Hamas offensive and Israel’s incremental military response.

By Ilobi Austin

As the state of Israel, asserts it right to peaceful and peaceable existence within its borders and without, through its defensive military actions against Hamas, it would be imperative that they do not devalue the campaign by denying innocent women and children in Gaza of the same rights, as they seek- right to life.

This is not taking any thing away from the statements of the Israelis authorities on the disagreeable tactics of the Hamas militants of using those victims-women and children, as shields, which makes their avoidance as a target, practically, impossible. . “Fighting” from the immediate neighbourhoods of these innocent and showing off their dead bodies as Israelis trophies will not do. They, the Hamas militants, invited the “bomb rains” on their territory and stronghold and should be brave enough to face death without conscripting unwilling partners.

It is hypocritical for some world leaders to condemn the actions of Israel and label same, holocaust as seen on most Arab satellite channels, without doing the same to the provocateur- Hamas. Furthermore, one is very confident that most of those who have condemned these actions would do more damage should similar challenges confront them within their territory.

Russia’s response to Georgia’s indiscretion is still very fresh. No self-respecting nations with the military capability and competence of Israel would stand by and watch the provocative waste of the lives and property of her citizens. No! It is too high a price to pay for diplomacy of any kind. This is not in any way advocating the Russian treatment or worse.


All should understand that the current actions of Israel are only a response to the ceaseless firing of rockets into her territory by the radical wing of Hamas referred to as militants or terrorist by the west, which it had repeatedly complained and warned of dire consequences, against.

Violence begets nothing but, violence. At the end of the day, dialogue, would still be sought and in the spirit of give and take devoid of emotions, one believes that an agreeable solution would be found.

Israel once demonstrated that it desired peace when it unilaterally, withdrew from Gaza after many decades of occupying it; and this position has not changed. The authorities, contrary to the insinuations of some sympathetic public and opinion leaders from the Middle East, has already declared that it has no intentions whatsoever, of re-occupying the Gaza strip. That is scarcely the statement of a supposed land grabber.

Crafting to stamped her into giving up more of her territory or even, supposedly, that of the Palestinians as Hamas and their other variants have tended to do, with rockets and suicide bombings in crowded environments like markets and eateries, only hardens them and their resolve to hold on to their positions and believes in the rightness of their actions.

Besides, it betrays a lack of knowledge of the history of the Jewish state of Israel itself. The biblical and modern Israel has witnessed more deadly violence through history for any intermittent explosions here and there to down grade or challenge her resolves to hold on to her current opinions.

Israel has already proved beyond doubt that it can deal decisively with any form of violence from Hamas or any other such group and Hamas has equally proved that it can provoke some minor discomfort however, the price. It is now time for both to look for a single table and an unbiased referee to officiate while they trash out issues without politics of might or right devoid of any arm twisting tactics or blackmail. A cease fire-from Hamas first then, Israel, of course must, of necessity, herald this process.

Ilobi Austin writes from Nigeria and is the author of many articles that can be downloaded @ www.vibratingaustin.blogspot.com