Israel Claims Control of North Gaza City - Civilians Detained

[K Gardner]

Heard as breaking news on CNN - this is the only article I can find.

http://news-en.trend.az/world/wnews/1387300.html

Israeli troops took control on Sunday of the major roads leading into Gaza's main population centre as they pushed deeper into the Hamas stronghold, witnesses told AFP.

Infantry units backed by tanks had taken control of Salaheddine Road north and south of Gaza City, they said.

Dozens of tanks operating three kilometres (nearly two miles) south of Gaza City, in the area of the former Jewish settlement of Netzarim, had also taken control of the coastal road, they said.

Explosions rocked the area as the advancing troops exchanged fire with Hamas fighters, who shot off mortar rounds and detonated roadside bombs, they said.

Israeli forces were seen detaining people in the area, they said.

[tekisui]

1. I guess I wonder what the plan and exit strategy is now.

Go door to door, look in every basement of every building for rockets and militants? Patrol the place until no rockets are launched for 6 months?

Israel says the goal is to end the rocket fire and/or Hamas. But, how will they know when they are successful? What period of time will have to expire without a rocket to call it a success? And, what happens if a rocket is fired the day they start to pull out?

What is the end game, Israel?

[K Gardner]

2. Exactly what I'm wondering, well-put.

[Duckhunter935]

3. whatever they do

It will not work, as soon as they pull out the rockets will start again

[tekisui]

5. For sure. This is no military solution.

And, they have just helped to radicalize another generation of Gazans.

[zane25]

4. Finish it

Go door to door if needed, one side has to win and the Israeli's are not going to go away no matter how much some here wish they would. Hamas needs to go, notthing less will do for this amount of aggresion

[K Gardner]

6. Uh... oh, nevermind.

[tekisui]

7. 'Finish it'? HOW?

They can kill Hamas. They can kill every person from Hamas and destroy the organization, fine. But, those actions are radicalizing civilians, now. Hamas will be replaced by an organization of a different name, but with a similar philosophy.

You can't bomb and kill people into peace.

[zane25]

9. True

But is that voice getting stronger or will the outside support begin to fade? At some point they will need to come to some kind of acceptance or face a final solution. Israel is not going anywhere. What do you do then?

[tekisui]

10. Israel is not going anywhere,

nor should it. But, neither are the Palestinians. If anything, Israel's latest actions have increased sympathy for the Palestinians and their anger.

It will take talks, cease-fires, negotiations and concessions from ALL sides.

[zane25]

11. I agree

But the Palestinians are coming from a position of weakness and we all know it. It will not get any better for them over time. If they want true peace they had better get it soon before the support begins to diminish and Israel has carte blanche to do what they want or, they may not care for the results. They are not going away, but do you think it gets better from here?

[tekisui]

12. It will get better, but not before it gets worse,

I am afraid. Both sides have been moving away from peace for months now. And, this past week has severely damaged any hope of steps towards peace in the near future. The next hope is a cease-fire. But, those negotiations will have to be held while Israel is in Gaza. I don't see how anything positive will come for many months, and the potential is for it to get much worse.

[azurnoir]

14. Face a final solution?

just what do you mean by that? Can you explain

[wellst0nev0ter]

15. Yep, Final Solution.

Don't you loove these Israeli agendamongers? :eyes:

[zane25]

16. Do you think this goes on forever

At some point there has to be some sort of solution. Be it peace, or a war that finishes the argument. I prefer peace, but it takes both side to achieve it. Do you think it's possible to bring them both to the table and get a lasting agreement without Palestinian factions launching rockets? I hope so, but im not optimistic.

[wellst0nev0ter]

17. The Last Time Israel Tried To Achieve Peace Through Bombing

a Palestinian political/militant faction, it got Hamas instead. If Israel manages to wipe out Hamas as they have stated in their goals, what will come in its place? Islamic Jihad? It didn't work then and it won't work now.

[cali]

22. going on as it has, is far more likely

There is NO military solution.

[zane25]

18. At some point this must end

I have no idea how it ends, I really hope it can be achiaeved without a major loss of life on either side. No one wants a genocide type of situation. But there has to be a conclution of some kind, asnd Israel has all the tools. I would like to see Hamas gone and the Palesitinian authority sit down and talk about a real and lasting peace. Do you see this happening?

