It is only 3 pm central time by now, and the death toll in Gaza is still climbing. The latest reported was that over 220 Palestinians dead, and 700 wounded.Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is talking business in Gaza. And like in any business, it takes two to tango. IDF partner in this massacre is without doubt the self-proclaimed defenders of Palestinian cause, the symbol of Islamic resistance, the one and only Hamas movement.
The writing has been on the wall for nearly 3 weeks. The eternally fragile cease fire was holding, but the truce end date was getting closed. The 'mighty' and delusionally self-confident Hamas leaders clearly declared that they are not interested in renewing truce agreement (as per Western, Arab and Palestinian media).
Not only that, but cartoonish and useless Hamas 'rockets' started falling on nearby Israeli towns again. Net Israeli losses: one life, and 7 or 8 injured citizens. But the public relations boon for Israel was priceless. And election times are usually the time when Israeli politicians want to show how tough they are by beating up somebody 9the Palestinians, usually).Well done and perfect timing, Hamas.
If someone believes in conspiracy theories, they have pretty good material here for a nicely coordinated song and dance between Hamas and Israel - except for the fact that one of the dance partners, Hamas in this case, has just faced the death of 220 of his own people, with 700 more injured.
But it is not all bad for Hamas. The rivers of blood running today in beleaguered Gaza feed into Hamas' need for more support among Palestinians, considering that nothing else is going for them in there.No services, not food, and no fuel is available for everyday life in Gaza, but Hamas was busy writing a new criminal code in Gaza to implement Shari'a Hudod (i.e., physical penalties for crimes, based on Islamic Law) on people who have nothing to lose (For full disclosure, the news is still sketchy on this proposal, and while it was reported in many Arabic news papers, there is some disagreement and even denials from some Hamas legislators in the West Bank).
Somewhere between Hudod legislation and inciting IDF to kill as many Palestinians as possible, Hamas felt its mission is accomplished. Who would really care about running a place like Gaza when all it takes is pretending to obey God by legislating what you cannot reasonably implement, then die believing you are a martyr?
It is very sad for me to see the shedding of the blood of over two hundred Palestinians. It is more sad and shameful to see that their blood is on the hands of not only Israel, but also Hamas.Hamas has legitimate grievances: they were democratically elected then deposed of illegally. And their people are besieged and starved. That would make any one angry - very very angry. But if angry reactions lead to the shedding of your own blood, then the wise should not behave out of anger. Hamas leadership obviously does not have the wisdom to behave rationally, nor the know-how to run Gaza or prioritize what to do. They behave as if strategic planning to achieve goals is blasphemous, and as if piety is in reflective and brainless actions that does not achieve goals, but just look superficially brave. And when it comes to public relations, they are a total fiasco.
God has permitted conducting war for those who are oppressed:
"أُذِنَ لِلَّذِينَ يُقَاتَلُونَ بِأَنَّهُمْ ظُلِمُوا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى نَصْرِهِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ"
"PERMISSION [to fight] is given to those against whom war is being wrongfully waged* and, verily, God has indeed the power to succour them" (Chapter 22:39)
But he also commanded that Muslims prepare properly for such a war, so their would be a fair fighting chance, and a possibility of winning.
"وَأَعِدُّواْ لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدْوَّ اللّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ"
"Hence, make ready against them whatever force and war mounts' you are able to muster, so that you might deter thereby the enemies of God, who are your enemies as well, ..." (Chapter 8:60)
Also, self-destruction can never be part of any Muslim Agenda if we follow God's instructions:
"وَأَنفِقُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَلاَ تُلْقُواْ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ"
"And spend [freely] in God's cause, and let not your own hands throw you into destruction.." (Chapter 2:195)
Fighting a war you are not prepared to fight, except by angry rhetoric, is criminal.
Palestinian blood today is not on Israel's hands only - it is on Hamas' hands too.
Khaled
Links
- Watch the bloody picture series on the New York Times and on the British Guardian.
- Israel's hammer blow in Gaza - Guardian, UK
- Israeli far right gaining ground - Guardian, UK
- Israeli Gaza Strike Kills More Than 200 - New York Times
- ردود فعل دولية خجولة على الاعتداءات الإسرائيلية
- Israel continues Gaza air strike- Al-Jazeera Englis
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