IPFS Stephen Lendman

More About: Israel - Palestine

Israel's Long War on Gaza

Israel's Long War on Gaza

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Illegally blockading Gaza for the past decade was an undeclared act of war, creating a protracted humanitarian crisis.

Three preemptive Israeli wars of aggression on the Strip in the past nine years massacred defenseless civilians and caused vast destruction - another war just a matter of time, likely to be more devastating than the previous ones.

Besides blockade and naked aggression, Israeli forces intermittently terror-bomb, shell, and conduct cross-border incursions into Gaza - further acts of war, the world community silent about high crimes demanding accountability.

In late October, Israeli warplanes terror-bombed a southern Gaza tunnel, a vital lifeline for food, fuel, medical supplies, and other essentials Israel wants restricted, part of its slow-motion genocide policy.

The October bombing killed 10 Islamic Jihad (IJ) and two Hamas resistance fighters. The following day, IJ issued a statement, saying it won't relinquish its fundamental "right to respond to any aggression, including our right to respond to the crime of aggression on the resistance tunnel," adding:

Israeli "threats to target the movement's leadership is a declaration of war, which we will confront."

Days earlier, Israeli General Yoav Mordechai warned Islamic Jihad that any retaliatory attack by the group "will be met with a powerful and determined Israeli response, not only against the Jihad, but also against Hamas."

On Monday, Israeli forces shelled Gazan agricultural areas in eastern Khan Younis. Violent IDF-instigated border incidents occur with disturbing regularity.

Israeli border guards fire on children for target practice. Farmers in their fields are attacked, along with fishermen at sea. Much of Gaza's most fertile agricultural land was declared off-limits or destroyed.

On Monday, Israel raised its alert level along with deploying anti-missile Iron Dome batteries, short of calling up reservists so far.

It's the first time these measures were taken since before preemptive aggression on Gaza in summer 2014.

Israel holds Hamas responsible for anything it considers a threat to its security from the Strip. Killing Islamic Jihad and Hamas resistance fighters two weeks ago was the type provocation preceding Operation Protective Edge, launched on July 8, 2014.

Is Israel planning more naked aggression? Is it provoking Islamic Jihad and Hamas to respond in retaliation to the murder of its fighters?

Are more Israeli terror-bombings of Syria planned? Will Iranian and/or Hezbollah forces in Syria be struck? 

Are Washington, Israel and Saudi Arabia jointly planning more regional war than already?

These nations abhor peace, support endless wars of aggression. Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran are vulnerable.

Regional turmoil could worsen any time. Rage for war by these countries risks greater far greater conflicts than already.

VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html


ContentSafe