Just because the Security Council calls for an immediate ceasefire, doesn’t mean it happens. What it does mean is that the various portions of the international community are gearing up their capabilities to nail down the exact modalities of the ceasefire, including no doubt all or most of the six points I laid out here.
These negotiations need to be conducted with the utmost speed, given the continuation of terrible suffering among Gaza’s 1.5 million people. It’s a pity the US government is not an active supporter of resolution 1860, since it is the power with the greatest ability to force Israeli compliance with the will of the international community (and the demands of basic humanity.)
Hours after the Security Council passed 1860 by a vote of 14-0, an Israeli Foreign Ministry statement rejected it, saying:
- Israel has acted, is acting and will act only according to its considerations, the security needs of its citizens and its right to self-defense.
With the hostilities continuing last night even after passage of the resolution, Hamas also rejected it. AFP reports their position thus:
- “Even though we are the main actors on the ground in Gaza, we were not consulted about this resolution and they have not taken into account our vision and the interests of our people,” top Hamas official Ayman Taha told AFP.
“As a result we do not feel concerned by this resolution and when the different parties apply it they will have to deal with those who are in charge on the ground.”
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri made similar comments in an interview with Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television on Friday.
“In the Hamas movement, we do not think that the battle has ended because this resolution was issued, especially after … the continuation of the aggression in Gaza after it was issued,” Abu Zuhri said.
Israel carried out more than 50 air strikes in Gaza overnight, which Palestinian emergency services said killed 12 civilians.
And so– as in 1982 in Lebanon, as in 1996 in Lebanon, and as in 2006 in Lebanon– the latter stages of the current war will see an intense though indirect negotiation between the two fighting parties over the precise modalities and terms of the ceasefire.
The international negotiators need to act fast and with a real commitment to preserving human life and laying the basis for a deeper peacemaking process to immediately follow. And the rest of us need to keep up our pressure for an immediate ceasefire. One good place to do that is at Avaaz. Another, for US citizens, is by contacting your congressional representatives.
The push for an urgent ceasefire is certainly an effort that, here as anywhere else, should include an international embargo on all supplies of arms to the warring parties so long as the hostilities continue.
Why is the international community blaming Hamas for resisting the longest occupation in modern times ?
I applaud the people of Gaza for standing in unity behind their resistance group, consisting of Palestinian men who are resisting and falling as martyrs rather than living as an occupied entity.
Hamas and Hizbullah are not terrorists, The terrorists are those who are supporting the occupation first and giving a blind eye to the horrific pictures that are flashed on our TV screens and computers every second !
Invaders are terrorists .
Please: what is the definition of a Gaza “civilian”? Everyone seems to be using the word, but it makes no sense to me. Which Gazans are not civilians? If the answer is that violent (or all) members of Hamas are not civilians, then who decides who is a member of Hamas? Can children be Hamas members? Is there an Israeli definition of “children”? Is every Gazan a member of Hamas and equally liable for Hamas actions? Is every Israeli responsible for Israeli government actions? Is there a definition of Israeli “children”?
James,
The definition of civilian is confusing because although technically, all non-military personnel are civilians, in Gaza, it’s hard to tell. They don’t have a military, and the armed resistance comes from militant groups that are embedded in the civilian population.
It is sometimes hard to tell whether or not the men are armed, so my understanding is that most journalists and humanitarian groups are erring on the side of conservatism and only reporting women/children as civilians. The odds are that a large number of the men killed are also unarmed civilians.
Speaking of civilians, Were the Israeli reservists who were called up to fight in Gaza civilians yesterday and combatants today? What about all the other Israeli reservists – basically everyone in the country between 18 and 55? What about the 17 year olds who will be conscripted in a matter of days, weeks or months?
Juan Cole has a good discussion of civilians today including this letter from a former US arine who served in Iraq:
‘ I am dismayed by the rhetoric from US politicians and pundits to the effect that “if the US were under rocket attack from Mexico or Canada, we would respond like the Israelis”. This a gross insult to US servicemen; I can assure you that we would NOT respond like the Israelis… Israel has indeed taken a small number of casualties from Hamas rocket fire (about 20 killed since 2001), but we have taken thousands of casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, including many civilian personnel. Hundreds of American casualties have occurred due to indirect fire, often from mortars. This is particularly true in or near the Green Zone in Baghdad. This fire often originates from densely populated urban areas.
