Analysis: Hamas under pressure as Israel makes progress on tunnels

[leftynyc]

For the first time since the August 2014 cease-fire came into effect ending Operation Protective Edge, Hamas launched cross-border mortar attacks throughout Wednesday.

Hamas is targeting IDF units engaged in hi-tech tunnel detection work on the border between Israel and northern Gaza. It is escalating the situation due its fear that it is about to lose its trump card.

Hamas has invested much treasure and blood in its cross-border tunnel network, and its military wing is alarmed by what it perceives as one Israeli breakthrough after another in tunnel detection.



http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Analysis-Hamas-under-pressure-as-Israel-makes-progress-on-tunnels-453113


I found this particularly interesting:

Although Hamas is keen on honing its rocket, drone and sea-based attack capabilities, its tunnel construction program remain its crown jewel.

No talk about hospitals, housing, schools - nothing that would actually help the people they were elected to help. Just weapons and tunnels. It's time for the world to think about what they're financing and for those idiotic bds-ers to see what they're supporting.

[iandhr]

1. Who would have thought that when a terror...

... group rules an area there would be negative consequences for the people who lived there.

[leftynyc]

2. And yet Israel gets crap

from people for not unilaterally sitting down with these terrorists and giving them what they want. They wanted terrorists as leaders - hope they're enjoying what they themselves voted for.

[FBaggins]

3. After the tunnels are destroyed, we'll learn that the tunnel system included

Two wedding ceremonies, a UN school, a children's hospital, and a parking garage for ambulances.

Sadly... only innocent civilians were killed.

/pallywood

[leftynyc]

4. Undoubtedly true

Innocent children civilians somehow were the only ones in the terrorist build tunnels. Terrorists nowhere to be found. My eyes rolled so much, I got a headache.

[shira]

5. Headlines state Israel broke ceasefire, not Hamas for firing first.

IBT: Palestinians Fire First, Israel ‘Ends Ceasefire’
http://honestreporting.com/ibt-palestinians-fire-first-israel-ends-ceasefire/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork

Terror supporting Hamasbara propaganda in the western press. The article's headline is still there, unchanged...

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/israel-planes-attack-four-hamas-sites-gaza-ending-two-year-ceasefire-1558353

Gotta love it, huh?

[leftynyc]

6. I wish I could say

I was surprised. Remember the head of Labour party called hamas his pals until he took heat. I sure wont forget.

[King_David]

7. And some people are calling for Israel to end the blockade...

Can you imagine?

[Little Tich]

8. The tunnels and the rockets are the least of Israel's problems with Gaza.

The real problem is that there's big refugee camp with almost 2 million people 50 miles south of Tel Aviv, where people are desperate, really poor and really angry. I don't think that making the lives of these people even worse will solve any problems whatsoever.

The OP conveniently gives a reason for not dealing with the problem, and meanwhile the situation only gets worse.

[FBaggins]

9. That's nonsense... but even if the first paragraph were 100% true...

... it's Hamas that gives them a reason for not dealing with the problem. Not the OP.

[Little Tich]

10. Do you think that the current Israeli stance on Gaza is more or less the correct one, or do you

think Israel should act differently?

[FBaggins]

15. It's their stance toward the West Bank that could be improved

So long as Hamas is in charge of Gaza, their "stance" on Gaza is just about their only choice. If tunnels between Gaza/Israel are discovered, they should be destroyed. If terrorists launch rocket/mortar attacks, there should be counter-battery fire.

Do you think that that the people of Gaza are well served by their Hamas rulers when they divert humanitarian aid toward constructing tunnels instead of homes and intentionally site their attacks so that counter-strikes will kill as many civilians as possible?

[Little Tich]

20. What if Hamas won't jump through hoops, even if told to do so?

Does that mean that the problem with Gaza is solved?

[FBaggins]

21. "Stop killing your own people" is hardly jumping through hoops.

Solving the issues in Gaza has nothing to do with getting Hamas to do anything... other than disappear.

[shira]

16. What responsibility do you believe Hamas has in this, if any?

Last edited Fri May 6, 2016, 07:27 AM - Edit history (1)

Let's see you lay into Hamas for what's happening in Gaza.

