Israel has cancelled many military operations because of its concern with civilian casualties. But should civilian losses occur despite the best efforts of Israel to avoid them, it is ultimately not Israel's responsibility. As political philosopher Michael Walzer noted in 2006: "When Palestinian militants launch rocket attacks from civilian areas, they are themselves responsible - and no one else is - for the civilian deaths caused by Israeli counterfire." The respect of international law (2 parts) : http://xrl.us/bebdpb

and so do many Muslim states. G-d bless Israel!!!

Amazing how the IDF only manages to kill civilians - we shoot & bomb & somehow, miss all the enemy combatants & only hit civilians. That most of these ''civilians'' were on the battlefield or in Hamas installations & armed is, of course, besides the point. As soon as someone is killed or injured, they automatically become civilians.

30% of which are children.. Very brave of Israeli soldiers

We already know we killed 500 "Hamas People" are there any real Hamas people killed, or are they getting us ready for the bad news?

Once the decision was made by Hamas to use rocket fire to impose their new conditions for a cease-fire (which included unacceptable rocket fire on Israeli citizens) a ground offensive and all out war with Israel was unavoidable. As bad as the causalities may be, they forced this situation to occur. Storing ammunition, rockets, and attacking Israel from within civilian areas makes civilian causalities a certainty.

Do the figures of the dead in gaza include the 35 killed by hamas as collaboraters???The press uses figures to attempt tp make a tragety of an action disigned to return the security of Israel. The main question is WHY WAS THIS OPERATION NOT INSTITUTED A MONTH AGAO.??iS THE OPERATION NOW A ELECTION GIMMICK?? The polls show that the cowardly barak is using soldiers for his political future.

We are with you Tzhal!!!! God Bless the best little Airforce in the whole wide world and God Bless all our soldiers!

Once and for all the evil of Hamas needs to be destroyed .May god keep our soldiers safe and may the state of srael go from strength to strength and one day live in peace

we are not aiming to kill civilians, in fact we would prefer to live and let live, but we are under constant attack for 7-8 years and enough is enough. THe fact that Hamas hides amongst women/children is cowardly. Would u accept Iraq showering ur city with missles daily, I doubt it. I am sad for the loss of life, any life, and I hope that Hamas comes to its senses, u dont get it yet do u, this is Iran's playground,where they practice their new weaponary, soon it might be ur background they decide to play in.

1. Are they counting as "civilian casualties" the 35 Muslims that Hamas butchered this week, accused of being either Fatah or collaborators? Make sure you spread the word of Hamas savagery against other Arabs. 2. Keep informed and actively do hasbarah (public relations) for Israel's just cause. We cannot surrender the battle for public opinion yet again to the Islamofascists and their apologists. Remember to discuss this with brains, logic and charm, and not be strident or whiny like our enemies. 3. Send financial support NOW - to the IDF (the Libi Fund), the MDA, Honest Reporting, whatever you choose. 4. Get on a plane and offer your moral support in person to Israel. 5. Perhaps the most imiportant of all - recite Tehillim (Psalms). A good start would be # 20, 46, 83, 120 and 121... and whatever others you feel appropriate. Israel cannot afford only half a victory this time. We must all do our part!

keep strong , we love you and wait for your victorious return, bring it on for Gilad , it's payback time.

we occupied and wanted to live in peace for a long time, but the palestinians dont live or let live. so we must teach them a lesson. see it's all their fault.

You have besieged these people for generations. In the past two years, you have denied them access to food, water and medicince. Israel is solely responsible for the situation in GAZA. IN fact, Israel is responsible for the creation of HAMAS in the first place. (Remember how Israel believed that the Hamas would be better than Fatah.) This is Israel's responsibility and remains Israel's responsibility regardless of the intent involved. If you blow up a plane to destroy a suitcase within the cargo bay, you have still committed first degree murder. Denying medical care by banning chemotherapy/radiation therapy is the only responsibility Israel need bear.

How do they know that these are "civillians"?

others tens of thousands traumatised

I would like to remind what your YESHA RABINICAL COUNCIL annouNced "ACCORDING TO JEWISH LAW, DURING A TIME OF BATTLE AND WAR, THERE IS NO SUCH TERM AS 'INNOCENTS' OF THE ENEMY." ALL OF THE DISCUSSION ON CHRISTIAN MORALITY ARE WEAKENING THE SPIRIT OF THE ARMY AND THE NATION AND ARE COSTING US IN THE BLOOD OF OUR SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS. WHAT'S THE JEWISH MORALITY?

ACTUALLY JACK, I MUST CORRECT YOU. EVERY SINGLE DEATH IN THE GAZA STRIP WHETHER CIVILIAN OR NOT IS NOT ISRAEL'S RESPONSIBILITY. IN FACT, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MORONS SUCH AS YOURSELF WHO HAVE PRESSURED ISRAEL TO DEAL WITH SAVAGE TERRORISTS IN WAYS THAT ARE CONTRARY TO THE HEALTH OF THE NATION. NO OTHER NATION ON THE PLANET HAS TO DEAL WITH ITS ENEMY IN SUCH WAYS. YOUR IGNORANCE, NAIVETY, AND LACK OF INTELLECTUAL CAPACITY ARE TOO ANNOYING AND PROBABLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CORRECT IN YOUR LIFETIME. PLEASE DO US A FAVOR AND GO ON AL JAZEERA WEB SITE WHERE YOUR INSITE WILL BE FULLY APPRECIATED.

operation ends there may be a period of quiet while the vanquished lick their wounds. Eventually the "peace negotiations" will begin anew with a newly elected Israeli govt. At some point, an Israeli surgical strike will assassinate a "terrorist" and the cycle will begin again.

These idiots kill anyone, including other Moslems, with no regard for any morality. They do it in Gaza and they do it all over the world. But, Israelis don't relish death and will gladly stop this war. All that is required is that Hamas admit defeat, which has really already happened, surrender unconditionally, and let the world come in with tons of money and rebuild Gaza, but a Gaza free of Hamas rule. The green flags must be made illegal.

millions of viral enemies to my body. The muslim cult preaches to kill all us kaffers. We are no better than a cow in their eyes led to the slaughter. As long as the cult religion of the muslims preaxhes for the infidels death......yours and mine.........the killing for the protection of all our cultures can continue. I don't see anyone crying about any other virus being killed by antibiotics. The muslims are choosing to be a virus to mankind. Just because they have oil......does it mean......that I have to let their aids virus spread to my body...............or Israel's body. What the muslims have done and are doing in the name of their cult is wrong........and should never be accepted by anyone. All these idiots do is threaten everyone with a fatwah every day of the week. They are a bunch of cult pushing terrorist bullies. Keep fighting back. Choose to win for a change.

with all equipment you have and all arms you can get only of children ,what amonkies you are.be ready for what is awaiting in gaza from hams men. idf only can get of children only cause they are made of cartoon same as their dream and country .you will be finished israel.

All Arab news sources and most western media can and should be completely ignored when it comes to numbers and identity of casualties and, even if accurate, they are irrelevant since Hamas must be destroyed utterly at any cost if there is to ever be peace.

In Baghdad a female suicide bombers kills over 40 Muslims in a Mosque and we are the bad ones! Very sick world we live in.

Can you hear your own echo yet? This sort of gibberish sounds hollower with each new conflict the Arabs instigate.