The numbers kept expanding. One day 150 rocket attacks. Then 250. Finally upwards of 400.
As the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported, two Israelis were struck by shrapnel last week. Two dozen were injured simply running to bomb shelters, and another two dozen were treated for anxiety.
A woman in her 70s was injured in the face and arms by flying glass after a rocket crashed through her living unit – in an assisted-living facility.
Rockets struck several homes plus a factory in Sderot. More than 300,000 children remained at home at least three days because schools located within 25 miles of the Gaza border were closed.
From 5,400 miles away, I felt anxiety. It could have been much worse. Maybe one day it will be.
In Gaza, children were among 23 people killed by retaliatory airstrikes from Israel, according to JTA.
The rocket fire from Gaza commenced following the targeted killing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad senior commander Baha Abu al-Ata.
Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts were among Democratic presidential candidates to chime in, and both predictably misrepresented the situation after a cease-fire was declared.
”Israelis should not have to live in fear of rocket fire,” Sanders said, as quoted in The Hill. “Palestinians should not have to live under occupation and blockade. The U.S. must lead the effort to end the crisis in Gaza and the persistent violence that threatens everyone.”
Said Warren, “I welcome the Gaza ceasefire. Dozens were killed in Gaza, and hundreds of rockets fired at Israel. We must work to end rocket attacks on Israel, eliminate the Gaza blockade, and solve the humanitarian crisis so that all Israelis and Palestinians live in security and freedom.”
Danny Danon, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, called out Sanders Sunday night for his remarks, saying, “Perhaps Mr. Sanders didn’t hear about Israel leaving Gaza in 2005. Maybe he hasn’t had the chance to visit the Kerem Shaloml crossing, where hundreds of trucks pass (through) daily to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza. Maybe he doesn’t know about the terror tunnels.”
Danon raises crucial points. Occupation? As Danon notes, Israel pulled out all soldiers and settlers from Gaza in 2005. Israel sends Gaza humanitarian aid, and Hamas controls the territory. Gazans have not only built tunnels to invade Israel, but that is only part of their violent activities. And the Palestinian leadership has rebuffed offers of an independent state, which is not enough for them.
Harsh critics accused Israel of again committing “atrocities.” It is hard to comprehend the deaths of anyone in war, especially of children. They are gone and we cannot bring them back. The routine explanation is that Israel does its best to avoid civilian deaths, but the innocents along with the guilty are vulnerable whenever hostilities break out between Israel and Gaza.
Hamas leaders usually set up headquarters in the basement of a hospital in Gaza City whenever a mini-war breaks out.
Israel often touts its efforts to avoid civilian deaths, and that has been documented. However, it is disingenuous of Israel officials to play down the likelihood that civilians will die. No matter what precautions Israel takes, one never knows what can happen during a military operation.
It is reminiscent of Mark Antony’s call of “Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war” in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.
I have been prone to believe that the Israeli military does only what it deems necessary to protect its citizens, and of course it is impossible to make the most humane decisions every time amid the pressures of warfare.
Outside the military context, I have dealt with Jewish conservatives here who do not care what Israel does. One acquaintance told me that these children who are killed will only grow up to become terrorists, anyway. Certainly, many Palestinians figure that Israeli children will grow up to become soldiers, given that most Israelis are drafted into the army when they come of age.
Overall, the Arabs are primarily at fault for a conflict that has lasted more than 70 years. They have consistently attacked Israel and turned down proposals for an independent state. However, Israel has made mistakes that could have been readily avoided, and I will not dismiss out of hand accusations of harsh treatment by Israel. I have no problem with an investigation of Israeli actions.
However, Sanders and Warren are clumsy and thoughtless in their assessments if they think this conflict is a matter of moral equivalence.
Republished from San Diego Jewish World