP’s Gaza Tweet ‘Incites Terrorism’ Police Told
The police have been asked to investigate whether a Lib Dem MP’s “I might shoot at Israel” tweet is a “terror” offence.http://news.sky.com/story/1305866/mps-gaza-tweet-incites-terrorism-police-told LOL
The Israelis are not terrrrrists of course. They are extremely terrifying when killing and maiming Palestinians and destroying their homes and what is laughingly called ‘infrastructure’.
There’s was this other famous quote.
“David Ben Gurion (the first Israeli Prime Minister): “If I were an Arab leader, I would never sign an agreement with Israel. It is normal; we have taken their country. It is true God promised it to us, but how could that interest them? Our God is not theirs. There has been Anti – Semitism, the Nazis, Hitler, Auschwitz, but was that their fault ? They see but one thing: we have come and we have stolen their country. Why would they accept that?” Quoted by Nahum Goldmann in Le Paraddoxe Juif (The Jewish Paradox), pp121.
A good read:
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/palestinians.php
I am confused. For months the Sovereign state of Israel suffered rocket attacks from Hamas but did nothing and then when Hamas launch rockets which target the capital they decide enough is enough and retaliate. It is in no way the fault of Israel how Hamas decide to format their defence stratergies in using their citizens to garner support from the west just as it is no way Israel’s fault if Hamas choose to declare war on a formidible military force whilst having vastly inferior forces. As I understand international law, although of course their may be an exceptipn appertaining to Palestine, a sustained, unprovoked rocket attack on a sovereing state IS a declaration of war. Hamas started this fight and the last one. It is said you desrve the Government you vote for; maybe the citizens of Gazza should think a little harder the next time they vote, because Israel is not going to back down to these sort of ‘peace seeking ‘ actions.
John Leon
“I am confused. For months the Sovereign state of Israel suffered rocket attacks from Hamas but did nothing ”
I think your confusion starts with being so misinformed with such utter nonsense as that.
John Leon,
you started the war the moment you stole their country in 1947.
Two of the ‘Israeli’ military killed were Americans.
For Two Slain Americans, Commitment Came Early
By IAN LOVETT and DAVID MONTGOMERYJULY 21, 2014
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/22/world/middleeast/2-americans-among-israeli-soldiers-killed-in-gaza.html?_r=0
That article produced under the auspices of the NYT editor, Ziocentric ex Director General of the BBC, Mark Thompson.
~~~~
Above – ‘Sovereign’ state of Israel. LOL. Who or what is their sovereign? Israel is not a state. It has no borders and knows no law(s).
John Leon
“I am confused.”
Yes you are. You are also a right prick.
I was speaking to a Jewish friend yesterday. Incidentally he has been to Gaza several times as a human shield thing, you know, trying to protect children against the IDF. Anyway, he was arguing that Isareal is doomed. One day it’s usefulness to the larger empire will no longer exist and quicker than you can say “happy holidays” the US weapons will stop arriving. He also says a few things about the Jews bringing it on themselves. He is a naturally funny man my friend. Back to the point. He says Israelis doomed.
Of course this scenario seems totally impossible to many today. To rabid Israelis. To those who hate the Jews. Possibly even to you. However, such people are blinded by ignorance. They credit strange cult related nonsense for Israels power and so cannot imagine a very human political demise.
We forget how unchangeable the world seemed when staring with disbelief at apartheid South Africa. Or Soviet Russia. We didn’t see the end of that one coming did we?
The world changes quickly. Perhaps my friend has a point. What will you say then, John Leon, the day the flow of military hardware stops?
The reason why there was no call for a ceasefire before Israeli casualties is because of an international caste system.
UK and US see all lesser races beneath themselves except for Israeli Jews who they view as their masters.
And I thought Gazza played for Newcastle!
I also thought that Gaza was in Israel and it’s citizens are therefore Israeli.
Incidentally,do we know if there are any British citizens fighting with the Israeli army?and if so are they risking their UK citizenship?perhaps even the subject of manslaughter or other charges on return?
It’s ethnic cleansing John Leon. Listen to the speech and you’ll hear what is happening and why.
A great speech from Chris Hedges which says it all really.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=g1zsuTpczu0
Palestinians still occupy pockets of their own territory. The Israeli’s regard all Palestinians as terrorists and therefore legitimate targets,including children, women,young boys, donkeys, you name it.The terrorists need to be eradicated before there can be peace,or as Netanyahu said, quiet ! There is nothing more quiet than the dead.So the game plan is to rid Palestine of its people so the Israeli’S can live in peace. It’s that simple.
Yes there are British volunteers with the IDF. Have been for years.
When I was on a Kibbutz at Givat Hashalosha and then a Moshav at Hatseva in the Negev, there were recruitment drives.This happened once you’d enrolled in a Hebrew class. It wasn’t that badly paid I seem to remember.
Thanks, Je. Barak it was, and I recollect finding the Ben-Gurion quote too. The Western commentator still eludes me: it was someone more surprising than Lady Ashton (whom God preserve), I think.
Phil: I know. But the fact that our embargo on Russia was a PR lie is now official. Check my link (as we begin again to reconsider our position re. spheres-of-influence in Eastern Europe)
Note also the resurfacing of the Litvinenko poisoning. Suddenly there is to be an enquiry. It was very strongly rumoured at the time that our silence on this was conditioned by our, or the EU’s energy interests.
We’re stirring it as hard as we can on Russia, now. My point is that we are able to do this with Russia, but remain paralysed on Israel. It was possible to get observers some sort of guarantee for their safety at the MH117 crash site within ten days. It is virtually impossible to get observers inside Gaza at all, and they have to take their chances with everyone else.
Cheers for the links Komodo 🙂
What is obscene is that even when the Palestinians are being herded into the gas chambers, or whatever other ‘final solution’ the Zionists choose, Cameron and Obama, Hollande and Clegg wil continue spouting “Israel has a right to defend itself. Any other regime committing these war crimes would be under strict sanctions. Not Israel; the UK and US are busy providing the weapons for these war crimes.
Kerry in Israel to push for Gaza cease-fire
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/kerry-in-israel-to-push-for-cease-fire/2014/07/23/4d902146-123b-11e4-98ee-daea85133bc9_story.html
Better luck than the USUKEUNATO stooge yesterday.