Americans do not, I repeat DO NOT, respond to that fire indiscriminately. When I say “indiscriminately”, I mean that even if we can precisely identify the source of the fire (which can be very difficult), we do not respond if we know we will cause civilian casualties. We always evaluate the threat to civilians before responding, and in an urban area the threat to civilians is extremely high. If US servicemen violate those rules of engagement and harm civilians, I assure you we do our best to investigate — and mete out punishment if warranted. There are differing opinions on the conflict in Iraq, but I am proud of the conduct of our servicemen there.
With that in mind, I find the conduct of the Israeli army in Gaza to be brutal and dishonorable, and it is insulting that they and others claim that the US military would behave in the same way. follow similar rules of engagement rings hollow; I see little evidence for this claim I know the Israelis are operating under difficult circumstances, but their claim that theygiven the huge number of civilian casualties they have caused from indirect fire. ‘
Look, lets be realistic for once here. Because you cannot remain an idealist when you risk forsaking your ideals just to see reality.
The Palestinians, in the Gaza strip, are disrooted people. Disrooted people may be ghettoed, and then made scapegoats, and then slaughtered, purely as a political tool of regional nations. The guilt is all post facto and it is all an enemies fault.
Its a lesson of history, and one Israel was founded on.
Carthago delenda est!
Actually, in international humanitarian law, the distinction is not between civilians and combatants, it’s between combatants and non-combatants. Even soldiers who are not actively engaged in hostilities are non-combatants. This could be because they are wounded or off-duty.
IHL has a complete prohibition against targeting non-combatants. Thus, for example, the targeting of Nizar al-Rayyan, a Hamas leader active in both the civilian and military wings in the past, was a quite illegal target when he was in his own home with his own family. To claim that by going home (while he was not, at the time, actively involved in hostilities), he was somehow “using” his family as human shields is completely incorrect and indeed a scurrilous case of blaming the victim.
If a Palestinian killed Israeli chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi while he was in his own home with his family, that attack would be equally illegitimate.
Palestinian police recruits at the passing-pout ceremony were equally a quite illegitimate target.
Israeli officials have worked hard to reassure themselves (and persuade others) that somehow, when you’re in a war against “terror” the normal constraints of IHL no longer apply, and that every installation or home that is even remotely connected to this many-headed hydra they call the “terror organization” somehow thereby becomes a “legitimate” target. In the present war this has applied to mosques, government ministries, police stations, etc. Its argument have no merit.
I shall try to blog more on this, later. But for now, note that the key distinction is that between combatants and non-combatants. The ICRC website has many more details about this.
Jessica, Thank you. Your point was my point. The number of civilians killed (or otherwise harmed) is an intentionally false, low number, used to mislead. ‘Shoot em all and let God sort ’em out’ works if you control the flow of information. It worked in Viet Nam, in Iraq, in many other places in the world, and is working now in Gaza. So the use of the word ‘civilian’ by those who wish to convey the truth is self defeating. If one dislikes the killing, one should refrain from using ‘civilian’ and call to task anyone who uses it.
Indeed, Helena when humanity fails as it is so gifted and reliable at doing, pedantry will save us for the greater good!
Once the Israelis are forced to read the labels on the bombs America sold them, all will be saved, because erm, of the UN!
I contend most if not many people, in most countries, (simple souls that we assuredly are)- don’t buy Israeli propaganda any more. It is arrogant, clumsy, and overgrown on earlier sympathy. But people know genocide when they see it, and as a rule we think its immoral.
Makes no difference. Then I fear we can trust no more in impotent “regulations” to do any better.
“I always wanted you to admire my fasting,” said the hunger artist.
“But we do admire it,” said the supervisor obligingly.
“But you shouldn’t admire it,” said the hunger artist.
“Well then, we don’t admire it,” said the supervisor, “but why shouldn’t we admire it?”
“Because I had to fast. I can’t do anything else,” said the hunger artist.
“Just look at you,” said the supervisor, “why can’t you do anything else?”
“Because,” said the hunger artist, lifting his head a little and, with his lips pursed as if for a kiss, speaking right into the supervisor’s ear so that he wouldn’t miss anything, “because I couldn’t find a food which I enjoyed….”
[Franz Kafka tr. Ian Johnston]
“the armed resistance comes from militant groups that are embedded in the civilian population.”
