Is Israel's recent actions in Gaza a war crime?

mammasan

I found this article in the Christian Science Monitor, can't be acquised of using a biased source, that I found interesting. At what point does Israel's actions go from a rescue mission to free a soldier to a war crime?

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0706/dailyUpdate.html

Commy

mammasan wrote:

I found this interesting article in the Christian Science Monitor, can't be acquised of using a biased source, that I found interesting. At what point does Israel's actions go from a rescue mission to free a soldier to a war crime?

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0706/dailyUpdate.html

Well, when you send tanks into civilian areas and fire into crowds and buildings-I think that's about hte time its considered a war crime.

So basically the second they acted...

hailhailkc

Commy wrote:

Well, when you send tanks into civilian areas and fire into crowds and buildings-I think that's about hte time its considered a war crime.

So basically the second they acted...

So you're telling me that you know for a fact that Israeli tanks are driving into civilian neighborhoods, finding large groups of innocent bystanders, and then firing tank shells into them on purpose? Correct? And if so...please tell me where you're getting this information.

I understand that needless deaths happen (on both sides) of this on-going conflict...but really...let's keep things in perspective here.

DPrival78

i think israel is completely out of line here. bombing power plants is a clear violation of the geneva conventions, for one.

a draft resolution was brought before the UN demanding that israel stop this offensive, pull out of gaza, and release the hamas officals they kidnapped. but of course the US opposed it, like they have with pretty much every other resolution condemning the actions of israel that has come before the UN in the past.

polaris

the issue of war crimes comes in play only when you have combatants who respect life ... the most recent vote went down 27-11 ... lots of abstainers ...

thankyougrandma

absolutly, it's disgusting to watch, at least the UN condemn the actions, hooooo hoooo....

thankyougrandma

hailhailkc wrote:

So you're telling me that you know for a fact that Israeli tanks are driving into civilian neighborhoods, finding large groups of innocent bystanders, and then firing tank shells into them on purpose? Correct? And if so...please tell me where you're getting this information.

I understand that needless deaths happen (on both sides) of this on-going conflict...but really...let's keep things in perspective here.

Yes there are tanks in the Gaza bank, maybe not firing at civilians, but they make sure nobody get a decent night of sleep, they showed an old man being forced out of his house by his kids because the man was refusing to leave even if the Isreali tanks were at shooting range of the town, i don't believe they are there to kill civilians, but when you're a Palestinians i guess seeing Isreali tanks in your backyard is not exactly an indication of a peacefull weekend at the beach, they're terrorized by the Isreali army, therefore you could probably call the Isreali army terrorist.

If you add to this the fact that Isreal bombed the PM headquarters, a university and electrical plant, and having control over the food and gas that enters the Gaza banks, plus the night flying over civilians house to disturb the sleep of civillians (up to Syria), i mean i don't understand why this is accepted worldwide, it might be me who have a problem but it is just one more humanity stupidity in my opinion (to accept and support the Israel illegal invasion of Palestinians territory). Anyway...

edit: and unless i missed a thread, i'm surprise not more people are talking about it on this message board.

mammasan

I guess I should post my opinion since I posted the article, don't want to be acquised of just posting some white noise. I completely support Israel right to find and rescue the kidnapped soldier, but I do believe that they are extremely close to crossing the line between rescue mission and just plain open hostility. I know that they are dealing with individuals who do not respect the sanctity of this soldier or any Israeli's life but Israel has to be above that or they become no better than the terrorists who abducted this soldier. That pretty much sums up my entire feeling about the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. I have always believed that Israel had the right to defend itself and it's people from viceious bombings by Palestinian terrorists but at times it was hard to differentiate who was the terrorists because Israel would perpetrate acts just as horrorable as say Hamas. Just my $.02.

thankyougrandma

mammasan wrote:

I guess I should post my opinion since I posted the article, don't want to be acquised of just posting some white noise. I completely support Israel right to find and rescue the kidnapped soldier, but I do believe that they are extremely close to crossing the line between rescue mission and just plain open hostility. I know that they are dealing with individuals who do not respect the sanctity of this soldier or any Israeli's life but Israel has to be above that or they become no better than the terrorists who abducted this soldier. That pretty much sums up my entire feeling about the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. I have always believed that Israel had the right to defend itself and it's people from viceious bombings by Palestinian terrorists but at times it was hard to differentiate who was the terrorists because Israel would perpetrate acts just as horrorable as say Hamas. Just my $.02.

