Hamas and Israel at war.

Miguel Gonzalez · Nov 18, 2012

"There is some chance that Operation ‘Pillar of Defence’, as the Israelis are calling their current campaign, might become a full-scale war. But even if it does, it will not put an end to Israel’s troubles in Gaza.

The final, preferred option is aerial bombardment with aircraft, artillery, missiles, mortars and rockets. The problem, however, is that the strategy does not work as advertised. Israel used it against Hizbullah in 2006 and Hamas in 2008-9, but both groups are still in power and armed to the teeth with rockets and missiles. It is hard to believe that any serious defence analyst in Israel thinks another campaign of sustained bombardment against Gaza will topple Hamas and end the rocket fire permanently."

http://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2012/11/16/john-mearsheimer/a-pillar-built-on-sand/

Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

Miguel Gonzalez · Nov 18, 2012

current update for sunday as of 5:40 GMT

Summary

•Sunday becomes the deadliest day since Israel launched an operation against Hamas militants.
•At least 21 people are reported to have been killed in Gaza by Israeli bombardments so far on Sunday. Of the total, at least nine were children and at least four were women, Gaza health officials said.
•An Israeli strike on a home in Gaza has killed at least 10 people, officials say, including four women and four children. The strike reportedly targeted a Hamas official.
•PM Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is ready to expand its operation.
•US President Barack Obama said Washington was "fully supportive of Israel's right to defend itself".
•Gaza militants continue to fire rockets at Israel, injuries are reported in towns including Ashkelon and Ofakim.
•Attempts to reach a ceasefire continued. Egyptian security officials said a senior Israeli official had arrived in Cairo for talks, Israel has made no comment.
•Since Israel launched its Operation Pillar of Defence on Wednesday 67 people have been killed, officials said.

Miguel Gonzalez · Nov 18, 2012

Hamas Official : Cairo Ceasefire negotiations have failed

Pretty obvious by now one side doesn't want a cease-fire.

Miguel Gonzalez · Nov 18, 2012

Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai: "The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages''

Bram Hengeveld · Nov 18, 2012

Context context context

Miguel Gonzalez · Nov 18, 2012

Hundreds of Israelis have taken to the streets of Tel Aviv's Habima Square to protest their nation's military actions in the Gaza Strip.

The Satruday evening protests were initially organised by a Facebook group.

The group said they refuse "the election war"

Miguel Gonzalez · Nov 18, 2012

Ahmed El-Farra ‏@AhmdFarra
#Breaking | Warships opened fire off the shores of Deir al-Balah. #GazaUnderAttack .

https://twitter.com/AhmdFarra/status/270268315870572544

Possible good news:
Ramzi Hamad, one of the heads of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, says that Hamas and Israel have agreed on 90% of the terms of a cease-fire agreement, according to Al Jazeera. One of the heads of Fatah, Nabil Shaath, who is currently in Cairo, said talks on a cease-fire have entered an advanced stage.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/live-blog-day-5-of-israel-s-gaza-offensive-1.478624

Don't know how accurate that last source is. The 90% report was posted at 11:52 within the last half hour or so the Israeli navy started firing on the city from the coast.

Miguel Gonzalez · Nov 18, 2012

Video showing precise attacks on civilian media and communications buildings. (gov't buildings were hit as well but I'm not certain if they're shown in this video) 3 media dead so far. Incredible how accurate those shots are.

Miguel Gonzalez · Nov 18, 2012

Anonymous' statement. Included in the video description are care packages in English and Arabic for the Palistani people that includes instructions on getting online if the Internet is cut, tools to avoid IDF surveillance and first aid and other useful guides to be added to in the following days.

If anyone has friends or family in the area I would definately reccomend they download the care pack just in case. In this world the only free speech left is the Internet don't let the people be silenced.

Miguel Gonzalez · Nov 19, 2012

RT reporting Israel is targeting residential homes and refugee camps. Death toll has risen to 82 today with a 4 story building being bombed killing 4 families. Last update tonight, updates tomorrow morning before I head out.

Miguel Gonzalez · Nov 20, 2012

Sorry for the lack of updates, spent all day travelling with a dead phone yesterday. Short recap:
Death toll rises past 100

Israel sets 36 hour deadline to stop rocket attacks or face ground invasion.

6 men executed in Gaza under suspision of being Israeli spies:
http://news.sky.com/story/1013745/gaza-six-men-executed-as-israeli-spies

UN speaches more of the same. Cease-fire rumored to enact at midnight, 36 hour deadline up in the morning.

Bram Hengeveld · Nov 21, 2012

Curious how long this cease fire will remain. I have the feeling that both parties involved don't want to stop.

Bram Hengeveld · Nov 21, 2012

http://reuters.livestation.com/demo

Miguel Gonzalez · Nov 21, 2012

Bram Hengeveld said:
Curious how long this cease fire will remain. I have the feeling that both parties involved don't want to stop.

Was rumored to go in effect at midnight, there was a lull in the bombing for a little bit and then 3 massive explosions hit near the RT feed, Hamas officials came on shortly after saying it was called off and negotiations would continue.

Miguel Gonzalez · Nov 21, 2012

""The IDF on Tuesday afternoon dropped leaflets on northern and eastern Gaza instructing civilians to evacuate to the center of the Strip Gaza immediately.

"For your safety, you are requested to evacuate your homes immediately and head towards central Gaza City," the leaflet read.""

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=292716

Only a week before this latest attack, Lieberman came out and said that if the UN bid or a Palestinian state was granted, then Israel would topple the Abbas government.

Lieberman proposes the IDF disposes.

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/5P...stry-proposes-toppling-Abbas-over-UN-bid.html

Bram Hengeveld · Nov 21, 2012

No busbombing tweets?

Miguel Gonzalez · Nov 21, 2012

Sixteen people have been confirmed injured in a bus bombing in central Tel Aviv at the corner of of Shaul Hamelech and Henrietta Szold Streets, according to the Jerusalem Post. Police say the blast was a terrorist attack.
IDF Spokesperson Leibovitz confirmed on twitter that the bomb went off near the Israel Defence Ministry’s offices.

http://rt.com/news/explosion-bus-tel-aviv-231/

6m Ben Hartman ‏@Benhartman
Ichilov Hospital: 21 wounded in #Telaviv bombing, 1 seriously, 2 moderately, the rest lightly #Israel #Gaza #Jpost

Miguel Gonzalez · Nov 21, 2012

Some numbers from today: 42 rockets fired from #Gaza hit #Israel + 20 Iron Dome interceptions = 62 rockets fired at us #IsraelUnderFire

A short while ago in #Gaza, the IDF targeted an underground rocket launcher as well as 5 terror operatives preparing to launch rockets.

IDF Twitter