Israel to escalate in Gaza
posted at 8:54 am on January 10, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
The IDF dropped leaflets in Gaza urging residents to take cover as a “new phase” of their operation will shortly begin. That sounds as though the Israelis plan to escalate military activity in Gaza to dig out entrenched Hamas fighters in Gaza City, which they have all but encircled already. Meanwhile, France and Egypt have proposed a new cease-fire agreement, but neither Hamas nor Israel has acknowledged it:
The Israeli air force dropped leaflets on the Gaza Strip Saturday warning residents that it plans to escalate its two-week-old offensive.
Military officials said the notices are meant as a “general warning.”
The notice said Israel is about to begin a “new phase in the war on terror.” It said it will “escalate” an operation that already has killed more than 800 Palestinians. …
The development came as the Palestinian Authority president urged both Israel and Hamas to agree to an Egypt-brokered truce. Mahmoud Abbas singled out the Jewish state, saying it would be responsible for a “waterfall of blood” if it didn’t accept the deal.
Either this new warning intends to pressure Hamas into quickly crying “Uncle!” and signing onto a cease fire, or Israel intends on showing the world that it learned a lesson about stopping too quickly from their action in Lebanon in 2006. I’d bet the latter, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the former. They’ve done significant damage to Hamas in Gaza, and they’ve certainly increased Hamas’ unpopularity among other Gazans. Given Hamas’ propensity to hide among civilians, the Israelis can’t annihilate them without taking out large numbers of civilians, and that simply won’t fly among Israelis.
However, if Hamas doesn’t buckle first, Israel looks prepared to continue its operations for as long as it wants. The Israeli leadership does not appear at all concerned this time about international opinion, at least not as much as in Lebanon. The unsatisfactory denouement of that conflict, combined with the betrayal of Israel by the UN and the UNIFIL force that refused to stand up to Hezbollah, undoubtedly burns bright in their minds as they decide how to proceed in Gaza.
Abbas is probably right about the “waterfall of blood”, but he can blame that squarely on Iran and its proxy army Hamas for provoking this fight. Israel has no requirement to end its operation after being attacked by a belligerent who refuses to stop attacking. Hamas has to sue for peace under those circumstances, and Israel has the right to dictate terms.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Sometimes war is the only solution. This appears to be one of those times.
kanda on January 10, 2009 at 8:57 AM
Kill Hamas, kill Hamas, Keep killing Hamas
(with apologies to Admiral William F. Halsey)
Again thanks for banning that odious SaintOlaf character.
Hilts on January 10, 2009 at 8:58 AM
There is no reasoning with Hamas. The only solution is to kill them all.
SoulGlo on January 10, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Mahmoud Abbas singled out the Jewish state, saying it would be responsible for a “waterfall of blood” if it didn’t accept the deal.
Yeah dumbass, that’s the whole idea! A waterfall of blood, HAMASSHOLE blood, get it? Thank you for encouraging Israel. Ya know, you probably oughta THINK before you speak.
A ‘waterfall of hamas blood’ … a term coined by Mahmoud Abbas.
Tony737 on January 10, 2009 at 9:02 AM
The UN is useless, just like the liberal’s policies of appeasement. Giving up land,giving aid,political peace agreements have all meant nothing to the jihadist he!! bent on Israel’s destruction.
Israel is doing the right thing.
Hamas has to be struck down.
Baxter Greene on January 10, 2009 at 9:03 AM
The terms should be: “There are no terms. You will surrender unconditionally.”
Hamas has shown they deserve nothing short of total defeat.
backwoods conservative on January 10, 2009 at 9:03 AM
They have ten days to accomplish their goals, after that Obama will force a cease fire as a good faith gesture to show the Arab World it won’t be business as usual. Of course the destruction of Hamas would remove a major thorn into any Obama plan for peace in the Middle East.
rob verdi on January 10, 2009 at 9:03 AM
There is no reasoning with Hamas. – Soul
“They can’t be argued with, they can’t be reasone with, they don’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear (except when the IAF bombs them).”
