How to anger Gaza residents.

[boyntonstu]

Hamas City Bombs Anger Gazans

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/135532by Hillel Fendel

(IsraelNN.com) Hamas is preparing for war with Israel by placing large bomb-traps in densely-populated areas – angering local residents. So reports a Fatah website named Al-Ahad.

The bombs are being placed in areas far from the border with Israel, and are sparking clashes between the residents and Hamas militants….

Heck! didn't they vote for them?

 

[marksman]

Your link's not working.

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

Your link's not working.

The "by" shouldn't be part of it:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/135532

So Boytonstu, are you saying that if you vote for a party, you can never criticize or oppose that party no matter what they do? (Just trying to find out what it is that bugs you about this story.)

 

[Eyeron]

And of course Israel will get blamed for it.

 

[FireGarden]

I would need more than a report on a Fatah website to believe this.

 

[WildCat]

I would need more than a report on a Fatah website to believe this.

Because Hamas would never, ever booby trap civilian areas...

 

[ZARDOZ]

Hamas booby traps civilian areas, there is no debate needed. Or are some saying that muslim fundamentalists who willingly strap bombs onto the bodies of men, women and children for the past 20 years draw the line at booby traps designed to kill invading IDF soldiers?

All the best.

Zardoz

 

[Skeptic]

I would need more than a report on a Fatah website to believe this.

You mean the PLO might lie about Hamas to get back at Hamas throwing their men out of windows and randomly shooting any PLO guy they could find when they took over Gaza?

You have a point, but that hardly makes Hamas look any better.

 

[Segnosaur]

So Boytonstu, are you saying that if you vote for a party, you can never criticize or oppose that party no matter what they do? (Just trying to find out what it is that bugs you about this story.)

Whether its wrong to criticize a party you voted for depends on what exactly that party is doing. If the party does something that is different than what it promised during the election, then yes, you do have a right to criticize them. On the other hand, if they implement policies that are in line with their election platform or goals, then complaining about their actions is rather silly. It would be like a republican voting for Bush in 2004, then complaining about him wanting to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In the case of Hamas, residents of Gaza should have known about the official goals of Hamas. People should also have known about the rather distasteful tactics that Hamas had engaged in in the past.

 

[ZARDOZ]

In the case of Hamas, residents of Gaza should have known about the official goals of Hamas. People should also have known about the rather distasteful tactics that Hamas had engaged in in the past.

If any Palestinian claims they didn't know who Hamas was, or stands for, then they are lying to your face. Hamas has been forefront of the Palestinian landscape since the late '80s.

When a Palestinian voted for Hamas they knew EXACTLY who they were voting for.

 

[ddt]

I would need more than a report on a Fatah website to believe this.

I fully agree. Moreover, I have major problems following the internal logic of the article.

First, it claims that placing bomb traps far away from the border with Israel constitute "preparing for war with Israel". That seems about the last place where they would bother Israel, and I didn't have the impression Israel was at any moment angered by inter-Palestinian clashes - on the contrary.

Secondly, the article first claims that Hamas is preparing for war with Israel - per a Fatah website article. Later on, it says that Fatah complains that Hamas is taking weapons away from "those who want to resist", meaning Fatah - IOW, Hamas doesn't want to resist. So why would they be preparing for war then, if they don't want to resist in the first place?

 

[marksman]

ddt,

I think you may be misreading it. Fatah is contending that Hamas is preparing for an imminent invasion of Gaza by planting bombs in heavily populated areas -- presumably where Israeli soldiers would make door-to-door searches, rather than use aerial assaults.

Fatah is also claiming that it is preparing for an imminent attack by Israel (presumably using tactics than don't include planting bombs in heavily planted areas) and is complaining that Hamas has stolen its weapons and won't give them back.

Fatah's argument makes internal sense. You just have to understand the terms being used. "Those who want to resist" is Fatah's term for its own supporters.

Which isn't to say the article is necessarily true. Fatah may be playing a propaganda game against Hamas.

 

[ddt]

I think you may be misreading it. Fatah is contending that Hamas is preparing for an imminent invasion of Gaza by planting bombs in heavily populated areas -- presumably where Israeli soldiers would make door-to-door searches, rather than use aerial assaults.

OK, that makes (partially) sense. Thanks. However, I don't see why Israel would invade Gaza in the near future. And if they do, I don't see why they would then go into a boobytrapped city jungle.

Fatah is also claiming that it is preparing for an imminent attack by Israel (presumably using tactics than don't include planting bombs in heavily planted areas) and is complaining that Hamas has stolen its weapons and won't give them back.

I got the part about Hamas stealing Fatah's weapons.

Fatah's argument makes internal sense. You just have to understand the terms being used. "Those who want to resist" is Fatah's term for its own supporters.

OK. But it does make a mockery of their own arguments, doesn't it? First state that Hamas is preparing on resisting an Israeli invasion - albeit in a manner that most people don't approve of - and then implying that Fatah is the only one resisting.

Which isn't to say the article is necessarily true. Fatah may be playing a propaganda game against Hamas.

Seems to be very likely. I don't see any independent corroboration forthcoming from the OP, though.

 

[Mikemcc]

Hamas booby traps civilian areas, there is no debate needed. Or are some saying that muslim fundamentalists who willingly strap bombs onto the bodies of men, women and children for the past 20 years draw the line at booby traps designed to kill invading IDF soldiers?

All the best.

Zardoz

Ermmm... Last time round the Israelis managed to kill more of their own people than the Palestinians did!

 

[marksman]

I don't see why Israel would invade Gaza in the near future. And if they do, I don't see why they would then go into a boobytrapped city jungle.

Israel is rightly concerned about militants smuggling missiles into Gaza which are then lobbed into Israel. That's what, in part, provoked last year's war. Israel would probably like to nip that in the bud before their own civilians are shelled. Anyway, that's the theory. Whether the Israelis are in fact planning an attack in the near future is anybody's guess.

Seems to be very likely. I don't see any independent corroboration forthcoming from the OP, though.

Press access to Gaza is limited, due to Israel, and treacherous due to Hamas. I doubt we'll see much in the way of corroboration. Fatah's statement is in fact a rare glimpse into what's happening there.

 

[marksman]

Ermmm... Last time round the Israelis managed to kill more of their own people than the Palestinians did!

Source? This article indicates Israel suffered 13 casualties in Operation Cast lead -- only four from friendly fire.

 

[Mikemcc]

Fair does. So 9 v >1400 casualties, winning hearts and minds there then.