[Taitertots]

19. You can

bomb people into peace. WWII is the perfect example. We nuked japan and they had no choice but capitulation. Hamas needs to be beaten to the point of having no alternative but capitulation or death. It didn't radicalize Japan when we nuked them.

[tekisui]

20. So Israel should nuke them?

This isn't the 1940's and its not Japan. And, Japan was not an insurgency and the US were not potential occupiers.

Bad analogy.

[Vegasaurus]

23. Hamas could surrender

as the weak often do in war when they want to protect their citizens in country.

Hamas is however, more interested in prolonging and provoking this war, in order to build global sympathy, so it won't surrender, no matter how many Palestinians die.

Bunch of sick heads in Hamas.

[tekisui]

25. And, Israel is interested in continuing a failed policy.

There is no military solution.

[Vegasaurus]

27. Israel has the upper hand

They want the rockets to stop.

Hamas could stop them.

It chooses not to.

Israel has the right to protect its citizens, even if you think it is failed policy.

I don't think Israel cares what Tekisui thinks.

[EFerrari]

28. This massacre is not self defense and will not make Israelis safe.

That's just bullshit.

If the Israeli leaders were more interested in stopping rockets than they are in the election, they'd be talking, not shooting.

[Fozzledick]

31. They tried that, Hamas kept shooting

[EFerrari]

32. Wrong again. n/t

[tekisui]

29. Of course Israel doesn't care what I think,

Although you don't speak for them either. I am Pro-Peace, and Israel is moving further away from that each passing day. We can talk again in a month or two, and see how much safer Israel's people are. My prediction is they will be no safer, no closer to peace and no more secure.

[Vegasaurus]

30. I happen to agree with you

because I think Islamic terrorism is a systemic problem that threatens the entire middle east, including all of the moderate Arab governments.

Even if Israel does away with Hamas, there will be another terrorist group in the wings.

And don't forget, Arabs are killing each other all over the middle east and Africa, and much of this has nothing to do with Israel.

Even if Israel were gone, there would still be suicide bombings and terrorism in places that Israel doesn't affect at all.

In any given day,t here can be suicide bombings in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan,not to mention other forms of terrorism.

But I also don't think this action by Israel will make the country safer, although there were only so many rockets people should have to live with.

[sabbat hunter]

13. well considering

that no rockets get fired in to Israel from the west bank area, I think 0 rocket attacks is reasonable.

[tekisui]

21. So, the first day without a rocket fired is a win?

and what happens the next week when a rocket flies?

My point is Israel is going to get bogged down. If rockets are their measure for success, they are going to face a hard exit. The second they start to leave, a rocket will redefine the offensive as a failure.

[Vegasaurus]

24. I agree

Israel has a very tough road ahead, particularly with no global support.

But there is no peace with people who want your country, and want you annihilated.

[Karenina]

33. I dare say a Palestinian could say the same.

[Taitertots]

26. Hardly a failure

One rocket wouldn't define it as a failure. The real question is how many less are going to be fired. How much damage is done to the terrorists ability to wage war against Israel is the real measure of success.

[tekisui]

8. Israeli army moves into Gaza capital as war toll passes 510

Source: AFP


GAZA CITY (AFP) — Tens of thousands of Israeli troops backed by tanks battled Hamas fighters in Gaza on Sunday as the death toll from the offensive to end militant rocket attacks passed 510.

Israeli forces moved into the fringe of Gaza City while families fled or hid in cellars awaiting a second night of combat. The Israeli government fought off intense international pressure over its biggest military operation since its 2006 war in Lebanon.

At least 63 Palestinians were killed by tank shells or missiles fired from warplanes since the ground offensive was launched on Saturday night, Gaza medics said.

Israel said one soldier was killed by a mortar shell and about 30 were wounded.

Columns of Israeli troops and tanks surrounded Gaza City and fighting was reported in outer districts. Fierce clashes were also reported around the northern towns of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanun and Jabaliya.

Explosions and machine gun fire rocked the territory of 1.5 million people. Hamas fighters fired mortar rounds and detonated roadside bombs in front of the advancing troops, witnesses said.

Moawiya Hassanein, head of Gaza medical emergency services, told AFP the number of Palestinians killed since the Israeli operation was launched on December 27 was now 512, including 87 children.

More: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hDKSElhaRaNqS6X1y0VTMBuO0A2A