Can you do it?

Go on, begin...

[Little Tich]

22. Frankly, I don't really expect much compromise from a bunch of repressive religious hardliners like

Hamas.

In some ways, continuing the blockade is the best way to keep them in power indefinitely. Cuba has been under US embargo since 1960, and socialism wouldn't have survived there without it.

[shira]

28. So your solution is to allow Hamas open access to all sorts of weapons, right?

After all, there's no proof Hamas uses anything coming in for military purposes....says the UN which you trust:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1134127895



You have a problem criticizing Hamas legitimately, don't you?

As much as you cry about not being allowed to legitimately criticize Israel, you object to any legitimate criticism of Hamas.

Yes?

Because they're victims and it's racist....?

[King_David]

14. The tunnels and rockets are the Gazans biggest problems with Israel

If there were none and no terrorist attacks there would be no blockade.

[Israeli]

11. Talking tunnels......

'Netanyahu never consulted the cabinet about Hamas tunnels before 2014 operation'

State Comptroller expected to publish a report slamming the Prime Minister and his close circle's silence about tunnel threat: PM's defenders: This is slander.

Itama Eichner
Published: 05.06.16, 11:02 / Israel News

Source : http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4800107,00.html

Also : ....

Watchdog Believes Netanyahu, Ya’alon Kept Cabinet in the Dark in 2014 Gaza War, Sources Say

Most ministers in the security cabinet were sidelined and did not receive full information during Operation Protective Edge, according to officials who have seen a draft report by State Comptroller Joseph Shapira.

Barak Ravid May 05, 2016

read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.717905

and : ....

Netanyahu Associates Blast Comptroller's Draft Gaza War Report as 'Biased, Politicking'

Senior officials who saw the draft report, first published by Haaretz, said comptroller found serious shortcomings in Israel's preparedness against tunnel threat.

read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.718226

[leftynyc]

12. Would you mind explaining

what any of that has to do with this story?

[Israeli]

13. Just talking tunnels leftynyc.....

Top of the news over here .......guess you have to be Israeli to get it .

Bereaved families demand to see Protective Edge report: 'Whoever failed should pay'

Asaf Rozen
Published: 05.06.16, 11:14 / Israel News

Families who lost children in Operation Protective Edge are demanding to see a draft report written by State Comptroller Yosef Shapira who intends to publish a scathing report about Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in 2014. The expected critique condemns the conduct of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner security circle.

Source : http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4800115,00.html

[leftynyc]

18. Problems for bibi are good news

for Israel. Still don't know what that has to do with hamas's tunnels but whatever.

[Israeli]

23. Maybe if you actually read ....

....the links I gave you would have a clue ....." but whatever " .

Try again ....

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4800107,00.html

[leftynyc]

24. I did read it

And another on the same topic from Aretz Sheva - and I still don't know what it has to do with the hamas built tunnels. Are you denying they exist? That hamas stole the aid money meant for hospitals, food, schools and bought tunnels and built tunnels instead? Still not getting you think this proves.

[Israeli]

26. What !!!! ????

I give up with you two Americans .....dumb and dumber with each passing post .

[leftynyc]

27. Do whatever you want

Makes no difference to me but I still don't understand why you seem to be denying the tunnels exist or that hamas built them with the hope of killing Israelis. You WANT that scathing report to mean something it doesn't. That's not my problem.

[FBaggins]

17. Isn't it obvious?

Clearly there weren't any tunnels because Hamas loves peace. Netanyahu made them up as an excuse to launch attacks and destroy civilian homes.

</hamas>

[leftynyc]

19. All they have are deflections

from the behavior of the terrorist hamas and the deaths that result from the behavior of their elected hamas leaders. They wouldn't want to look too hard at what they're supporting.

[Israeli]

25. You have it ass backwards ....

.....try reading ......it works like magic for ignorance ....

http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.701526

[Fozzledick]

29. Just ignoring the real problems and taking a gratuitous cheap shot

as usual.

[leftynyc]

30. You would think the

constant deflections would cause some embarrassment but I guess not.

[Israeli]

31. Another expert ....

" Top of the news over here .......guess you have to be Israeli to get it ."