Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

michele.Long Island NY — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:36:56 GMT

While I feel compassion to the Palestinian women and children even though they do not feel the same anout the Israepi women and children why are you looking for answers with Israel instead of the same palestinians demanding the responce from there own so called "Fake Hamas Government"? Why is it that every time Israel is trying to protect its citizens like evry modern country should it is the "poor civilians "of only the palestinians that are suffering? Thas is down right absurd. You should look at the bigger picture if anyone cared so much about those civilians that are dying would have done something to protect them by now instead Hamas are using them as there personal human sheilds. Terrorists no doubht.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Ralph, San Antonio, TX — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:39:56 GMT

I can understand your view, however, if Hamas fought like soldiers instead of cowards, the civilian body count would be much lower. Why do they hide in with civilians?. Why do the civilians not reveal the Hamas members? All that has been reported is the evil that Israel is doing. Hamas has been sending bombs into Israel for years, without regard for the Israeli women or children. They don't aim at military targets. Don't be fooled. Yes, in war, children die. How many children and women and innocent civilians died when we dropped the bomb on Japan? I think it was more than a few hundred. It also ended the war. War is sad, it is costly, and it is ugly. Innocents are killed. But again, if the Palestinian people side with Hamas they too are the enemy, regardless of age.
I have read that some of these maniacs train young boys to be bombs. Who does that to a child? They Palestinian people are reaping what they sowed. Again, consider it was the town you lived in being bombed every day. I would think you would expect our government to do something about it. You can't just yell over the fence, "Hey, stop that!"
Hamas wanted this war-they got it. Hezbollah is next. It is about time the Israelis fought like they should.
Looking back at Iraq, if Gen. Schwarzcoff had his way, we wouldn't be in Iraq today. We didn't finish the job. We had them surrendering by the hundreds. It was a walk in the park. All for nothing. Now we are back there, and this time we have to have warrants! How ridiculous is that? War is war. Our soldiers should be allowed to shoot anything that even looks like a threat, not be court-martialed!
I hope Israel does this right, or they may not get another chance.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

TJ KCMO — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:40:27 GMT

Maybe the civilians should have considered this when they "elected" Hamas to be their government. While I feel for the true citizen, I have no compassion for the terrorists that choose to hide amongst the population. When the citizens have had enough...they should will deal with Hamas like it was the plague...eliminate it.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Sara, Orange County, CA — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:47:48 GMT

This is another bloody chapter for the modern history of Palestine and Israel. The new "cease fire" is news for now, but certainly Israel's past with Gaza (and the West Bank) would suggest that this cease fire is only a temporary situation. It's obvious that Israel wants the land; they have been fighting for it since the "creation" of the State of Israel after WWII. It's hardly surprising that Palestinians (with or without involvement of Hamas) would launch small rockets into Israel; they are understandably frustrated at their living situation...poverty, scarce water and electricity, expensive food, long term (illegal) military occupation... the Palestinians violent acts are not without reason. I abhor violence, but what are these people to do? Few people of the world actually understand the situation between Israel and Palestine, and Israel does their best to keep it that way (e.g. CAMERA), so the Palestinians find themselves without a voice.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

krp999 — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:49:02 GMT

What do you expect when Hamas "hides" amongst civilians and sends rockets from civilian neighborhoods?

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

DS, Toronto — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:02:21 GMT

That is a very stupid headline for an article. Saying the civilian deaths could "backfire" implies that it's some sort of Israeli strategy that civilians are dying. The fact is that these civilians are living amongst terrorists who use their homes, schools, etc. to dig tunnels and fire weapons. The terrorists hide in these tunnels while leaving the civilians as their shields.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Tell Truth, Dearborn, Michigan — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:21:18 GMT

There was already a "new generation full of anger and hatred being created" in Gaza. What do the parents tell their children when a Hamas rocket is released? What have they been telling them for years? That it's OK to fire rockets at Israel? They need to stop raising their children with hatred. period. They need to stop tiring rockets at Israel. period

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Charles Bader — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:25:36 GMT

It is sad that civillans had been killed and wounded, but it is the civillians who have repeatitly turned down a peace treaty to form their own state and have turned violently against Israel time after time.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Henry Hill Davie FL — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:38:35 GMT

War is hell!
Civilians, are always the ones who suffer the moast in war. For years the Israel's being killed by rockets fired into their country were the only casualities.This was completely OK! with you and all of the others who now blame Isreal for these deaths.
You have had your opportunity to do something and stood by and said that is something the Israel's will have to live with.
Had I been the one making the decisions the Isreal army would have moved in a long time ago. I would have made Dresden seem like a camp fire.
You think that Hamas has the right to kill Israel's women and children.
By your admission 50% of the casualities are Hamas fighters.
Let the people of Gaza push the hamas fighters out. and then everything will stop.
I can tell what you believe and seeing it as a report from NBC only makes NBC look like a Hamas supporter.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

jason, Nashville, TN — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 01:38:59 GMT

