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Barak: Hamas responsible for civilian deaths in Gaza
Hanan Greenberg
Published: 28.04.08, 15:47
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1. As usual, Barak gets it wrong
Gershon ,   Kfar Saba, Israel   (04.28.08)
Hamas is not responsible for some of the civilian casualties - Hamas is responsible for ALL the civilian casualties.
2. Still waiting for the Gaza populace to pull their head out.
Cameron ,   USA   (04.28.08)
In truth, did the IDF or Hamas kill that family?
3. Barak is very correct -- israels enemy is using civilians
augustine e johnson ,   Birmingham_usa   (04.28.08)
Barak is very correct -- israels islamic enemies are using civilians as shields --- the civilians need to throw hamas out if any kind of peace is expected --- ------ shalom to a greater , stronger, larger , new jewish templed Israel===========augustine e johnson _ usa
4. Barak - go on CNN and say it!!
Chaya ,   Bat Yam, Israel   (04.28.08)
5. Damn right they are!!!!!
Talula ,   Israel   (04.28.08)
We can see that - why can't they? Why are they such a bunch of stupid Morons?
6. well said barak!
Tito ,   Tel Aviv   (04.28.08)
terrorists must stop taking their kids to their "work place" and start acting humane! before that happens they will not see any truce shmoose or whatever they call their "re-armament"! it hurts to see civilians getting killed but i have nothing more to say than that they deserve hamas. you elected them, now face the consequences! cheers!
7. IDF killed kids , Barak can blame
Sabra   (04.28.08)
in adition to hamas hizbullah, Iran , Taliban , North Coria all what he wants but the direct killers are the IDF , always somone to blame
8. Human shields.
Robert Bernier   (04.28.08)
Israel cannot be blamed for hurting human shields. The key problem to be addressed is the way in which terrorists exploit their own civilians, forcing them against their will to serve as human shields or obtaining their agreement to serve as such. When human shields are used, those who agree to be used are combatants, and have chosen to die. As far as involuntary human shields are concerned, the terrorists are to blame for every civilian who is killed. As to the methods of the terrorists : http://ceiheu.notlong.com
9. Don't blame the Pals
Ali ,   Ramallah-Palestine   (04.28.08)
This is the Israeli policy since it was established, illegally, since 1948. That's why it's a temporary state. History has proven that states of oppression and occupation does not exist more than 100 years.
10. No excuse/justification for this [regular] Jewish terror
DA ,   Texas   (04.28.08)
Which, by the way, happened thousands of times and claimed the lives of thousands of innocent Palestinian men, women, and children.
11. ya know...
edward ,   las vegas   (04.28.08)
dropping bombs on civilian areas is a war crime.
12. Did they bring their human shields?
observer   (04.28.08)
Damn they did...!
13. #10 & 11 are brave MEN
Ali ,   Ramallah-Palestine   (04.28.08)
You are the voice that makes us alive, may God bless you and your families.
14. #11, No its not if civilan areas used by enemy
Johnny ,   Stockholm Sweden   (04.28.08)
You are wrong Edward, dropping bombs on enemies who deploy in civilian areas is legal. In such a situation all blame for potential killings of civilians lie on those who have deployed among the civilians. The UN's laws of war are very clear on this point.
15. #12 but the IDF brought stronger weapons!
observer   (04.28.08)
actually the IDF did not allow time for them to come out. The IDF attacked them while packing their human shields inside their house.
16. its amazing to me
edward ,   las vegas   (04.28.08)
how so-called "religious jews" commenting on this site get so excited and full of joy when they learn that women and children were murdered by their air force dropping american made bombs on peoples neighborhoods. what goes through your sick heads? is the answer to the palestinian war crimes to commit even greater war crimes? israel acts as if they have some moral high ground. but in fact, they stoop to the lowest possible acts: dropping bombs from the air, with no risk to the bomb-dropper, onto neighborhoods and houses of large families. the only more disgusting group is the one who rejoices in this behavior on ynet.
17. Happy Birthday, Israel
Natan ,   Tel-Aviv, Israel   (04.28.08)
60 years of governing another people. WOW, isn't this too MUCH. My family and I cam here since 35 years, we never felt secure here because of the Arabs, we always have the feeling that they are killer and not human beings. Last year, I visited Lod, Natzerah, and Kfar Qassem, they welcomed us. They told us their own pain in the Sate of Israel, they also explained how they lost their land and identity. I started to understand them, in fact they deserve better lives to feel justice and democracy in this State. The Palestinian people in West Bank and Gaza deserves a better life and an independent State. Israel, look in the mirror, after 60 years we still don't feel safe. We need peace not more settlements, enough is really enough.
18. Barak is correct, compare to Nazi Germany
eddie ,   london UK   (04.28.08)
Just as the Nazis attacked Britain with their rockets during WW2, and Britain responded heavily , so Hamas have aattacked Israel with rockets. The differnece is, that Britain was more brutal in its attacks on German cities than Israel has ever been. Israel tries to hit only terror targets, but this is not always possible. Britain had a policy of maximum counter terror and took the war to the cities, eg dresden. I personally support the British approach - and suggest that Israel also take this option.
19. to#9 Pal
Marcelo ,   Frankfurt   (04.28.08)
You are right: hammas will last less than you imagine !!
