UPDATE: Israel Hamas War aka Operation Cast Lead

IMPORTANT:  You cannot believe UN figures coming out of Gaza, not for casualties and not for % of children killed.  In addition, it is highly likely that the small arms fire hitting the UN truck driver came from HAMAS. It is in their plan to intensify "human rights violation" charges against Israel.  However, they don't even bother to hide their use of children to shield themselves. UN officials have admitted they have only the word of the Palestinians for who fired on the truck.

FACTS vs REPORTS

Fact: Watch this horrifying video of a child grabbed by a Hamas terrorist for use as a human shield. You'll have to confirm your age as above 18, as YouTube doesn't want to shock children with such a picture.   Child as Human Shield video

January  9 UPDATE --The Hamas answer to the Security Council resolution (as well as to the Egyptian cease fire proposal) was to fire more than 30 rockets/grads at Israeli cities Friday morning. The Israeli cabinet in a strong statement said that they would not allow an outside body to prevent defense of Israel. For Israel, it was a moot point: rockets were exploding in Israel as they spoke. 

Even when the IDF calls a humanitarian cease fire in order to allow Gaza citizens to get food and supplies, Hamas continues firing. The whole civilian population is hostage to this terrorist group, some by idiology, most by terror!  It will benefit them as well if Hamas is cleared out, though, in spite of what the world media says, Arafat's FATAH, who are Abbas' PA enforcers are no less a mafia and killers than the Hamas.  Terrorists are terrorists by whatever name. Only their tactics may differ according to what benefits them.

While Hamas is at the front line, their support and armaments come from Iran and Hizbollah. The 4 Katushas on the 8th were apparently fired by a smaller terror group under Hizbollah auspices to provide deniability to Hizbollah while distracting Israel from the southern front.  The UN (whom everyone sees as the international 'savior') is responsible for south Lebanon. However, if the thousands of UNIFIL soldiers are not actively suppporting the local terrorist population, they are at the very least side-lined and ineffective. [see below]   

While Israel negiotiates with Egypt for an 'international force' to prevent munitions from being delivered to Hamas after a ceasefire, Hizbollah has been quite efficient in not only re-arming, but in upgrading their military capabilities all along Israel's northern border. Hizbollah denies responsiblity for these Katushas, as well as for the 8 rockets timed to fire from Lebanon during the night just prior to the beginning of the Gaza operation. They were found and disarmed in time to prevent activation.

UNIFIL

Not withstanding the constant presences of thousands of UN soldiers charged with prevention of the transfer of arms to Hizbollah from Syria,  Hizbollah is stronger and better armed than at any time in the past.

20 September 2006

PRESS RELEASE

UNIFIL reaches 5,000 troops

UNIFIL strength has reached approximately 5,000 troops after the three new contingents: from France, Italy and Spain, arrived in South Lebanon. This concludes the first phase of UNIFIL deployment. Additional contingents are planning to join UNIFIL in October-November.

Haaretz [Israeli news site] reported "UNIFIL official denies report of arms smuggling to S. Lebanon" in June of 2007, quoting Israeli intelligence as saying that there were new and better bunkers and over 20,000 missiles in Hizbollah stockpiles.

In April 2008 Haaretz quoted a Unifil report, "UNIFIL finds Hezbollah arms; gunmen scatter peacekeepers".  This encounter between UNIFIL and Hizbollah was never reported in the mainstream media, but buried in the UN report.  It is  likely that it is not an atypical occurance.

UN SCHOOL BOMBING:

While a minority of the media reported accurately on the cause of the action [Hamas rockets fired from UN School] and the result of the Israeli attack on the UN school building [a rocket crew and 2 operatives were killed]  -- as reported by Palestinians on-site -- most journalists immediately castigated Israel and inflamed the streets of their cities with anti-Israel demonstrations and riots.

UPDATE:  An IDF source (not yet official) indicates that investigation has revealed that the Hamas squad fired on was about 30 meters from the  school. Two of the 3 Israeli strikes hit the squad, the 3rd went wide and hit the school.  More information will be posted as it becomes available.

It is far from the exception for a squad to fire missiles from or near a school, hospital or other public building usually outside of the acceptable parameter of warfare. For example, the following video shows missiles fired from a school on 29 Oct. 2007.

Video of rockets fired from school

Fact: The local Palestinians who reported to foreign news organizations (including the NY Times!) agree with the following statement of the IDF spokesperson:

  January 6^th, 2009

Hamas Operatives Killed in UNRWA School

After an investigation that took place over the past hour it has been found that amongst the dead at the Jabalya school were Hamas terror operatives and a mortar battery cell who were firing on IDF forces in the area. Hamas operatives Imad Abu Askhar and Hassan Abu Askhar were amongst terrorists that were identified to be killed.

“We face a very delicate situation where the Hamas is using the citizens of Gaza as a protective vest,” IDF Spokesperson Brig. General Avi Benayahu said following the incident.

FACT: There is still no ability to verify the exact number of casualties. As it was finally made clear to the world during the 2nd Lebanon War, the numbers are usually wildly exaggerated and casualties may even be dragged from place to place and over time to stage photos for the world. Since first impressions often count for more than later-verified truth in these cases, even though the truth is published later, it is the false impression that is quoted by talking heads and journalists for years afterward.

See HonestReporting

HUMAN RIGHTS   

More information on Israeli-Palestinian conformance:  Myths and Facts Org.  Also note, that an Iranian was punished after reporting that Hamas had taken over schools and hospitals for munitions stockpiles and for firing missiles at Israel.  He also reported that human shields, preferably children, were being taken by force [as seen in the video link above].

Ynet news site reported

civilians are simply used as cannon fodder or human shields. Reports out of Gaza say residents who attempted to flee their homes in the northern area of the Strip were forced to go back at gunpoint, by Hamas men....

Other civilian complaints state that Hamas gunmen pull children along with them "by the ears" from place to place, fearing that if they don't have a child with them they will be fair game to the IDF. Others hide in civilian homes and stairwells, UNRWA ambulances, and mosques.

In other reported cases Hamas gunmen hold civilians hostage in alleyways in order to provide themselves with a living barricade to ward off IDF forces.