Gideon Levy / Gaza war ended in utter failure for Israel

On the morrow of the return of the last Israeli soldier from Gaza, we can determine with certainty that they had all gone out there in vain. This war ended in utter failure for Israel.

This goes beyond the profound moral failure, which is a grave matter in itself, but pertains to its inability to reach its stated goals. In other words, the grief is not complemented by failure. We have gained nothing in this war save hundreds of graves, some of them very small, thousands of maimed people, much destruction and the besmirching of Israel's image.

Now we've all seen through the Israeli government's excuses

If the Hamas rockets are so lethal, why doesn't Israel swap an F-16 for some?

The worrying part about whether the ceasefire in Gaza can hold together will be whether the international community can stop the flow of arms to the terrorists. Because Israel's getting their planes and tanks and missiles from somewhere and until this supply is cut off there's every chance it could start up again. The disregard for life from these terrorists and their supporters is shocking. For example Thomas Friedman, the New York Times columnist, wrote that the purpose of the Israeli attack must be to "inflict a heavy death toll and heavy pain on the Gaza population".

'Israel has achieved nothing from this'

Along a row of shattered houses a veiled woman sat in a chair surrounded by broken pieces of furniture and concrete. She waved towards the sandwiched layers of flattened concrete where her six-story home once stood. "When Israel does this is just makes us stronger," she said. "We have even more sympathy with Hamas now."

'Vague Israeli hope shattered in Gaza'

"What is clear is that, despite vague Israeli hopes that Hamas could be completely removed, that has not happened," a news analysis by The New Times says. Tel Aviv waged an "all-out" war on Hamas by launching massive attacks against the densely-populated Gaza Strip on December 27, 2008.

Hamas: We killed 80; Lost 48

Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, insisted on Monday, 19, that 22 days of massive Israeli attacks failed to weaken its forces, giving specific figures of its losses and gains in the war. "We confirm the martyrdom of 48 Qassam fighters in the Israeli attacks," Abu Obeida, Al-Qassam spokesman, told local, Arab and international reporters in downtown Gaza City. He refuted Israeli claims of killing more than 500 Hamas members during its three-week Operation Cast Lead or taking any prisoners. "None of our fighters has been detained by the Israeli occupation forces," insisted a defiant Abu Obeida.

The Hamas military wing insisted it has not only been able to withstand the Israeli offensive, but accomplish some successes for itself. "We have counted closely and accurately the death of 49 Israeli soldiers and injury of hundreds others after being directly hit by our fire," Abu Obeida told reporters. "Others were killed in our mortar attacks on soldiers gatherings, targeting of tanks, sniping of soldiers," he added. "So we estimate that no less than 80 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the battlefield."

As was the case with the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbullah, Hamas' estimate will be quietly confirmed by Israel in about a year...

A pointless war has led to a moral defeat for Israel

Even on its own terms, the campaign has failed. Israeli authorities will insist that they have limited the ability of Hamas to launch rocket attacks. But the ostensible war aim was destroying that capability completely. Israel will also claim that its campaign has exposed a lack of support for Hamas in many Arab capitals; that Hamas' position as the ruling authority in Gaza has been undermined; and that Hamas has been revealed as little more than a terrorist proxy acting on behalf of and armed by Syria and Iran. But the reality is that the status of Hamas as the preferred vehicle for Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation has been enhanced by the indiscriminate brutality of the military assault.

History did not begin with the Qassams

History did not begin with the Qassam rockets. But for us, the Israelis, history always begins when the Palestinians hurt us, and then the pain is completely decontextualized. We think that if we cause the Palestinians much greater pain, they will finally learn their lesson. Some term this "achievement."

Comparison of military strength of Israel and the Palestinians

As the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has once again flared up following Israel's ongoing air and ground assault on the Gaza Strip, the IMEU presents a comparison of Israeli and Palestinian military capabilities.

And, the Zionists thump their collective chests with pride.... This is not "war," this is a well armed modern army murdering basically defenseless civilians who would rather die than remain under a brutal occupation.

The IDF has no mercy for the children in Gaza nursery schools

The fighting in Gaza is "war deluxe." Compared with previous wars, it is child's play - pilots bombing unimpeded as if on practice runs, tank and artillery soldiers shelling houses and civilians from their armored vehicles, combat engineering troops destroying entire streets in their ominous protected vehicles without facing serious opposition. A large, broad army is fighting against a helpless population and a weak, ragged organization that has fled the conflict zones and is barely putting up a fight. All this must be said openly, before we begin exulting in our heroism and victory.

So, it makes one wonder how the Zionists can thump their chests with pride for winning a "war" with Hamas. Or, how the IDF (Israeli Death Force) can somehow regain its creditability for the 2006 defeat in Lebanon by killing women and children. Please remember that Hamas has no F-16 jet fighters, no Apache gunships, no ships, no personnnel carriers, no artillery, no tanks, no night vision goggles, no.., well, you get the message... But, Hamas does have a few things - faith, courage, and the hope for freedom and a brighter day for their children and loved ones...

