UNPLEASANTNESS IN THE HOLY LAND GOT A LOT MORE UNPLEASANT

By Bob Walsh

 

A building in Tel Aviv is hit by a Hamas rocket Saturday

Palestinians celebrate after an Israeli tank was hit by Hamas gunmen who infiltrated the south of the country, on the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border

A tower block in Gaza City is hit by an Israeli airstrike after Palestinian militants struck Israel 7 October

 

The unpleasantness in the Holy Land got a lot more unpleasant in the last 24 hours or so.  Hamas launched a BUNCH of rockets and sent several dozen people into towns near the Gaza strip on a major Jewish holiday.  They killed dozens of Jews and appear to have kidnapped several.  Even hours after the initial incursion there was still fighting on the ground.  

In retaliation Israel launched an attack on a 14 story building in Gaza City.  The building was a mixed use structure.  People lived in it.  It also housed offices for various anti-Israeli terrorist groups.  The Jews gave them 10 minutes to evacuate before an air strike flattened the building.  That is 10 minutes more notice than Hamas gave the towns they attacked.

Benjamin Netanyahu said that the first move is to remove the infiltrators, then greater retaliation in Gaza.

The timing, size and sophistication of this attack and the fact that the security services had no inkling are troubling.  

It is clear that Hamas and their buddies are willing to take serious casualties in order to capture hostages and make a point.  If Israel does nothing, Hamas wins.  If Israel launches a massive retaliation, Hamas still wins (at least to some extent in some circles).

Damned if you do and damned if you don't really sucks.  Especially when you are playing for the stakes they are playing for.  (SURVIVAL as a nation and a people.)