Gaza War: Flights resume to Ben-Gurion, more tunnel war and casualties (Live Updates)
FAA reversal, UNHRC mischief, WaPo: disarm Hamas
Live Video and Twitter feed at bottom of post
Five more Israeli soldiers have been killed over the past two days.
https://twitter.com/IsraelHatzolah/status/491854825932333057
https://twitter.com/IsraelHatzolah/status/491978983651545088
Last night the FAA lifted its restriction on American airlines flying to Ben Gurion Airport.
The FAA has lifted its restrictions on U.S. airline flights into and out of Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport by cancelling a Notice to Airmen it renewed earlier today. The cancellation is effective at approximately 11:45 p.m. EDT.
Before making this decision, the FAA worked with its U.S. government counterparts to assess the security situation in Israel and carefully reviewed both significant new information and measures the Government of Israel is taking to mitigate potential risks to civil aviation.
Hamas had considered the restriction of flights to be a “great victory.” Yesterday on The Situation Room, Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan claimed that Hamas was targeting Ben Gurion because there were military flights there.
https://twitter.com/melissaeweiss/status/492058689160118272
FAA lifts ban. Hamas fires at Ben Gurion. Anyone who says ban wasn't a victory for Hamas doesn't understand Hamas.
— Josh Levine (@JDL1185) July 24, 2014
Despite the ban two high profile American flew to Israel. One was John Kerry who is trying to get Israel to accept a ceasefire, one that would likely give Hamas a victory.
https://twitter.com/Doranimated/status/492217817857814528
The other one is former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg who sees the ban as misplaced.
“This evening I will be flying on El Al to Tel Aviv to show solidarity with the Israeli people and to demonstrate that it is safe to fly in and out of Israel. Ben Gurion is the best protected airport in the world and El Al flights have been regularly flying in and out of it safely,” Bloomberg said in a statement.
“The flight restrictions are a mistake that hand Hamas an undeserved victory and should be lifted immediately. I strongly urge the FAA to reverse course and permit US airlines to fly to Israel,” Bloomberg added.
In what may turn out to be one of the most important stories of Operation Protective Edge, 150 Hamas soldiers surrendered to Israeli forces. Globes reports:
As day 17 of Operation Protective Edge begins the IDF announced that it had captured and detained 150 Hamas terrorists during the night in and around Khan Younis and Rafiah. The terrorists found themselves surrounded by IDF forces and surrendered. They are now undergoing questioning by Israeli intelligence officers and are expected to reveal extensive and vital information about Hamas operations.
Regurgitating Hamas’ talking points and ignoring the UNRWA’s close working relationship with Hamas, the United Nations Human Rights Council called for an investigation for alleged war crimes by Israel.
Found this in Gaza house. UNRWA bags once had wheat. Hamas filled them with dirt to hide evidence of tunnel digging. pic.twitter.com/Bq0glXVx4Q
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 23, 2014
Hillel Neuer blasted the proceedings.
A must watch: @UNWatch's @HillelNeuer, the #IronDome against #UNHRC hypocrisy http://t.co/pnXJHmRn2U
— Ido Daniel #VaccinesSaveLives ? (@IdoDaniel) July 24, 2014
The Washington Post published an extremely strong editorial today, The U.S. should push for the disarming of Hamas in Gaza-Israel cease-fire.
Hamas’s offensive tunnels should not be confused with the burrows it has dug under Gaza’s border with Egypt to smuggle money, consumer goods and military equipment. The newly discovered structures have only one conceivable purpose: to launch attacks inside Israel. Three times in recent days, Hamas fighters emerged from the tunnels in the vicinity of Israeli civilian communities, which they clearly aimed to attack. The concrete-lined structures are stocked with materials, such as handcuffs and tranquilizers, that could be used on hostages. Other tunnels in northern Gaza are designed for the storage and firing of missiles at Israeli cities. …
The depravity of Hamas’s strategy seems lost on much of the outside world, which — following the terrorists’ script — blames Israel for the civilian casualties it inflicts while attempting to destroy the tunnels. While children die in strikes against the military infrastructure that Hamas’s leaders deliberately placed in and among homes, those leaders remain safe in their own tunnels. There they continue to reject cease-fire proposals, instead outlining a long list of unacceptable demands.