Jessica, I have a bit of a problem with the use of the phrase “embedded in the civilian population” because it subliminally creates the sense – as it was originated to do – that the members of Hamas and other groups have somehow inserted themselves where they don’t belong in order to hide and use the population as human shields. Then, of course, that is used to justify Israeli attacks on civilian targets and blame the results on “those cowardly terrorists hiding among civilians”. As I am sure you understand as well as I do, the “militants” are simply living in their homes with their families just as Israeli soldiers do. It is beyond absurd to suggest that there is anything more sinister going on than that.
And just how stupid would they have to be to live all together one place somewhere away from population centers?
Please don’t misunderstand me. It is clear what your meaning and intentions were. It is just that I am highly sensitive about the fact that we so often very willingly adopt their propaganda language, thus reinforcing their lies every time we speak.
Jack, that U.S. Marine was, of course, absolutely right about the Israeli military. Too bad he was so dead wrong about the U.S. military in Iraq. If they had conducted themselves to any extent as he claims they did there would be far, far fewer dead and maimed Iraqis. And his claims fly in the face of reports by hundreds of other marines and soldiers who were there and each of whom witnessed and/or took part in numerous incidents of the kind he denies took place. Either the man had an experience unlike that of any of the other American troops in Iraq, or he is in a deep state of denial, or he is a liar.
To use an admittedly extreme but very clear example of just how false his claims were, allow me to cite Falluja, which was subjected to virtual annihilation not once, but twice. How does THAT fit with his claims?
Jack, that U.S. Marine was, of course, absolutely right about the Israeli military. Too bad he was so dead wrong about the U.S. military in Iraq. If they had conducted themselves to any extent as he claims they did there would be far, far fewer dead and maimed Iraqis. And his claims fly in the face of reports by hundreds of other marines and soldiers who were there and each of whom witnessed and/or took part in numerous incidents of the kind he denies took place. Either the man had an experience unlike that of any of the other American troops in Iraq, or he is in a deep state of denial, or he is a liar.
To use an admittedly extreme but very clear example of just how false his claims were, allow me to cite Falluja, which was subjected to virtual annihilation not once, but twice. How does THAT fit with his claims?
Jack, that U.S. Marine was, of course, absolutely right about the Israeli military. Too bad he was so dead wrong about the U.S. military in Iraq. If they had conducted themselves to any extent as he claims they did there would be far, far fewer dead and maimed Iraqis. And his claims fly in the face of reports by hundreds of other marines and soldiers who were there and each of whom witnessed and/or took part in numerous incidents of the kind he denies took place. Either the man had an experience unlike that of any of the other American troops in Iraq, or he is in a deep state of denial, or he is a liar.
To use an admittedly extreme but very clear example of just how false his claims were, allow me to cite Falluja, which was subjected to virtual annihilation not once, but twice. How does THAT fit with his claims?
Jack, that U.S. Marine was, of course, absolutely right about the Israeli military. Too bad he was so dead wrong about the U.S. military in Iraq. If they had conducted themselves to any extent as he claims they did there would be far, far fewer dead and maimed Iraqis. And his claims fly in the face of reports by hundreds of other marines and soldiers who were there and each of whom witnessed and/or took part in numerous incidents of the kind he denies took place. Either the man had an experience unlike that of any of the other American troops in Iraq, or he is in a deep state of denial, or he is a liar.
To use an admittedly extreme but very clear example of just how false his claims were, allow me to cite Falluja, which was subjected to virtual annihilation not once, but twice. How does THAT fit with his claims?
Actually, in international humanitarian law, the distinction is not between civilians and combatants, it’s between combatants and non-combatants. Even soldiers who are not actively engaged in hostilities are non-combatants. This could be because they are wounded or off-duty.
IHL has a complete prohibition against targeting non-combatants.
Hmm, this would seem to make practically all military attacks by HAMAS and Hezbollah war crimes, starting with the 1983 bombing of hundreds of sleeping Marines (which in the past you have claimed were legitimate targets.)
These people are not human. May this monster race receive its due.
in the interest of “balance” there was a ziojew from America…
I hope human rights lawyers are busy right now assemblying cases that will seal the Jewish monsters in their Jerusalem caves forever.
Wasn’t Baal one of the gods the jews worshipped?
If Zionism equals Judaism, it becomes a moral imperative to be anti-Semitic.
Considering the fact that the overwhelming majority of jews both in Israel and thruout the world support this massacre, I don’t think I can ever look at a jew as a human being anymore.
Sad to see what this comments section has become. And not a peep of protest from our host.
Shameful and disgusting.