Isreal is a criminal state by not respecting internation laws, if they want to defend themselves they have the right and the means to do so, but bombing an electrical facility, a university??? These acts are being sponsored by the State of Isreal, but they would be condemn by the international community if they would have been perpetrated by some radical islamist, anyway ranting again...

mammasan

thankyougrandma wrote:

Isreal is a criminal state by not respecting internation laws, if they want to defend themselves they have the right and the means to do so, but bombing an electrical facility, a university??? These acts are being sponsored by the State of Isreal, but they would be condemn by the international community if they would have been perpetrated by some radical islamist, anyway ranting again...

I agree with you that Israel is stepping over the line by bombing an electrical plant and a university. That is why I stated that Israel need to above acting like the very terrorists they are defending themselves from.

PaperPlates

mammasan wrote:

I found this article in the Christian Science Monitor, can't be acquised of using a biased source, that I found interesting. At what point does Israel's actions go from a rescue mission to free a soldier to a war crime?

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0706/dailyUpdate.html

Depends who the judge and jury is.

mammasan

PaperPlates wrote:

Depends who the judge and jury is.

Well for arguements sake let's say you are both.

El_Kabong

DPrival78 wrote:

i think israel is completely out of line here. bombing power plants is a clear violation of the geneva conventions, for one.

a draft resolution was brought before the UN demanding that israel stop this offensive, pull out of gaza, and release the hamas officals they kidnapped. but of course the US opposed it, like they have with pretty much every other resolution condemning the actions of israel that has come before the UN in the past.

yesterday on NPR they had some official from Israel on and the host asked if destroying hte power plant wasn't 'collective punishment' punishing many more than were involved...she brought up the hospitals and schools and homes having no power and the official's reply was they could use generators!

thankyougrandma

El_Kabong wrote:

yesterday on NPR they had some official from Israel on and the host asked if destroying hte power plant wasn't 'collective punishment' punishing many more than were involved...she brought up the hospitals and schools and homes having no power and the official's reply was they could use generators!

I also heard an israeli official speaking saying something like "when the police shut down power in a building to make an arrest, everyone get the power down", yeah she just forget to mention the difference between a building where people can get out and go to an hotel, and a complete state ...

pjalive21

Commy wrote:

Well, when you send tanks into civilian areas and fire into crowds and buildings-I think that's about hte time its considered a war crime.

So basically the second they acted...

what about the Palestinians who are shooting rockets over into Israel for fun?

thankyougrandma

pjalive21 wrote:

what about the Palestinians who are shooting rockets over into Israel for fun?

they're terrorist, so?

pjalive21

El_Kabong wrote:

yesterday on NPR they had some official from Israel on and the host asked if destroying hte power plant wasn't 'collective punishment' punishing many more than were involved...she brought up the hospitals and schools and homes having no power and the official's reply was they could use generators!

hey at least they were honest, right?

thats messed up

London Calling

i dont think there is much point to this discussion, because Israel has been violoting human rights for decades, with the support of the US government. Nothing is gonna change, unless the UN condemantion is backed up with punishemnt (sanctions etc etc.), but this wont happen because the US always veto and votes. i mean i've heard a lot of condmenationabout Iran wanting nuclear weapons, North Korea testing missiles from the US government, but how come Israel is allowed to do whatever it wants. Israel has a nuclear programme, violates human rights, regularly fires across international borders. Surely they are the destabilising factor in the MIddle East that we hear so much about.
In not so many words the Israeli government (and those who support their actions) are a bunch of dicks.

pjalive21

thankyougrandma wrote:

they're terrorist, so?

so because they are terrorist they shouldnt be held under the same accountability as the Israelies?

so you are justifying their actions, because they are terrorist we should expect this from them and not hold them accountable?

miller8966

The palestinians started this incursion...what you reap is what you sow

RockinInCanada

miller8966 wrote:

The palestinians started this incursion...what you reap is what you sow

I guess the same could be said if reprecussions came to American from Iraq I guess....which I would never like to see...but that statement bites both ways Miller....