'Three Israeli generals wounded in Gaza'

Three Israeli generals as well as scores of soldiers have been reportedly wounded on the 18th day of Tel Aviv's attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Israel still reports only 13 killed. But, anyone who knows anything about war knows that before you can shoot a general, you gotta shoot a helluva lot of privates...

Hamas puts Israeli casualties at 360

The al-Qassam Brigades announced Wednesday that its fighters have so far killed 40 Israeli officers and soldiers; injuring 320 others since Israel launched a military campaign in the densely-populated Gaza Strip on December 27, Al-Aqsa TV station reported.

Which means that Israel's true casualities are probably twice Hamas' count....

Gaza's tunnels, traps and martyrs: the Hamas strategy to defeat Israel

Morale was high, Mohammed insisted. Hamas had lost fewer fighters than expected and there was an infinite supply of eager replacements for those “martyred”. It still had plenty of rockets that could be launched remotely from hidden bunkers. “We can continue as long as it takes,” he said. “I tell you, even our ghosts will defeat the Israelis.”

Hamas rejects UN ceasefire as death toll mounts

Hamas has rejected a UN ceasefire as Israel killed 30 Palestinians in guaranteed safe house. Fighting continued in the region with claims Israel allowed 110 Palestinians into a safe house but then shelled it, killing 30, AFP said.

Really, can you blame Hamas? How can you have a ceasefire with the Zionists -who would allow innocent people into a supposed "safe house" then intentionally shell it? That's premediated murder anyway you look at it. Again, I ask, what kind of people are these Zionists? And, what kind of people are those who support them??

For Hamas' part - they realize that Israel can only knock down buildings and murder innocent people. Hamas knows full well that in order for the Zionists to achieve any of their stated objectives they will have to move into the cities where their technical advantages will be minimized and the advantage will shift to Hamas. In Hamas' opinion, that is when the "war" will really start. As the Palestinians see it, they can either die on their feet, fighting for freedom from occupation and oppression - or, they can die on their knees of stravation and destitution due to the blockade. Just as the "true Jews" did in the Warsaw ghetto not so long ago, the Palestinians simply choose to die on their feet...

An Unnecessary War

Palestinian leaders from Gaza were noncommittal on all issues, claiming that rockets were the only way to respond to their imprisonment and to dramatize their humanitarian plight. The top Hamas leaders in Damascus, however, agreed to consider a cease-fire in Gaza only, provided Israel would not attack Gaza and would permit normal humanitarian supplies to be delivered to Palestinian citizens.

After extended discussions with those from Gaza, these Hamas leaders also agreed to accept any peace agreement that might be negotiated between the Israelis and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who also heads the PLO, provided it was approved by a majority vote of Palestinians in a referendum or by an elected unity government.

According to Jimmy Carter, Hamas is seeking a democratic Palestine...so, what's the beef??

Israel's U.S. Senate prostitutes passes "voice" resolution of support

The U.S. Senate voiced on Thursday their support for Israel's fight against Hamas in Gaza, and urged for resumption of ceasefire in the warn-torn area. The chamber passed a non-binding resolution by voice vote as a joint initial by Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

"When we pass this resolution, the United States Senate will strengthen our historic bond with the state of Israel, by reaffirming Israel's inalienable right to defend against attacks from Gaza, as well as our support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat.

What is Really Happening

• Mentions of Hamas Rockets as reason for war - 37
• Mentions of illegal Israeli settlements - 0
• Mentions of Palestinians killed by Israel during "ceasefire" - 2
• Mentions of Sderot - 12
• Mentions Sderot used to be Palestinian - 0

Army general: Israel seeking a way out

A senior Israeli army official has admitted that Tel Aviv may not be able to topple Hamas through a military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Israel Created Hamas to Split Palestine

Israel’s False Flag Operations Know No Bounds

The Israeli Mossad (their CIA) created Hamas in 1987, with the frontmen Sheikh Ahmed Ismail Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi, because, as Zeev Sternell, historian at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, says: “Israel thought that it was a smart ploy to push the Islamists against the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO).”

Well ain’t that something? So, the Mossad starts Hamas, with the original “intention” of being a charitable organization to the Palestinian people. And charity they did. Slowly, of course, it turned into a political and military organization, which was the true original intention. It challenged Fatah and the PLO as it does to this day. Divide and conquer: the oldest military tactic in the book…

Problem is, it didn't work out quite the way Israel had planned...

Israel and the west will pay a price for Gaza's bloodbath

...despite this gruesome demonstration of its overwhelming power, Israel once again faces the threat of political and military failure, just as it did in Lebanon in 2006. After its most pulverising assault ever on the blockaded territory, Hamas remains standing, its administration intact, its rockets reaching ever further into Israel proper. Far from turning the Gazan population against the Islamist movement, the signs are that Israel's onslaught is cementing its support.

Death toll in Gaza passes 700, including 220 children

THE death toll from Israel's 12-day-old offensive on Hamas in the Gaza Strip has passed 700, medics said.