Israeli Strikes in Gaza Kill 4 Hamas Militants
ISABEL KERSHNER and FARES AKRAM
November 1, 2013
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http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/02/world/middleeast/israeli-airstrike-kills-4-militants-in-gaza.html?_r=0
A group of I.D.F. engineers were on a mission to destroy tunnels from Gaza into Israel made by Hamas militants. This tunnel could have been used to attack Israeli soldiers and civilians. As the engineers were working on both sides of the wall, a bomb on the Gaza side detonated that wounded five of the team. The I.D.F. engineers started firing back. A tank shell was fired by the Israelis and one Hamas militant was killed. The next day, the Israeli military fired an airstrike on the tunnel, killing another three Hamas militants. Israeli officials defended the choice by saying that it was for their protection.
I think that the I.D.F. was justified in carrying out its mission on both sides of the wall separating the Gaza strip from Israel, because that is technically Israel's land and troops were needed there in order to protect Israeli citizens. The I.D.F. engineers were also justified in firing back at the Hamas militants. There lives were in danger and the weren't really any other choices. Now, things get a little murkier when the Israeli military order an airstrike on the tunnel into Israel. While I admit the airstrike was used to complete the engineers' mission without risking I.D.F. causalities, Palestinians were killed and this could have been avoided had engineers been sent back in to destroy the tunnel. Although, this option has a lot more uncontrollable variables and risks. This was not a straightforward situation.
The situation involving Israeli engineers and Hamas militants over the tunnel into Israel is only one instance of the very volatile relationship between Israel and its native Palestinians. This conflict has been a focus of both Israeli and international attention. This conflict has been going on since Israel has gained control of the region. This means that Israel has dealt with it for its entire existence and that unless the unrest is resolved, conflict between the two groups will continue. Hamas is a Muslim group that controls Gaza and has been working against the Israeli government in order to gain Palestinian independence from Israel.
Click Here to Read This Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/02/world/middleeast/israeli-airstrike-kills-4-militants-in-gaza.html?_r=0
A group of I.D.F. engineers were on a mission to destroy tunnels from Gaza into Israel made by Hamas militants. This tunnel could have been used to attack Israeli soldiers and civilians. As the engineers were working on both sides of the wall, a bomb on the Gaza side detonated that wounded five of the team. The I.D.F. engineers started firing back. A tank shell was fired by the Israelis and one Hamas militant was killed. The next day, the Israeli military fired an airstrike on the tunnel, killing another three Hamas militants. Israeli officials defended the choice by saying that it was for their protection.
I think that the I.D.F. was justified in carrying out its mission on both sides of the wall separating the Gaza strip from Israel, because that is technically Israel's land and troops were needed there in order to protect Israeli citizens. The I.D.F. engineers were also justified in firing back at the Hamas militants. There lives were in danger and the weren't really any other choices. Now, things get a little murkier when the Israeli military order an airstrike on the tunnel into Israel. While I admit the airstrike was used to complete the engineers' mission without risking I.D.F. causalities, Palestinians were killed and this could have been avoided had engineers been sent back in to destroy the tunnel. Although, this option has a lot more uncontrollable variables and risks. This was not a straightforward situation.
The situation involving Israeli engineers and Hamas militants over the tunnel into Israel is only one instance of the very volatile relationship between Israel and its native Palestinians. This conflict has been a focus of both Israeli and international attention. This conflict has been going on since Israel has gained control of the region. This means that Israel has dealt with it for its entire existence and that unless the unrest is resolved, conflict between the two groups will continue. Hamas is a Muslim group that controls Gaza and has been working against the Israeli government in order to gain Palestinian independence from Israel.