Tony737 on January 10, 2009 at 9:04 AM
An old Texism: Some people just need killin. Go get em jews!
conservnut on January 10, 2009 at 9:05 AM
The terms should be: “There are no terms. You will surrender unconditionally.” – Back
We could let them borrow the USS Missouri for the surrender ceremony … ‘cept we don’t want dirty hamasshole feet touching her decks.
Tony737 on January 10, 2009 at 9:07 AM
That is probably why hamas is holding out, and why Israel is escalating. They need to bring this boil to a head quickly and the infection needs to hold on just a little longer until their savior comes on the scene.
conservnut on January 10, 2009 at 9:09 AM
At least Israel makes a good faith attempt to warn non-combatants to get out of harm’s way…unlike Hamas/Hezzbollah/AQ and all the rest who routinely use civilian and non-combatants as cover and concealment then whine “foul!” when the stuff hits the fan.
10 days. The removal of Hamas, its leadership, its membership, its logistics and its supporters, seems a very very prudent move. The sooner, the better.
Then Israel can address more important concerns…as can we…and the Euros.
This is “Change” I can believe in.
coldwarrior on January 10, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Now, or never. I think that Israel is now aware of this fact. The escalation must be frightening, to have any real effect. As long as Hamas can fire rockets, they will think that they are winning.
OldEnglish on January 10, 2009 at 9:20 AM
I hope Israel keeps going. Even when the One takes office. They should tell him where to shove it. The One is a joke. He should have never even been able to run. I hope Israel keeps going. They have to because it will not get better for Israel. I noticed that someone said SaintOlaff was banned? Very good indeed. He had a lot of hate in him. As at times I feel inside of me. Can’t believe I am awake this early.
sheebe on January 10, 2009 at 9:21 AM
I thought by now Obama would have waved his holy hands, and peace would have descended upon the middle east and the world!!
maybe he’s afraid BOOOOOSH would get the credit…
right4life on January 10, 2009 at 9:21 AM
Great to see Israel not falling for the ‘diplomacy’ shtick this time. What is happening in Gaza is not nice, but it’s either 1,000 dead now followed by relative calm, or 1,000 dead every year for the foreseeable future.
Like Iraq, like Afghanistan, this has to get worse before it gets better.
EnglishMike on January 10, 2009 at 9:27 AM
Btw, take no notice of the ‘Israel’s action will unite Hamas and Fatah against them’ stories in the MSM. They may appear united now, but when the Israeli action stops they’ll be at each others throats again.
EnglishMike on January 10, 2009 at 9:29 AM
A “good faith” gesture to the Arab World should be that NO CIVIL SOCIETY WILL TOLERATE INDISCRIMINATE OR DIRECT TERRORIST ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE THEIR SOCIAL, RELIGIOUS OR POLITICAL AGENDAS.
If Obama delivered this message to all parties in the middle east and to the UN, he would command more respect from this nation and world leaders than any watered-down message that would attempt to appease one side or the other.
Rovin on January 10, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Yeah, well, don’t hold your breath waiting for that!
conservnut on January 10, 2009 at 9:34 AM
It looks as if Israel has no choice but to scour every Gazan city and town until it routs Hamas–the more so, since it obviously will not get any firm assurances of the ability to curtail Hamas’ rocket activity from the UN. Much of the world looks at Israel as the playground bully but fails to look at Hamas as the sneaky little kid who starts the whole thing behind the scenes then cries victim.
jeanie on January 10, 2009 at 9:36 AM
Dropping leaflets? Isn’t that what the Nazis did with their blitzkreig?
/sarc.
Go Israel. Kill the terrorists.
rbj on January 10, 2009 at 9:36 AM
conservnut
That is a point about Hamas planning on a little hope and change.
rob verdi on January 10, 2009 at 9:37 AM
rovin,
yes but the left and the msm for that matter would have to accept the actions of Islamo-Facism as terrorism in the first place. These are the same guys who called the Mumbai attackers “militants”
rob verdi on January 10, 2009 at 9:38 AM
In theory, how thoroughly could Israel search the buildings, basements, and lands of the West Bank for weapons? Assume that they have ground-penetrating radar (arial and wheeled) and every kind of magnetometer known to man. Could they effectively search everything, everywhere? Are there surfaces that will hold usable fingerprints for a long time? What would the international community say, what could the international community say, if everyone whose fingerprint appeared on an RPG or missile were taken out and hanged?
njcommuter on January 10, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Killing hamas? YES WE CAN!
the_nile on January 10, 2009 at 9:50 AM
They don’t need to take out everything, just showing that they thrash Hamas in a big way is good enough.
