Hamas’ brutal attacks in Israel on October 7 killed at least 1,400 people and the group took more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. In the wake of the assault, Israel launched an aerial bombardment of Gaza that Palestinian health officials say has killed more than 5,000 people. Israel also announced a “complete siege” on the enclave, withholding vital supplies of water, food and fuel.
I think this is simply a function of the asymmetry of the military forces involved. The Israeli military has full control of the air, long range artillery, modern western weapons. They can destroy any target they want easily.
Therefore any installation Hamas has that’s separated from the population, will have already been destroyed in the early phases of the conflict 20 years ago. Anything they build that’s away from population centers would be immediately destroyed.
Perhaps it’s an unintended consequence but the emerging behavior is the only military installations that survive are near civilian populations. It doesn’t help that the population density of the conflict area is incredibly high, with the majority of the population being children. Meaning there’s children everywhere around every target. Because any target that’s not around children would have been destroyed already.
And none of this has to do with the intentions of either side, it’s just the asymmetric capabilities creating de facto emergent behavior. It’s not that Hamas is trying to use human shields, they have no other practical choice. And before the exasperated brigade starts to dogpile me, this is just the reality of war, it’s not an apology.
Yes, but you still need someone to pull the trigger, and then you need 10 other nations to say “it’s the right to self defense” to make it okay.
It’s might + intent, not one without the other.
Because the government of Israel has asymmetric strength in this conflict, it makes them more responsible to move towards peace. Simply because they have most of the capabilities.
Blaming Hamas is completely valid, Hamas is a bad actor.
Blaming the Palestinian people is not valid, Israel the country with its asymmetric capabilities is the responsible one to bring the populations towards peace.
As the last 60 years of demonstrated, using your asymmetric power to just bomb a population into submission, might buy you a respite, but does not end the cycle of violence
Yep, and honestly I keep wondering what Israel was thinking. Did it think it could keep Palestinians from retaliating forever?
What was the plan for Gaza anyway? Leaving that bomb ticking rather than removing the siege (gradually at least) and allowing these people self-determination.
I believe there said they’ll stop the siege if the hostages are released.
Ah yes as if they have the right to make conditions about people’s lives.
The hostages are being freed one by one. Let’s see if Israel stops genocidin’ when the hostages have been released.
My bet is that it will not.