Sorry Vadim which people are YOU calling not human? Presumably the ones Israel is butchering?
So then what in your situational ethics do YOU call shameful and disgusting pray tell?
What is “antisemitism” then, Vadim does it involve plotting and carrying out the wholesale murder of defenseless Semite men women and children? A few TV presenters may be trying to call this assault a “war” but very few of us are buying it this time, trust me on that score.
Are YOU then for or against antisemitism and terrorism? I’m guessing it depends.
For my part, I believe all this bloodshed over Gaza is a crime.I believe international intervention should restore the 67 border and rigorously police it, preventing attacks by any party with legitimate and measured means. I believe all peoples have a natural right to a peaceful existence under their own government in their own homeland. Jerusalem may need to be a city state of some kind. But its not an issue of detail but of intentions. Something along those lines has to be done, and Israel will never allow it. Her firm plan is to Ghettoize, starve, dehumanize and eliminate the Palestinian question. I say never again.
Sorry Vadim which people are YOU calling not human?
No-one — that’s your fellow traveller ‘kassandra’ I’m quoting. And if you can’t bring yourself to denounce any of the foregoing, you’re just as bad as she is.
Her firm plan is to Ghettoize, starve, dehumanize and eliminate the Palestinian question
You aren’t Israeli. You speak for no Israeli. You add nothing but noise to the conversation. Keep your bigotry to yourself.
Vadim
Helena had no need to comment as I stood in for her as I had been damned for my intervention myself. No need to fan the embers of a dead fire.
How do I answer Kassandra’s criticism from the wisdom of her years?
Will I be accused of condescending to her for pointing out that Christians, Jews and Muslims all worship one God and are all People of the Book? It is mentioned in Rule Two that Moses brought down from the mountain and as Shirin pointed out there is great tolerance shown in the Surah Al Maida The Table.
May I gently point out that Baal is a Carthaginian God and that Child Sacrifice was indeed practised there at the Topeth according to the archaeological evidence? But that was before Scipio called Africanus flattened the place and ploughed it with salt and sold the surviving inhabitants into slavery.
May I recoil in horror at the word subhuman because it translates as Untermensch and is one that should never ever be used again about human beings?
Is it allowed that I quote from the Surah Ornaments of Gold?
“The Apostle says “Lord these men are unbelievers”
Bear with them and wish them peace. They shall before long know their error
Oh OK Vadim let me spell it out for you-you don’t think (without declaring it of course) that the Gazans are subhuman?
Its such an obvious question but you tell us we cannot look at Israel as she butchers and we may not ask.
You ghettoize, starve, dehumanize and eliminate the Gazans in a totally compassionate and respectful way.
Never dare judge the actions of Israel!
Roland, why would I think that Gazans are subhuman? If you’re ready to believe this of me on absolutely no evidence, why should I trust your obnoxious judgments about Israel and “her” secret desires?
As easy as it is for me to admit that Gazans are as human as Israelis, is it quite so difficult for you to condemn what kassandra has written?
Never dare judge the actions of Israel!
See, you’re interested only in judging Israel and Israelis. Until you’re ready to step down from your pulpit, acknowledge Israeli grievances and engage with them respectfully I wouldn’t expect them to take anything you have to say seriously. Nor will I.
Vadim, as always you carefully choose what to challenge in others posts simply to deny confuse and blame. Pure gamesmanship, and not debate even by High School standards. Surely you read my posts fully? I stated my belief and intentions quite clearly. I utterly condemn the rocket attacks on Israel and can see no justification for them, I see them as being a crime against both peoples, a crime under International law, and a monstrous folly:
“For my part, I believe ALL this bloodshed over Gaza is a crime.I believe international intervention should restore the 67 border and rigorously police it, preventing attacks by any party with legitimate and measured means. I believe all peoples have a natural right to a peaceful existence under their own government in their own homeland.
Roland, I’m carefully choosing what to challenge in your post because only some of it is objectionable. please don’t confuse this for some kind of ‘tactic.’ Like kassandra’s anti-jew remarks, your idea that I consider Gazans subhuman is a ridiculous and offensive distraction from anything more creditworthy you might have to say. Since you interjected in order to defend kassandra, please tell me with which of her comments you’re agreeing, or join with me in condemning them.
We may also disagree about the usefulness of smearing Israel’s basic intentions as if they were any different from Palestinians’. A fair arbiter would assume that both sides want essentially the same thing; anything otherwise is vacuous hatemongering and a waste of everyone’s time.