20. so tired
ilan ,   TA   (04.28.08)
i am SO tired of this happening again and again. palestinians will never be granted a state of their own if they continue acting like idiots. absolute idiots.
21. edward
tito ,   telaviv   (04.28.08)
you just don't how you're falling for their propaganda. so you're one of those many idiots who just believe whatever is sold to you. let me put it to you clear, maybe try read it slow: terrorists -> go -> hide -> amongst -> civilians -> 1+1=2 -> capish? let me ask you something. if your neighboor hides behind his wife and throws rocks at you but you have no where to hide, the rocks keep hitting you in the head (what u deserve actually), arent you gonna throw back the same stones at him even though he's hiding behind his wife? i guess as dumb as u r u'd stay still letting him kill you with those rocks... get a life dude! cheers!
22. so johnny
edward ,   las vegas   (04.28.08)
you say: "dropping bombs on enemies who deploy in civilian areas is legal. " this is really an amazing statement. first, who are "enemies"? second, where is your proof and reference for this outlandish claim? I've never heard of such a thing. third, if this is true, since all Israeli men must serve in the army and the IDF is the "enemy" of the palestinians, then when your soldier goes out to a cafe and it is hit by a bomb, then it is a legal attack on that cafe? there was "enemy" there. are all the pop-rockets flying into sderot legal as well? the palesitinian "enemy" lives there, the israeli soldier. you really go to a new level of just making things up. the last time i checked, article 4 of the geneva conventions applied to the west bank and gaza. article 4 is titled "Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War". http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/0/6756482d86146898c125641e004aa3c5?OpenDocument and it explicitly states that the occupier is responsible for the treatment of the occupied. therefore, israel as the occupier is responsible for the bombs israel drops on cities and neighborhoods it occupies. to claim otherwise is completely disingenuous, myopic, and idiotic. only a person who has lost their morals could do so.
23. this is pure BS !
(04.28.08)
24. Laws of war
Brent ,   Lawrence, USA   (04.28.08)
As a former military officer and as a former instructor of military officers on the subject of the Laws of War I want to point out a few things. 1. It is contrary to the laws of war for a nation or group to use civilians as shields. If they do, their enemies are justified under the provisions of the laws of war to attack them regardless of the presence of civilians. 2. Combatants are required, in order to have the protections of the laws of war, to operate openly, to wear distinctive apparel so that their enemies can distinguish between them and noncombatants, and to target only military targets. If one set of combatants do not abide by this, their oponents are released from any and all constraints imposed by the laws of war. On these two points alone the Palestinians have violated the laws of war and are subject to any punitive action that Israel wishes to level. Additionally, the Palestinian conduct in contravention of the laws of war makes them responsible for the deaths of civilians killed when Israel strikes at those hiding among the non-combatants.
25. to Edward, Las Vegas
connecticut yank ,   stamford, ct   (04.28.08)
Edward, When you live in the fantasyland of Las Vegas where nothing is real, I guess it's easy to criticize...imagine if rockets were raining on Las Vegas and the U.S. military killed a few civilians in trying to stamp out the terror...how would you feel about that? By the way, the U.S. military has often inadvertantly killed civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq under identical circumstances, and in that case U.S. civilians are not even directly threatened!
26. great idea eddie #18!!!
edward ,   las vegas   (04.28.08)
you are so wise. you said: "Britain had a policy of maximum counter terror and took the war to the cities, eg dresden. I personally support the British approach - and suggest that Israel also take this option." that is an awesome idea. kill the entire population of gaza. there's only 1.2 million people there! and the palesitians are SO MUCH LIKE OMG A HUGE THREAT like the nazis. great comparison. the nazis had bombers, bombs, and all kinds of sophisticated war-making machinery. the palestinians too!!!! with their slingshots, rock-throwing, firework rockets, and like 10 ak-47s they pose an existential threat to israel which calls for the total destruction of all of their cities and civilians. the threat is so great, israel should consider dropping nukes on gaza and ramallah. sick sick people on here.
27. you're so smart tito
edward ,   las vegas   (04.28.08)
first, how do you know there was a "terrorist" there? did you see him? oh no, wait, you swallowed hook line and sinker your governments propoganda. but even if i were to give you that point, let me take your same analogy: idf soldiers-> go -> live -> amongst -> civilians -> 1+1=2 -> capish if your neighbor drops 500, 1000, and 1500 pound bombs on your homes and kills your children and your wife and your great grandmother, is your response going to be to start digging graves and apologizing to the bomb dropper and murderers? you did get one thing right. while your warplanes murder thousands of civilians per year (versus the dozen or so israelis per year), the best weapons they have are rocks.
28. Edwards #22, Gaza is no occupied since 2005
Johnny ,   Stockholm Sweden   (04.28.08)
Edwards, gaza is not under occupation by Israel. Israel left unilaterally in 2005. Palestinians attacking civilian Israelis in cafes are terrorists and in violation of UN's laws of war. Its all very simple Edwards, just read the laws of war signed by the United Nations, its all there.
29. #11 Stop posting
Natan ,   USA   (04.28.08)
You are affecting the readers IQ level with your moronic statements!!! The slot machines must have affected you
30. #22, Vegas Ed Great point
Natan ,   USA   (04.28.08)
You forgot, however, that Gaza is no longer "occupied". Now go back to your slot machine and don't forget your medications
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