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Mideast truce efforts intensify over Gaza fighting

Keep pounding them into obliviion! We are behind you!

it would only observe a cease-fire if Israel were to withdraw from Gaza. They were launching rockets before Israel entered Gaza, that is the reason they attacked. It is ridiculus to believe that Hamas would stop launching rockets if Israel were to withdraw under the current ciccumstances.

The UN says "the fighting must stop immediately", yet they are silent while rockets are being launched, randomly at civilians, for years.

Isreal has to distroy the real culprit behind the scene. IRAN. Attack Attack Attack

Gaza was shooting rockets because Israel entered Gaza in early November to blow up a tunnel. Israel could have ambushed whoever was going to come through the tunnel eventually.

Gaza offered to extend the ceasefire if Israel would stop the blockade. The Israeli cabinet declined. What Gaza was asking was reasonable.

One condition that Israel is setting is that they don't want Gaza to rearm. Seeing that Gaza lives next door to a 500 pound gorilla who thinks nothing of bombing them for political points, I think that Gaza's desire to arm is legitimate.

If Israel agrees to be demilitarized, then maybe they can expect Gaza to be demilitarized.

Tekakaromatagi

You are all warmongers. I'm not behind Israel, so don't speak for me. I'm behind not killing civilians.

Tekakaromatagi, what do you think would happen if Israel were to withdraw entirely from Gaza today and even lift the embargo? Do you think the rocket and terrorist attacks would cease?

No one thinks that, not even the most naive liberals. Just go to Hamas' website and see what their stated goal is. they want to "free palestine from all zionist or jewish inhabitants" and they don't mean Gaza and the west bank, they mean all of Israel. Its clear they do not envision a two state or two nation outcome, they want to get rid of all the israelis, and kill them if they can. How can israel deal with this type of a neighbor?
What if this were the US's neighbors that had this stated goal?
I feel very sad for the palestinian civilians, but they voted for Hamas knowing that these were their goals. Many germans died in the second world war, but they supported Hitler....

If those that think there can be war without casualties(including civilian) then think again. As people, we watch and condemn what we dont understand. The problem today is that we dont want a winner. War is not a win-win! If one side was allowed to win then this would be over much sooner.

War should always be the last resort because there will always be innocent people who die.
Over the last few decades with advances in technology, information travels at lightning speed to people who should not know certain details about war. This is because (as War is UGLY! mentioned) they do not see or understand the entire picture. There are some idealists out there who support Hamas because they see them as a victim of a savage war. They reason that everyone must be good by nature. The reality is there is evil out there, like Hamas or Alqaida, and we have to deal with it with no mercy, wherever they are, on the battlefield or in urban warfare settings.
Sure, if one reads the headlines of 900 (out of a densely populated area of 1.5 million) dead, and if you see the images of maimed children you may be inclined to want this all to end.) But WAR IS UGLY.
Where would we be if we did not go to war against Germany and Japan?
We should not take for granted the freedoms we all have, people have died over the years fighting for them, some of them innocent civilians.

Demilitirze Isreal? That would be the END of Isreal.
You are truly delusional.

I disagree with your post and your philosophy. Go Israel, protect yourselves and ignore the UN as they have ignored you for years and years.

It isn't realistic for Israel to disarm. But Gaza has a right (and a need!) to defend themselves too. As I said, IF Israel agrees to disarm, then and only then should they expect Hamas to disarm.

If Israel and Gaza arranged a ceasefire and Israel ended the blockade, Hamas would probably observe the ceasefire -- like before. Islamic Jihad probably wouldn't. Live with the rockets because heavy handed responses only make things worse. Israel has painted themselves into a corner. They can't beat the Paletinians into loving them.

Hamas doesn't recognize Israel. But Israel doesn't recognize Hamas either. When Hamas was elected Israel should have congratulated, but they isolated them. They stopped banks from doing business with Hamas. They withheld the custom's duties that they were obligated to give to the Palestinian Authority.

Then they put a blockade around Gaza.

If the Palestinians elected a moderate would Israel withdraw their settlements, stop building the wall, stop checkpoints? That is what happened and Israel didn't.

Israel is beating their brothers with US aid. This will create big problems for both Israel and the US.

Tekakaromatagi

These islamic leaders like Hamas and Al Qida have all decreed that they will do everything in their power to rid the world of infidels, not just israel. Why do you people think these terrorist are traveling around the world blowing up civilians? It's not for love or peace, its for a declared war. They prize death over life and want to pass a little around to any country they want to terrorize. These terrorist war in the name of religion, but its an agressive religion that is their government as well as their beliefs. Islamic terrorist war on the 'eye for an eye' logic, that america outlawed and most religions don't practice. People supporting Israel are not war mongers, they are freedom fighters, and for freedom it is costly in lives and property. Our forefathers of america made the same choices and sacrifices of lives to give us what we have. Many civilian americans were willing to give their lives so we, their children, could be free of oppression and injustice. Civilian or military, you americans should be willing to stand by your country and our heritage and give your life for your country and your children.

With the destruction of a large part of the UN Humanitarian Aid and transport compound by Israeli artillery phosphour shells there is now no effective distribution base for the UN.
Long range artillery shelled the City Centre and for hours before the UN compound was hit it was reporting that the Israeli shelling was endangering the compund.
Time to end this "Bomb Bomb, Talk Talk" policy Israel and time for humanity to return. Personally I find the indiscrimnate approach unacceptable irrespective of sympathy for the rights and wrongs of the opposing factions in Gaza or Israel.
Is it possible that there may be justice for those found to have violated international humanitarian law from whatever quarter? Time for an independent impartial investigation of outrageous violation of UN neutrality and those sheltering in the UN compound.