张平：战争就是地狱——加沙之战二评

choi

But this blog was written almost a year ago ("2013-10-31"). See 张平特拉维夫, 战争就是地狱——加沙之战二评. Sina Blog, Oct 31, 2013.
blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_6211217f0101cpga.html

The belligerents  CURRENTLY engaged in Gaza conflict (whether one calls it war or otherwise) is lopsided in military strength and diplomacy (Hamas has not support from Cairo (due to the coup) and Damascus (because Hamas was against Asad's cruelty)). So Hamas's capability to inflict casualties on Israel's military is unexpected.

Israel's 2006 invasion of Lebanon to fight Hezbollah was the same: the latter's war efforts were unexpected.

One can not assume: "Frailty, thy name is Arabs." See thy name is
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thy_name_is

So I did not support ceasefire last time, or do not this time. And Hamas does not want it.

choi

======July 28

(1) Michael R Gordon, Even Gaza Truce Is Hard to Win, Kerry Is Finding; Troubled backup plan; Israel and Hamas each see reasons to hold off cease-fires. New York Times, July 28, 2014 (front-page top article).

(2) Jodi Rudoren and Ben Hubbard, Despite Gains, Hamas Sees a Fight for Its Existence and Presses Ahead; All but giving up on governing Gaza to focus on the battle. New York Times, July 28, 2014, at page A6.
www.nytimes.com/2014/07/28/world ... -presses-ahead.html

Quote:

“Though weary of war, many Gazans see the so-called resistance as the only possible path to pressing Israel and Egypt to open border crossings, and to ending Israel’s ‘siege’ on imports and exports and naval ‘blockade.’

“Faraj al-Loul, a plumber shopping for vegetables on Sunday in a Gaza City market, echoed the opinions of many residents interviewed who said life had become so miserable that they were willing to suffer the high costs of war if it could bring change.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel * * * said it [cease fire, plus hints of economic and social relief] must be exchanged for a ‘demilitarization of Gaza.’ That would mean the destruction of tunnels into Israel and of rocket stockpiles, with international guarantees that they would not be rebuilt or replenished, something Palestinian and Israeli analysts alike said Hamas would never abide.

My comment: I have been sympathetic about Palestinians’ causes since the First Intifada (1987-1991), seeing palestinian kids throwing stones who were met with bullets.