They probably know where the most of their bunkers is but need to go in an verify exactly.
the_nile on January 10, 2009 at 9:54 AM
If/when Israel succeeds in routing Hamas from the Gaza strip, temporary occupation would certainly be necessary to keep the remnants of Hamas from creeping back in. Suppose I should know this, but recall reading somewhere that some other country/s had agreed to do this. Did I imagine this, and if not, what other country/s?
jeanie on January 10, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Anyone know what’s wrong with Taki at takimagdotcom?
Charles Martel on January 10, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Nor should they be.
Hawkins1701 on January 10, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Give it another day or two and we’ll have a Hamas Video of Isreal targeting Kittens and Puppies.
Snake307 on January 10, 2009 at 10:16 AM
I don’t think he can force a cease-fire though. What if the Israelis say “NO”. He loses a tremendous amount of prestige and face right off the bat. No, I don’t think Obama will force the issue. But–he will try to undermine and sabotage the Israeli position as much as possible. In other words, Israel will no longer be able to rely on US support at the UN and it had better continue to develop its own arms industry and lessen its dependence on US aid.
Matt Helm on January 10, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Both sides are saying no. Hamas’ conditions for a truce are ridiculous.
I guess one could try to force a truce via carrot or stick. However, I read the other day that the US was facilitating the transfer of weapons from Greece to Israel.
Blake on January 10, 2009 at 10:29 AM
A ‘waterfall of hamas blood’
Tony737 on January 10, 2009 at 9:02 AM
Sounds like a great vacation spot..
TexasJew on January 10, 2009 at 10:34 AM
I sense very much that the Israelis learned a painful lesson in Lebanon, and will trust their own motives and goals ahead of any crap from the UN and the nitwits of Foggy Bottom. I do, too.
So as it relates to Ed’s former/latter choice, it looks more like both – Israel is playing across a fine line where Hamas looks like the boy who cried wolf, and is losing popularity fast, but if they cross that line the Pali pawns could once again unite behind Hamas, and that would be the “waterfall of blood” scenario. Pali and Hamas blood, to be sure, but unwanted either way.
Jaibones on January 10, 2009 at 10:37 AM
On the other hand, there is this.
Jaibones on January 10, 2009 at 10:38 AM
My, how we have changed.
Johan Klaus on January 10, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Does this mean that Israel intends to obliterate Hamas? Good. It seems everytime Israel has one of these fanatic foes on the ropes (Hezbollah or Hamas) here comes the UN with a cease-fire to save the day for the fanatic.
ddrintn on January 10, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Hell, Israel should just give them some land. It worked last time. Well, did’nt it?
Johan Klaus on January 10, 2009 at 10:45 AM
There is very little news from Israel that it has eliminated or captured many high level Hamas leaders.
Is the Hamas leadership even in the Gaza area? Or have they escaped via tunnels to Egypt or where ever?
Unless Israel eliminates or captures the top leadership of Hamas it will be a loss for Israel.
albill on January 10, 2009 at 10:47 AM
A society is being held accountable for it’s elected leaders. If you elect a terrorist organization into leadership, your people will be held accountable. Bomb the shit out of hamasshole until Gazans figure out they had better throw the terrorists out.
and btw…..have a nice day
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on January 10, 2009 at 10:47 AM
History has shown repeatedly that when dealing with a barbarian opponent – a primitive culture aggressively dedicated to destroying a civilization – there is no alternative but total victory. The barbarian’s entire strategy is based around the hope that the civilized opponent won’t have the stomach to push for a complete triumph – they will always be willing to stop short of such an ending, and allow the barbarians to recover and try again. The civilized nation will talk itself into worrying about collateral damage to the point where military effectiveness is fatally compromised, or allow itself to believe in cease-fires and carefully dictated terms of peace, which of course the barbarians have no intention of honoring. In the modern era, this is the lesson of the first and second Gulf Wars: it was foolish to sign a negotiated peace with a barbarian warlord who never even gave serious thought to honoring it. Call it the Colin Powell Folly.
