is hamas implying that it was ok with israel until gaza was declared hostile today? no, hamas could not possible hate israel more than t did before and this declaration changes nothing for hamas, except that israel is no longer playing the charade. and that angers the crybabies in gaza. too bad.

The Hamas is too cowardly to fight an actual war. They'll continue to "fight" behind the skirts of their women. They can bark like the dogs they are all they want. Hamas and their supporters should be ashamed, but they don't have enough intelligence to know this.

Hamas has been in a perpetual state of war with Israel since it's inception. Funny how this label riles them up more than an actual incursion. I think Israel is onto something and found the soft spot of the savages. Push the Button!

Hamas calls for the annullment of Israel and denies its existence and THIS is what constitutes a declaration of 'war' against it by Israel, because its held back really punishing the rabble with guns. Sheesh.

and it's ok, if you hit back, you started a fight. Maybe the PAL leadership could take some courses on logic!

I don't understand ? Wasn't the brilliant plan of the U.S President supposed to lead to peace ? What about all the weapons Presidnet Bush supplied to Fatah/Hamas, arent these weapons of peace ? Matbe if Israel just offers more painful concessions ,Hamas will see that the Jews are nice infidels who only deserve nice jihad ? Let Ramon,Olmert,Peres offer more Jewish lives and land and we will see a better jihad of peace. Kadima is leading the way forward. Appeasment macht frei.

they are curious : they fire on a daily basis rocket on southern negev and then they say "What?! you are declaring we are an "hostile political entity"" ...". We are used to hearing propaganda and lies but this one is for sure one of the best!! they are extremely funny !! really!! they may have been infiltrated with iranians propagandists to say such stupid & provocative things like this one?!

The problem in Israel is not Hamas, but a cowardly Olmert, and a lecherous Pereze. Go home old man! to both.

hamas says this is a declaration of war have we been in peace withthem until now?

...into Sderot and called for the destruction of Israel. They should WORRY now since the game rules have changed.

I can't beleive Hamas: they want to continue to fire quassams at Israel and kill Israelis, but then when Israel cuts off fuel and supplies they consider that to be hostile. C'mon Gaza - you can't have your cake and eat it too!

I don't think that Haniya and his merry men, those who are not in Israeli jails, understand that firing rockets on Israeli towns and settlements is not exactly an act of "Peace". Also, if I recall correctly, the Arab World declared war on Israel in 1948. This "State of War" still exists as they have never signed a peace treaty; all this is except for Egypt and Jordan. Ok, well sort of peace. Now let’s wait and see how long it takes for CNN, SkyNews, the BBC, France 24 and even FoxNews (Al Jezeera has already done this) to tell us what naughty and bad people we are. No doubt Amnesty Inconsequential and the various Human Wrongs organizations will complain about the rights of the poor Palestinians. Where we they when our soldiers were hurt the other day? Oh well, when the next Tsunami happens, it will be Israel's fault! Get ready for it.

blah...blah...blah...stop firing Qassams, kidnapping our soldiers and killing our civilians and maybe then we'll consider reinstating utility services.

It never did make sense to keep feeding the beast while it tries to kill you !! Maybe Olmert is comming to his senses. Another political must is to STOP THE WAKF FROM THE WANTON DESTRUCTION ON THE TEMPLE MOUNT!!!!!

How many needlessly dead Jews has it taken to reach this conclusion? Cut off their power, water, everything and anything. If the UN complains, maybe Bloomberg will cut off their power and water also (yeah, like that might ever happen to THAT terrorist organization!) The Book Of Life is to be sealed shortly for the coming year.

after how many years of a hamas war on israel?

Boy... if they tried that against a US territory would they have ever been wiped out by now. Where do they get these perverted intellects... and why do they send them to us?

"The cabinet's decision was carried unanimously and effectively authorized the government to impose economic sanctions against Gaza, so long as they do not affect the civilian population." Part of the problem is that there is no delineation between the civilian and "other" population. So how will they cut off electricity or gas? Just another empty threat of a failed government. Remember the soccer field bombing campaign? Only an idiot would continue to send strategic materials to an enemy in times of war (actually we call them traitors in the west). Just pull the plug.

Hamas wants the world to agree to their right to "resist" Israel. It doesn't matter to Hamas if they kill civilians or soldiers. It's all the same to them. At the same time Hamas is begging everyone to come save them if Israel retaliates. That's why they call it a declaration of war.

After 60 years of bloodshed, it's time for Israel to annex Gaza now, and later, annex the West Bank and The Golan Heights. Benny Elon's plan ("The Right Road To Peace') should be adopted as a practical strategy by which to resolve this senseless conflict between Arabs and Jews. Enough already!

hamas, what would you call your charter? not a declaration of war? it specifically says......the obliteration of israel....a non existant entity. i believe we all know that you yourselves have declare war a long time ago. we are just ending the charade and you don't like it. i suggest you create and manufacture your bombs with the help of egyptian electricity and oil this time. too bad. we have given you enough time to straighten out, but you failed. you are a very poor excuse of representing the collective population of gaza which turns against you little by little everyday. recently, you jailed some doctors in the hospital in gaza who were against your murderous policies, calling them collaborators and traitors. isn't this collective punishment you impose on your people as well? not giving them access to much needed medics to cure the filth and poverty and misery you brought to your people in the name of your hate and murderous style?

Harold S. Kramer raises a useful point - annexation. This could lead to a unified state with Gazan Palestinians enjoying the same "rights" as current Arab-Israelis. The reverse - the annexation of Israel by a self declared Palestinian state is one I have suggested over the decades. The symbolism would lead to very realistic end results, one way or the other. And CHOSEN WORLD - Our War on Islam and our freedoms [Amazon.com] does conjure up such creative alternatives, including moving Israel lock, stock and WMD to Canada. Israel would then have a ready-made set of new Palestinians in the repressed Native population of that country as a source of cheap labour. And oil and water and an inplace political infrastructure. Eh?

.... and the population of Sderot, the children of Sderot who cannot attend school because of the incessant Quassam, this is NOT a humanitarian disaster????

The Israelis talk, and Hamas, and the rest of the f-g world say that israel is decalring war. The Hamas and their supporters (everyone living in Gaza, it seems) lob Kassams and cheer, and that's NOT an act of War??? The UN sends Israel a message that it has the obligation to supply food, fuel , water, and electricity to those who shoot rockets at it's citizens every day. The whole world has gone mad. No more, or no less.