What I cannot understand is how everyone thinks that Israel isn't supposed to do anything. They restrained long enough and Hamas has said they will not stop. They hide amongst civilians while shooting rockets in to Israel. I dont like seeing cilivians being killed. But Israel has always been hated by everyone in its region. They are tough, but they have to be due to where they are. Hamas could've solved this problem by not firing anymore rockets so in my opinion they are responsible for the deaths of their poeple. Hiding among the innocent is the all time low. But Israel will get all the criticism. Doesn't make sense.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Jerome Boss, Bellevue, WA — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 01:40:57 GMT

You do not point at the main differences in this conflict: First, Hamas has created an untenable situation by shelling rockets on Israeli civilians for years, without provocation or retaliation. Second, Hamas is very clearly hiding behind civilians while shooting rockets or at the Israeli soldiers. It's part of a cold and tactical move designed to create worldwide international outrage and force Israel to withdraw, while essentially leaving them to continue firing rockets at civilians in Israel. There are numerous witness accounts that they have been asking and forcing civilians with children, to walk the streets and play in front of their storngholds, to make sure casualties will include civilians if they are attacked. These civilians have no choice - you don't do what the militia says, you get shot, immediately.
It is absolutely horrible that civilians and children get hurt, it is also the responsibility of Hamas, who could have separated their militia forces and armed groups from the civilian population. Instead, they are banking on these casualties and parade bodies around, so as many cameras as possible have an opportunity to take pictures...

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Peter Heron Colo Spgs CO — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 04:30:43 GMT

this is hamas' strategy: no matter what israel does, the world will remember the casualties of innocent civilians.
I dont see innocents. i see they willingly allow hamas to operate within their community, and why not? hamas is the people who are hamas.
too bad about a girls head, a boys limb, no one cares about the jews. rain thousands of rockets for years, who cares?
so save your whining, reporter. you have helsinki syndrome. i wish death to all gaza, civilan and terrorist alike, they are one and the same. death to them all.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Phil Muse, Stone Mountain, GA — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 04:39:10 GMT

A note on the "jellyfish" Mr. Jabari mentions in his report from Gaza. These are cluster muntions or "bomblets", a class of weapons banned by international treaty from proliferation and use on civilian populations because of their potential to kill and maim long after the occasion when they are dropped. Unfortunately, the treaty was not signed by the three great powers to which it most applies: Russia, China, and the United States. Need I say it is the U.S. that supplies Israel with these pernicious, inhumane weapons? The fact is to our shame.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

zaman houston texas — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:54:54 GMT

thank you fainaly some one at msnbc see these killing of childern/women you thing this bring peace or more hate for the isearl it need to be shown those pictures of childern/women killed by isearls army

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Gary Kaplan, Rose Valley, PA — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:56:47 GMT

Blogs like this offer no solutions and are nothing but rhetoric. Put yourself in the place of the Israeli government. What would you do? Hamas had an opportunity three years ago when Israel withdrew and then one an election. They had the chance to build something for their people and instead chose to smuggle in missiles to fire at Southern Israel. Will they be willing to talk? Be reasonable. So, please spare us the pity and start providing real solutions.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Ally Johnson, Glassboro, NJ — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:57:18 GMT

I commend Lawahez Jabari for taking the time to look at the other side of the Israeli offensive here, something that the American media never does. I'm surprised and pleased that I was able to read this blog.

Every time I read a news update on Israel's attacks, I get so angry to see the deaths counts stacked up like they're even. Like 1100 Gazans and 13 Israelis dead are somehow equal. And not to sound callous, because any loss of life is a tragic thing, but 4 out of those 13 Israeli deaths were the result of an Israeli army friendly fire incident. Some could hold the Gazans indirectly responsible for that, but I don't, since it wasn't connected to rockets launches.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm glad to see an article / blog that is unbiased and doesn't automatically slant everything in Israel's favor. And I'm even more happy to hear, according to this blog, that the UN is looking into the bombing of it's shelter-school as a war crime. It's about time Israel's military and warhawks in the cabinet are held accountable.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

John Carrington — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:59:08 GMT

Journalism no longer just reports the facts without editorializing or "stirring the pot". It's fine for people of the non-Israeli countries of the Middle East to spout hatred of Judaism and calls for jihad against all infidels and bomb innocent people (children included) carrying out the daily routine of their lives. But when Israel finally responds, the Arab world is aghast at the death of Palestinian women and children and talks of war crimes. Since people like Hamas and Hezbollah and Al Quaida don't have the capability to conduct real war against a real enemy, they indiscriminately bomb buses, cafes, libraries, synagogues and anywhere else a "suicide" bomber or rocket can reach. In the last thirty years, a month has not gone by that an act of pure terrorism has not been committed by these morons against people that have done them no harm. These are the acts of cowards and thugs with no respect for society of any kind. What have they accomplished?

