This action is not taken to teach lesson to Hamas but to keep our (israelis) mouth shut and to keep us away from demanding firm responce. In short this response is taken to fool us.

What were two children doing in a smuggling tunnel in the early hours of the dawn? I hope UNICEF is watching -- oh so vocal during Cast Lead; let's see where that vaunted organization is now. My bet: nowhere to be seen or heard. I suppose injured and exploited ersatz "Palestinian" children do not matter nearly as much when it is the ersatz "Palestinians" who are responsible for those injuries and that extraordinary degree of exploitation. What they'll likely end up doing -- if UNICEF does anything at all -- is criticize Israel for not allowing cement into Gaza, thus making it impossible for Hamas to shore up smuggling tunnels. The fact that there were children in the tunnels at all is evidence of a particularly venal form of child abuse. Let's see what, if anything, UNICEF -- the organization charged with looking after the interests of children -- will do or say. Well, they've been pretty silent about the traumatized children of Sderot and environs. But so has the entire United Nations. I don't expect any United Nations agency to come to the fore questioning why two children were injured in a smuggling tunnel. Or wondering how many children were actually there and remained uninjured.

Barak showed that Operation 'Cast Lead' had been planned for up to six months and cannot be adequately explained as a response to Palestinian military strikes. The results of Cast Lead in early 2009, 75 tons of depleted uranium in Gaza soil, 60,000 homes destroyed. Coupled with land, sea and ar siege since 2006 is nothing short of ethnic cleansing and genocide. What does the International Law say about that? the "jus cogens" status which supersedes the international law applies when breaching the peremptory norms. The number of peremptory norms is considered limited but not exclusively catalogued. They are not listed or defined by any authoritative body, but arise out of case law and changing social and political attitudes. Generally included are prohibitions on waging aggressive war, crimes against humanity, war crimes, maritime piracy, genocide, apartheid, slavery, and torture. look who decides that tunnels should be bombed, the Perpetrator!

are to blame. They cant control their people there, so they have to pay the price. Israel has been far to soft with them and its about time they hit out relentlessly once and for all. Enough is enough, stop those firing rockets and both sides will benefit...but maybe that isnt the stratagy of Hamas, they are happy with this conflict for power and propaganda. Syria has taken the headlines from them, so they have to get them back.

As IAF planes bombed Gaza, israeli trucks crossed the border carrying foodstoffs, consumer goods, building materials. What a stupidity ! Until two weeks after yesterday's attack at Netivot even for the wild birds must be prohibited to fly to Gaza.

Why is it almost always children that are wounded during these attacks? Sounds better for Pallywood.

1. There is no such thing as "legitimate smuggling." 2. Jus cogens does not apply to terrorist organizations. That's settled international law. Hamas and the rest of the riff-raff in Gaza are terrorists. That's internationally recognized, too. 3. You really need to find better websites from which to co-opt material without proper attribution. 4. The only sentence you are responsible for in the entire absurd jeremiad in post number three is that last one. 5. Do you seriously think you are fooling anyone?

Take this latest Rocket Attack from Hamas This latest INDISCRIMINATE Rocket Attack from Gaza that caused injury and destroyed property inside Israel went TOTALLY UNREPORTED...presumably it was because the BBC deemed it unworthy of reporting Yet TODAY when Israel retaliates causing injury and detruction of tunnels and rocket factories inside Gaza..IT IS HEADLINE NEWS and the fact of Hamas Rocket Attacks that started this all LEFT TILL THE VERY LAST SENTENCE..as if almost as an afterthought This is just one of so many examples of the Toxic Nature of BBC Middle East Coverage...yet still remains largely unaccaountable

Or do you make them up as you go along Mind you your Prose is not bad at all Youd make a good fiction writer (Seriously!)

wasted expensive bomb on empty buildings and no casualties. This is surely going to teach the terrorists a lesson.LOL. This proves that Israel loves that situation and refuses to put an end to it .People living in the south should pack and move to Tel Aviv where it is safer, for the sake and safety of your children do it

David next week it"s Rosh Hashana The government cannot afford an escalation of rocket attacks at this time.

Dear Observer from Egypt (this is very telling in itself) Ok, we can stop right there. There is nothing legitimate about smuggling. That's why they smuggle! Cast Lead was Israel's response to terror from Hamas against Israel. Hamas hid behind the skirts of many innocent families and blamed Israel if anyone was hurt. Cowards! They bring it on their own heads. It is tragic that they force Israel to respond. It all saddens me very deeply.

There is nothing liker legitimate settlements in the West Bank . Though I and most of the people do not believe that Hamas is terrorist, the 60,00 homes destroyed in the Cast Lead were Civilian Gazans' NOT Hamas's ones.

David, do you really thing think Tel Aviv is safe? If I move my family it will be anywhere in Israel but the pink city.

Im not making this up.. It is EDITORIAL POLICY. Also one is a TERRORIST only if one bombs the UK mainland or UK troops Otherwise one is an Activist

But if the houses are being used as a safe house or as a shield for Hamas terrorists to shout israely so I belive the the idf has the right to destroy this houses

Its extremely painful when rockets land in these smuggling passageways . Do UNICEF assist in ensuring that children come thrOugh the correct passageways? No they don't! There's evil people out there inserting large rockets into these tiny backpassages. They don't even useLube imagine how painful that must be especially considering the sand too.

I think it's the same rectally-fixated troll at work. What a truly sad creature ....

1. The settlements in Judea and Samaria are fully legal. 2. If you and "most of the people" do not believe that Hamas is a terrorist organization, you are seriously deluded. 3. Hamas is responsible for everything that happens in Gaza. So if homes that were housing Hamas terrorists are fair game. Perhaps you should consider why Hamas seeks to hide itself behind civilians?

You don't even know how to write and you want to impersonate Sarah! Your education is light years below hers! No one believes you. Just get lost parasite!

Easy - the illegitimacy of Arab annexation and ethnic cleansing of that land from Jews in 1949, and filling it with foreign Arab immigrants for the 18 years following. According to Intl law, both of those acts are major war crimes. Hence, settlements remain legitimate as they now RE-CLAIM the land stolen by Arabs, and accepted by NO ONE except the UK. As for the houses in Gaza, again, oly 8000 building were damaged or destroyed, and most were a result of Hamas USING civilian homes to cover their tunnel network and weapons storage, rendering them as legitimate targets per Intl law. Other homes were damaged by the use of powerful IEDs by Hamas, placed right next to civilian homes for the IDF. Luckily, the IDF saw them and neutralized them, but the explosion damaged the near-by house, which the IDF evacuated so no civilians would be hurt in the operation. So, there you have it - most homes damaged because Hamas cynically used civilians as human shields, and some how this is legitimate to you. You do show a sad side of an Arab future.