The editorial concludes that no arrangement that leaves Hamas in charge will bring peace. While the recommendation of returning Fatah rule to Gaza is hardly a guarantee of peace and stability, the acknowledgement that Hamas cannot be trusted is important. The idea that Hamas must be disarmed is gaining traction.
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i24 News live http://t.co/u5Ava7XvMl
— Legal Insurrection (@LegInsurrection) July 17, 2014
Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream Tweets from https://twitter.com/LegInsurrection/lists/gaza-2014
[Photo: Israel Defense Forces / YouTube ]
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Comments
Forget disarmament. Wipe them out. If the situation was reversed, what do you think they would be doing?
and as far as Kerry is concerned, it is a damn shame that his plane wasn’t shot down by Hamas. It would have made for the ultimate headline.
“Kerry flies to Israel to negotiate ceasefire. Shot down by Hamas.”
Hamas spokesperson replies they didn’t get the memo.
You meant “Hamas spokesman Barack Obama said he didn’t get the memo”, correct? 🙂
I think the fact that Kerry went there is proof there was no real threat to Ben Gurion in the first place. Kerry’s flight was just grandstanding. He’s a spineless, fascist coward. Let’s not forget the truth about his Purple Heart medals.
The FAA ban was just obamullah blowing a few kisses to Hamas.
Wiping out Israel is Hamas’ official, stated policy!
In a battle of survival, there can be only one, lone
winnersurvivor.Agree. Annihilate all of them, including the “shields”. This menace must be obliterated from the face of the earth. Wipe out all buildings, tunnels, people, everything. Level it all and excavate it with Bunker Busters. All of it. Every inch. Regroup, then on to Hezbollah.
RIP Israel’s heroes.
If the UNHRC really wants evidence of “war crimes” have them look at the using of UN facilities, hospitals and schools as places where Hamas’ rockets were stored and launched. Or, the deliberate placing of civilians in harm’s way to protect military assets.
Put all Gazans on a ship and send them to either Iran or Syria. They’ve worn out their welcome in the Civilized World®.
The Un is a political wasteland run by tinhorn dictators and hustlers/ They’re just an enforcement agency for leftist politics that we house and pay mighty sums too.
I’d like to see them completely emasculated, more than they, shut up, get out of this country and go crawl back to the third-world shitholes most of them are from.
They are an enemy of the U.S., protagonist against our laws, obstructive and propagandized destroyers of western civilization and traditions.
They need to go the way of the Dodo bird, and fast.
Fight on, oh Israel.
When the Washington Post uses the word “depravity,” there can be no mistake.
Could Bezos have finally gotten the lights turned on over at WaPo, or do my eyes deceive me?
Hello, all, I have a question (and to avoid the mistake I made a few days ago, I’m phrasing this as a question.)
I heard this the other day from someone….again, I’m putting it in quotes: “The wealthier/more educated are obligated to lead a reasonable settlement rather than stoking fires. Most Palestinians don’t want Israel destroyed but they buy into the insanity when their homes and families are crushed. Since pride and opportunities and work changed other cultures (i.e. Ireland)…”
Again, that was a viewpoint I read and is in quotes. It seems to me this viewpoint buys into the manipulation that Hamas initiates. It also seems to me that back in 2005 the Israelis walked away from Gaza and I vaguely recall they provided some kind of economic support. Doesn’t seem like that did any good. I’m wondering if that would be a good counter argument – that Israel tried this approach before, to no avail (and not surprising, given the Hamas charter).
Also, I did not realize until a few days ago the context of the Palestinians voting Hamas in (over Fatah).
Again, looking for some good intellectual ammunition against what I’ve put in quotes.
Thanks