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Jon, Miami, Florida — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:00:38 GMT

This is it. I am done with NBC/MSNBC. This is the most one sided commentary and that is written by a MUSLIM ARAB. How about some balanced reporting. Israel has been complaining for eight years about therockets and nothing was doen by the arab world. I did not hear this producer say how bad it was for the past eight years. How about reporting that HAMAS fires their rockets from civilian locations knwoing that Israel will respond. HAMAS has brough this tragedy to the people of gaza. Where is the condemnation of HAMAS? I am sur ethough that MSNBC will not post it because it is they who censor free speech.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

James Carrion, Fort Collins, CO — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:00:50 GMT

The senselessness of this conflict is mind boggling. We hear the cynics say that it is a never ending conflict having been fought in one form or another for thousands of years. Both sides are to blame. When cultures promote messages of hate to their children, the result is the perpetuation of hatred that crosses generations. What we are really witnessing are selfish men jockeying for power and prestige.

Israel, give the Palestinias their state. Palestinians, give Israel their peace. Live like humans and not like animals and spare the next generation the stupidity and mistakes of yours.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Cindy Van Vreede, Milwaukee, WI — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:27:27 GMT

Hamas should of thought of that before firing rockets at Israel for months and months. Oh, wait. The only thing Hamas thinks about is the distruction of Israel. Hamas has within it's power, the ability to stop the carnage on it's people. All they have to do is stop sending rockets over their border with Israel. When they value the lives of their pwn people over the distruction of their neighbor is when Hamas really wins international respect and help.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Henry L. Boriskin Wellfleet Ma. — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:29:59 GMT

To comment on hostilities that have been existing for time out of mind,one can only say that the only way to achieve any consistant stand off of hostilities would be through third party supervision of both sides. Then after cessation of hostilities,try to broker a more permanent cease fire. Of course this is easier said than done!

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

lrj Wisconsin — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:35:05 GMT

There is so much wrong with the war in the middle east. Tom Friedman has written a number of books on the history of the conflict and the politics that drive it. I suggest that those that want a deeper understanding him.
As to the author, we must understand that Mr. Jabari is a Palistinian. This does not make his comments right or wrong! It only serves to point out where he is coming from and the inate point of view he starts from. Most journalists attempt to be unbiased, but the reality is that we are human. Our reality is framed by our experiance's. We can try to get past this but it doesn't always work.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Jon B — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:35:11 GMT

That new generation full of anger and hatred might hate Hamas for getting them into this situation in the first place. Instead of building rockets Hamas could build ports and manufacturing plants, instead of spewing hatred toward Israel Hamas could create businesses and commerce with other countries. Gaza is sitting on the same worthless dirt the Israelis built their thriving nation. Gazans should look to their leadership and ask questions. Oh, they can't do that, Hamas would kill them. I guess it's safer to just blame Israel.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Mr. Melter — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:35:30 GMT

Well, Israel has made its statement. It's forced Hamas back.

Now could they please act like a civilized nation and stop killing women and children?

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Mark Samar — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:38:56 GMT

I would have to agree that Israel's mission in Gaza has no real purpose. The Israeli army has killed over 300 innocent women and children while the United Nations just sat around and pleaded to Israel to stop. Israel continued to decimate the entire tiny area of Gaza and bombed a United Nations school. Could you imagine living in this type of situation, that it explains why so many Arab people in that area resent Israel. Over 1,000 people in the Gaza area have been killed compared to 7 Israelis. This sounds more like genocide then a war, considering that Gazan's only have rocks and handguns to use in this war while the Israeli's use missles, tanks, jets, air strikes. As a human being I am ashamed of the United Nations and the United States for allowing this take place.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

GaryAndrewS — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:50:23 GMT

If your home was invaded by gunmen 60 years ago, and they said you could live in the basement - they would decide how much food and water you would get. And the UN police and politicians said there was nothing they could do about it because the gunmen's freind was too powerful. Would you :
a) Run from the house, screaming like an infant, with nowhere to go?
b) Huddle in the basement like a dispirited teen and slowly starve to death?
c) Resist injustice anyway you could like the people of Palestine?

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Charles Vogt, NY, NY — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:53:38 GMT

Finally, a journalist with the courage to speak the truth of the inhumanity of Israel's war in Gaza.
God bless you Lawahez Jabari for your courage and good heart.

A nation that can standby and watch as its armies sweep over the lands of those weaker than it, killing and destroying the innocent, has lost its soul.

I was a friend of Israel, but now no more.

I cannot in good concience stand with a nation capable of sacrificing the innocent, for the promise of a false sense of security and cloaked in self-righteousness.

