Peripeteia

It’s always good to clarify one’s thoughts. In this case it’s about the delicate topic of the Israeli invasion into Gaza these days.

Let’s start making some points clear:

1- Hamas is an organization that violates International Humanitarian Law in several ways, making it a terrorist organization:
– Carries out attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects.
– Goes against the prohibition of committing acts or threats of violence with the primary purpose of spreading terror among the civilian population.
– Utilizes the presence of civilians to render certain points, areas or military forces immune from military operations.
– Uses human shielding.
– Makes improper use of the flag and insignia of the UN, as well as the distinctive emblem of the Geneva Convention.
– Uses children to participate in hostilities.

2- Israel is an internationally recognized democracy that has the OBLIGATION to defend the life, honour and properties of all its citizen.

3- Before Hamas took control over the Gaza strip, and specially after that, the rocket attacks have been continuous and increasing both in intensity and reach. These attacks have caused tens of deads and thousand of wounded.

4- Hamas proved its anti-democratic and radical nature when assassinated and removed from Gaza the forces and main figures of Fatah in 2006. Fatah was the second party in votes, meaning that they represented a big part of the Palestinian population. Killing and removing Fatah’s leaders and PA forces from Gaza was a crime against their own Palestinian people. In a real democracy opposition parties must co-habitate, not destroy each other.

Let me state this: I believe it’s absolutely unacceptable the killing of innocent civilians. And I don’t really say it because of the women but specially because of the children. Therefore the units involved in the individual cases must be prosecuted and condemned.

Now, I keep listening to people all around calling for Israel to stop the attacks over Gaza. They usually argue that the attacks are being against the civil population. Once confronted with the facts that Hamas recurs to human shielding, and the usage of civilians and civilian facilities to avoid military operations, they bring up the argument of a disproportionate response to the rocket attacks.

According to this logic Israel should limit its actions to a response that equals the attacks received over the years. If that argument is accepted then measuring the “size” of the offence would have to include uncountable things like the stress, the nerves, and the terror that has afflicted the Israelian population over the years of rocket attacks and suicide bombings. Advocates of Hamas would also try to measure similar afflictions in the Palestinian population. This approach besides naive and impossible to implement does not comply with the need to stop the attacks coming from Gaza.

An attack of the kind Israel is carrying out at the moment must be intended to destroy the military capacity of Hamas, remove the most extremmist leaders that oppose a peace negotiation, discorague future rocket attacks, and make Palestinians in Gaza question themselves about the convinience of having Hamas and their ideals in power. Moreover, Israel must increase the measures taken to avoid hitting any civilians.

I continue to support Israeli efforts against Hamas, and condemn every actions where civilians are victims.

Best Regards,
Juan