If the Israeli Defense Forces are targeting civilians, they are doing one hell of a lousy job.
Israel, lone democracy in the Middle East and true ally to the United States, has been taking a lot of hits lately, and not just rockets. Much of the world has been quick to condemn the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. They have distorted what is happening, ignoring HAMAS missiles fired at Israeli citizens in population centers, yet labeling Israeli attacks on Gaza as massacres, war crimes, and a blatant murder of civilians. The truth is, while Israel wages war on HAMAS, it is doing its best not to harm civilians. A little common sense demonstrates this.
For those who like to keep score, after five days of fighting, numerous news agencies put the January 1st Gaza death toll at 400 (neglecting to say 75% of these are militants). According to a recent AP report, Israeli jet fighters have flown 500 bombing missions, and Israel has launched hundreds of combat sorties by helicopter gunships and surveillance aircraft. All told, Israel has sent at least 1,000 powerful bombs into Gaza.
According to the above math, it took 1,000 Israeli bombs to kill 400 Palestinians during a five-day period, a rate of two-and-a-half bombs dropped per fatality. Gaza, we know, is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. We also know Israeli bombs are powerful, lethal, accurate, and capable of leveling an entire structure. Given the math, it is safe to say, if the Israeli Defense Forces are targeting civilians, they are doing one hell of a lousy job.
I could see this coming in 2005 when Israel withdrew from Gaza. At the time there were explanations for the withdrawal that made NO sense and I thought to myself "The Israelis are saying to the Palestinians, now it is up to you. We are no longer occupiers. If you screw it up, we will no longer have to send police, but we will send the IDF.” The so-called Palestinians “Elected” Hamas in a major screw up.
Has there ever been a group of people so intent on occupying a little strip of land and antagonizing their neighbor in such a way? I think of the Native Americans, but even they were smart enough to take $24 in exchange for Manhattan.