Multiculturalist dogma has left the modern West ill-equipped to single out any enemy as a “barbarian,” and deal with them accordingly. Our elites always insist in elevating them, granting them a wholly unearned set of considerations that would only be appropriate for a civilized enemy – such as the foolish determination to grant exquisitely lawyered Geneva Convention rights to terrorists, who of course would laugh out loud at the suggestion *they* be held to such standards.
Sadly, it is necessary to consider any Islamic-terror state a barbarian enemy. As long as they think barbaric behavior has a chance of achieving their goals, they will persist in it. Only when they have been defeated in detail can their culture make the painful steps toward advanced civilization. Developing an advanced Western-style culture is *hard*, and no populace will undertake that course unless the easy, feral, barbarian path is permanently closed off to them. As with the citizens of a welfare state, so with barbarian cultures: not enough people will get off the couch and drag themselves into work, unless they are forced to do so. Civilization is hard work, but the Palenstinians are decades late in reporting to the office and clocking in.
Doctor Zero on January 10, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Keep going till Hamas is crippled. You committed, don’t do it half assed.
Mr. Joe on January 10, 2009 at 10:52 AM
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on January 10, 2009 at 10:57 AM
Matt Helm,
If Washington DC sends the signal, Israel will relent. Their government understands that as damaging leaving Hamas in power would be, ignoring a New President who has 4 years in office could be even more damaging.
rob verdi on January 10, 2009 at 10:58 AM
The Israelis can and should ignore all political pressure from outside their country, including the US and the UN. Their compliance with requests from our government and the UN have allowed their citizens to be killed.
If that were us, I would say flip the world the finger and kick the living daylights out of those who are attacking us and do not stop until they are ALL DEAD. Including all the so called “palestinian’ “leaders”. They are ALL terrorists, born from atrocity and horror. Or have you all forgotten?
dogsoldier on January 10, 2009 at 11:09 AM
I have to disagree with that. I think they’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that they’re going to be dealing with an at best indifferent and possibly hostile US administration. The Israelis will do what they have to do to survive and if that means strained relations with the US, then they’ll reluctantly do that. That’s one of the reasons why they’ve been working so hard at developing their own arms industry and lessening dependence on the US, as well as developing alternate sources of trade and commerce, in case Obama does try to tighten the screws.
Matt Helm on January 10, 2009 at 11:34 AM
“Obama will force a cease fire”
How? Israel is not at all impressed with Obama or Biden.
Israel knows Bush was on their side but they don’t trust Obama
and many Americans don’t either.
izoneguy on January 10, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Jaibones,
“I sense very much that the Israelis learned a painful lesson in Lebanon, and will trust their own motives and goals ahead of any crap from the UN and the nitwits of Foggy Bottom.”
I think you mean re-re-re-re-learned.
exhelodrvr on January 10, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Wipe them out……all of them.
/Palpatine
omnipotent on January 10, 2009 at 12:03 PM
What I like about Israel is how much they are like Marines. Until the orders change it’s “give em hell”. I’d sing onward christian soldiers but some might take it the wrong way.
kanda on January 10, 2009 at 12:10 PM
HAMAS is like finding a small COBRA UNDER YOUR BED. You can try to cut some deals with the snake until it grows big enough to kill you some night. Or you can “12 gauge” it now and not die.
***
HAMAS is using rockets now because their “guided weapon” (suicide bomber) option has been taken away by the Israeli wall around their country.
***
HAMAS rocket fire has been ineffective against Israeli civilian targets so far because of the crude unguided homemade rockets and since the “better” Russian / Chinese / North Korean / Iranian rockets are also unguided. The shrapnel filled warheads are deadly enough already.
