Nivsch

@Breakingthewall almost nobody thought hamas is capable of something like this. I dont buy the conspiracy you mentioned at the end.

Those buildings are EMPTY after civilians leave as they were asked by Israel all the time to do so. The goal of the bombing is to change the terrain and the landscape because otherwise our soldiers will be sitting ducks.

@Nabd Do you know that all those buildings are almost completely empty because IDF asked the civilians to leave southward of gaza river to save their lives? Those bombing aiming to change the terrain on gaza and to neutralize the fortrees hamas built and the traps he putted for Israel.

@Nabd Those cities are 70km close to you and from them ISIS terrorists came to you and kill you in your homes. 1,300 of you. Would you do nothing?

@Happy Lizard If ISIS would sluaghter 1300 of your country's people, Wouldnt you bomb mosoul and raqqa in order to later get in troops safely as possible (for your troops) to eliminate him?

It has 100K + 7K commando Israel has 500K + Airforce + other things to use if forced to a corner + USA support. Also you dont know how much our society unify when forced to do so. This is amazing what is happening here today. Every one is just looking to help in any way.

Israel is so much stronger than hamas and also more than any other country in the region because of its culture of learning from every mistake, survival mentality for 75 years and democracy level of development which allows variety of opinions and endless brainstorming. If hamas wants that, it is a suicidal desire.

@HMD That couldnt be otherwise because egypt didnt want to help, and open borders would bring terrorists into israel.

Israel evacuate from gaza in 2005 letting them do all they want like an independent state. In 90's and 00's israel has suggested huge withdrawals including to 67' borders and part of jesusalem to be the palestinian's state capital. Non of the suggestion were accepted by the palestinians and the terror even increased after the peace negotiations.

Israel has tried this many many times during 90's and 00's and the palestinians ALWAYS said NO and sent even more suicide bombers.

@Breakingthewall I hear that hamas didnt know they will "succeed" so much. They thought idf will definitely wait for them. Thats why i think this wasn't calculated. They are brutal and no so strategic in their thinking. The world today understands Israel more than ever. This is not so black and white as you represent it. Israel has to respect itself first and foremost if want to be respected long term. The muslim world tend to support the palestinians of course but many of them still not supporting to such cruel things hamas did.

@Breakingthewall why do you think that israel do what hamas wants? can you explain?

@Breakingthewall If you think Israel targets civilians deliberately you definitely have to study the issue well before you write such statements.

I would agree with you if the situation was similar to all the previous rounds of Israel-hamas conflict during the last 15 years.

@Breakingthewall Massive bombing from the air is critical for the soldiers who will get in after that to not be "sitting ducks".

@Breakingthewall This is not only the government. The whole system was under a wrong cenception that only hezbollah capable of such a thing but not hamas.

I think the settlements took a big amount of resuorces from IDF. But also the underestimation of the whole system of hamas capabilities. Good to know about DMZ i didnt know that. Ok so i hope IDF will learn the lesson and do that across our borders.

I am still concerned that after what happened, not demanding high price from hamas for decades / not eliminate him, will cause a psychological damage to the Israeli's sense of identity, unity and security and can have serious consequences on the strength of the israeli society. Sometimes you have to face your demon head on, also collectively. I try to see this revenge emotion as also intelligent and here for a reason, at least in my opinion, and i think we have to use this emotion smartly but to overlook it will be a mistake.

@Leo Gura The problem is that hamas proved it can invade through a cement wall and also easily skydive above it. What you suggest can be possible, in my opinion, only if a great force of at least 1000 soldiers will sit 24/7 near the border. But more secure option is to establish a safe zone occupies by Israeli soldiers and maybe even international force, which will have some strategical depth of say 50-100 km that will ensure time to Israel to responde to every invasion of hamas which will require some invasion to gaza.

Personally I feel we cannot give up the hostages but we also cannot give up our goal to eliminate hamas. without winning in this war, Israelis will stop feel secure in their country and will stop believe psychologically in their country in a very deep sense which is not less severe than the hostages problem. Both goals have to be achieved somehow.

Israel thinks that this drips of realising captives a little bit every time, is aiming to steal time and prevent Israel from getting its soldiers into gaza strip. A psychological torture hamas is trying to do.

@zazen Actually in all the former operations israel was quite surgical. This time is broader but it doesnt mean its not selective to hamas building (and not just every empty building).

@Breakingthewall Do you have a better alternative to how to eliminate hamas? I am asking seriously. Not to argue.

@zazen Israel asked them to evacuade to the south where there they HAVE water. And until then they can definitly buy along the way. Dont be so black and white. Its a complex thing you are not in a well organized temple of moral right now this is not realistic. Dont judge israel so fast without learning its strategy.

I don't believe bibi would do such a deliberate thing like that. He is capable of many things but this sounds too far. But he indeed has an interest to keep hamas strong so he did it indirectly.