Many Arab commentators “get it” with respect to Hamas
July 22, 2014 | Robert Ellenhorn
In the past, whenever there was violence between Israel and the Palestinians or other Arab groups, the Arab media have generally been pretty uniform and predictable in denouncing whatever Israel is doing as an evil crime, and defending whatever the side fighting with Israel is doing as completely justifiable, even heroic. This seems to be changing in the current Gaza conflict.
In first interview Netanyahu explains to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Israel’s war aims
July 22, 2014 | Gabrielle Debinski
On July 20, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, gave his first formal media interview since Israel launched ‘Operation Protective Edge’ in response to incessant Hamas rocket fire just over two weeks ago.
The full interview can be viewed here.
Speaking to CNN reporter, Wolf Blitzer, Netanyahu talked extensively for almost fifteen minutes about the objectives of Israel’s operation, which has seen over 40,000 Israeli soldiers and reservists called up to deter Hamas from continuously firing rockets at Israeli cities from what has become a terrorist enclave in the Gaza Strip.
Memo to ABC, SBS: Al-Jazeera has a conflict of interest
July 22, 2014 | Ahron Shapiro
The integrity of coverage of the current fighting between Hamas and Israel by Australia’s national broadcaster, ABC, and its sister organisation SBS, has been compromised by their problematic and repeated use of reports by al-Jazeera, an organisation owned by the government of Qatar.
Biased against Israel in its coverage even at the best of times, al-Jazeera must be seen as having an egregious conflict of interest when it comes to the Israel-Hamas conflict, because Qatar is currently the biggest funding source for Hamas, and, together with Turkey, had been actively shilling a ceasefire plan that transparently serves Hamas’ interests.
The Tunnel Dilemma
July 22, 2014
Tonight’s Update focuses solely on Israel’s Operation Protective Edge in the wake of Israel’s ground penetration into Gaza and, more specifically, the need to destroy the extensive Hamas tunnel network, snaking into Israel, that is at the heart of the Israeli incursion.
Proof positive that Hamas hiding military assets in civilian infrastructure – 20 rockets found in an UNRWA school
July 18, 2014 | Sharyn Mittelman
While some commentators have been claiming that Hamas’ placing of military assets in civilian areas can be explained by the small dense nature of the Gaza Strip, there is in fact overwhelming evidence that these claims are wrong. It is not simply a situation of Hamas fighters shooting rockets from in or near residential buildings but of Hamas using civilian infrastructure including hospitals, mosques and, even UN administered schools to hide or store its weaponry. Just this Wesdnesday, rockets were found in a school in Gaza operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
World reacts to Hamas rejection of ceasefire
July 18, 2014 | Glen Falkenstein
International pressure has been directed at Hamas, following its rejection of a ceasefire with Israel – raising the level of international criticism and condemnation of the terrorist organisation.
Why Hamas does not want Gazans to heed Israel warnings
July 18, 2014 | Robert Ellenhorn
While many Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other terror groups seek shelter in a network of fortified underground tunnels, the civilian population of Gaza is denied access to this shelter and is instead being encouraged to act as human shields against Israeli airstrikes intended to target terror infrastructure intentionally embedded in civilian areas.
How did the latest Gaza War start? Despite the claims of some, it is no mystery
July 17, 2014 | Or Avi Guy
Ruth Pollard, while reporting on operation “Protective Edge”, claimed that “Any attempt to mark a starting point in the latest hostilities is a fraught process.”
Apparently the obvious idea that this war was caused by Hamas’ decision to shoot rockets at Israel in vastly greater numbers is one that some reporters are simply unwilling to consider.
Israel continues to try to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, Hamas blocks it
July 17, 2014 | Sharyn Mittelman
Hamas’ disregard for the suffering of civilians can also be seen in its recent orders to deprive Gazans of Israeli humanitarian assistance. On Tuesday, Hamas closed the Erez border crossing into Israel, which stranded a group of around 20 Palestinians planning to travel to Israel for medical treatment. Despite the current conflict, Israeli hospitals continue to regularly provide medical care to patients from Gaza and the West Bank.
Hamas and the Ceasefire Failure/Proportionality and Gaza
July 17, 2014
With Hamas having rejected an Egyptian ceasefire deal on Tuesday (the full text of the proposal is here), even after Israel unilaterally ceased fire for several hours (some excellent coverage from Gaza of how Gazans felt about the ceasefire is here) this Update explores what Hamas is trying to achieve via its continued rejection of an end to the fighting. Plus, it also discusses the legally incorrect and counter-productive nature of the focus of so many in the media on the “disproportion” in this conflict between Israeli and Palestinian casualties.