***
This inaccuracy problem will change soon when HAMAS learns to put GPS guidance on their rockets–a modified GPS cell phone, GPS car navigation device, or one of the GPS receiver chips available for $100. or so can make a “smart rocket”. Some HAMAS engineer is probably working on this now–the rockets will hit within 5 meters of their targets when they get GPS guidance going. And wait until Iran gives HAMAS a NUKE WARHEAD for one of the better rockets–accuracy won’t matter then.
***
As far as Israel fighting on despite President Obama’s desires for a “ceasefire” or “peace agreement”–Obama will stop U.S. arms shipments (F16 aircraft and parts, cannon shells, U.S. aid money to Israel) to control Israel. He thinks peace is possible with a determined enemy–like Neville Chamberlain thought he could negotiate “PEACE IN OUR TIME” with Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. That worked out pretty well when it prevented World War II!
***
Peace follows victory–it doesn’t precede it. Israel must remove the HAMAS “cancer” (or cobra under the bed) now–fight on to victory–fast! What a wonderful world it would be without Islamic terrorists. Make it happen.
***
John Bibb
rocketman on January 10, 2009 at 12:34 PM
“Obama will force a cease fire”
How? Israel is not at all impressed with Obama or Biden.
Israel knows Bush was on their side but they don’t trust Obama
and many Americans don’t either.
izoneguy on January 10, 2009 at 11:54 AM
———-
About teh only way Obama could pull this off is to send in the First Marine Division. UN has proven they can’t be trusted, so a UN troop on the border will not stop Israel (or Islamist nut-jobs) from going at it.
And if he does this, depending on the ROE, it may actually help. It’d give the Palis someone else to shoot at – and somehow I suspect the troops will shoot back.
Mew
acat on January 10, 2009 at 1:22 PM
And a little more.
Speakup on January 10, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Death to Hamas.
CP on January 10, 2009 at 1:30 PM
It is also why they have a plan in place to attempt to take out Iran’s nuclear facilities. I hope that’s next on their agenda after they finish Hamas off. (I know, I’m being wildly optimistic on both counts…)
ProfessorMiao on January 10, 2009 at 1:33 PM
With a little luck I’ll get my wish….
patrick neid on January 10, 2009 at 1:56 PM
I would advise everyone in regards to Gaza to bunker down and get ready for a long winter. Bush’s parting gift to Isreal is on its way.
If Hamas wants to play games with Isreal they are severly handicapped and the world can see this. If the Palestinian supporters think they are evening up the side for Hamas and Palestine by objecting to the way that Isreal is handling the situation, they need to understand that even after Obama takes office Isreal has the power within its holds to annihilate its opposition and it does not really care what the world thinks of it. They have always been hated or persecuted throughout history for some reason or another. But the simple fact holds true in this day as well as in the past-they are still here.
canditaylor68 on January 10, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Hamas has terms? Answer is no and fighting continues! Idiots! Go get ‘em Israel!
sabbott on January 10, 2009 at 3:08 PM
The difference is that Israel is an US client state. We are the supplier or design licensor of their advanced weapons; few advanced arms are produced domestically. [You can read me a list, like the Merkava tank, but the electronics for that beast are US.]
The Israelis got a green light from our Government, which is why the resupply is going forward. If Bush were unhappy, he’d have halted resupply, which would be the ultimate jerk on Israel’s leash — as a lame duck President, he’s got a teflon layer a foot thick, so he’d have been insulated from the Israeli lobby’s displeasure. I think he’s happy that Iran’s proxy Hamas is having the crap beaten out of them; when negotiation time comes, the Israelis will certainly be in the superior position, and US diplomacy will be made easier as a result.
Additionally, it should be noted that the West Bank is not a second front in this war — Fatah is staying out of combat. They will need to be rewarded for doing this in some way which is not a threat to Israel’s security (I think killing off Hamas in Gaza may do the trick). If Fatah or Hezbollah had entered the conflict, Isreal would be hard pressed in men and materiel to hold them off. I can see why Hezbollah isn’t doing anything (they are still rebuilding from 2006), but Fatah is actually tamping down any sympathy in the West Bank for Hamas.
unclesmrgol on January 10, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Jimma Carter?
Benjamin9 on January 10, 2009 at 8:13 PM