I beg all Israelis of goodwill to speak up, rise up and save the promise of the Israel I had once known.

The Israel I once knew is the nation that provided refuge to the oppressed, the persecuted, and the damned. The nation of nobel laureats, peace-makers, gifted artists, dream makers; all that is now gone, drowned under the sounds of falling bombs and rolling tanks.

The Israel I once knew, is gone, replaced with the fog of war.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Mike Bostwick, Puyallup, Wash — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:55:30 GMT

I believe the Israel has made a huge mistake striking Gaza with such force. The compassion for Israel has disappeared after seeing the bloodied and terrified mentally scared children of Gaza grieving for lost parents, brothers and sisters. Indeed, a new generation full of anger and hatred is exactly what is being created.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Michael, Sugar Land, TX — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:55:35 GMT

"No comments yet". That's because you won't print anything critical of this one-sided, piece of trash article. Yellow journalism at its worst. I think I'll stick with Fox and CNN.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

John Smith — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:57:07 GMT

Yepp. War crimes, anyone?

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

joe long island ny — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:51:50 GMT

Egypt has to open there boarders and let the women and children in .. I feel bad for all those civilians but I don't understand if there so inocent howcome Egypt isn't helping them

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

sunman01, Iowa — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:56:23 GMT

Isreal should have just targeted the militants and assasinated them by using snipers instead of bombing innocent women and children.
Hamas hides behind civilians because they have to they would be wiped out if they dont, it is not two countries waging a war, it is a miliatry fighting a insurgency and insurgents will neve fight a conventional war. Any kind of war is bad.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Eric, Toronto Canada — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 16:56:52 GMT

I'm surprised that a US media website would actually allow a blog to be published that focuses on the suffering of Palestinian civilians. If more articles like this one appeared in the US media, Israel would not have the same latitude to launch their periodic wars of choice, to maintain their 61 year occupation of Arab lands -- and commit the most despicable war crimes on civilians, in the process.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Christopher E., Cleveland, Ohio — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:33:53 GMT

It is Hamas that has brought this upon the innocent civilians or Gaza. Hamas knew that an Israeli offensive and bombings would befall Gaza from the rocket attacks. Look at when Hezbollah thought that Israel would roll over onto their backs by kidnapping one of their citizens. Yet Israel responded appropriately in that situation. I am not surprised that they responded heavy handed in this situation. Hamas is cowardly hiding behind a civilian shield, and they alone have brought this upon the Gaza civilians. Let us not forget that Hamas did violate the ceasefire agreement many times over the 6 months, and they are they ones that canceled the agreement. Til the citizens of Gaza deal with Hamas by pushing them in front of the civilian shield; there will be a disproportionate amount of civilians killed in Gaza. This shows the cowardliness of Hamas, in fact this is what Hamas wanted in the first place. There militant faction was being delt with surgical precision by the Israelis before. After Lebanon in 2007, Hamas knew that Israel would not respond lightly if they continued the rocket fire. I blame all of these civilian deaths on Hamas and Hamas alone. They knew the consequences of their actions. If someone was firing rockets from my neighborhood, I would be calling the Israeli Army telling there where the person lives. The civilians of Gaza need to get involved if they want to stop the bombings and deaths.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Abdullah — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:35:47 GMT

I really appreciate this article...someone in this world is writing unbiased article, I am amazed. The people who say this as biased, don't know the history behind this conflict which started long back and don't have the capability to hear the truth. Invasions & occupations leads to future anger & hatred that is common sense and it is not rocket science.

Gaza civilian toll could backfire on Israel

Sona Conlin Lancaster, CA — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 17:37:08 GMT

Well, I was born and lived in Beirut for 15 years of my life. All I can say is nothing has changed, and nothing will ever change. Palesinians did the same thing there, and hundreds of thousands of them and Lebanese people died for years. The fact that my family and I got out without a scar, is a miracle. I do understand both sides. My own people (Armenians), were massacred, kicked out of their country, promissed back their land, but look what happened? We now barely have 10% of what belonged to us once. They did the same to the Palestinians, kicked them out, told them they will be able to come back soon, and look at it now (my uncle was born in Palestine, his family was kicked out of there too)? It's not even called Palestine. What I'm trying to get at, is the fact that what the militants do is dispicable, but no one is seeing the big picture. If my religion thought me "an eye for an eye", my people would probably be doing the same thing with Turkey, but our religion doesn't teach us that, it teaches us to turn the other cheek. So what do we do? We sit and discuss it in a civilized manner, but we don't even get the acknowledgment that the massacre actually took place, much less our land back. So do you see the picture now? All this is, is a catch 22! You're damned if you do, and you're damnded if you don't. The little people always suffer.
And just for the record, I also majored in journalism. All I can say is that thank God I don't have to actually do that job. Yes, journalism as we speak died long time ago, no matter what network or print publication!