Israel at War?

[_Opi_]

Is the Isreali army using new chemical weapons in Gaza?

http://www.pnn.ps/english/archive200...06/report5.htm

Director of Public Relations at Gaza City’s Al Shifa Hospital, Dr. Juma Al Sakka, confirmed the Palestinian Ministry of Health’s report from earlier this week which stated that Israeli forces are using toxic weapons in the Gaza Strip.

The doctor spoke on Thursday, giving the death count at 85 Palestinians in the Strip since the latest Israeli attack began. Among the dead are 34 children under the age of 13. And as of Thursday afternoon, 300 Palestinians are injured.

Dr. Al Sakka told Voice of Palestine Radio that the Israeli army is using new types of non-conventional weapons against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during the recent attacks. He said, “They are targeting the Palestinian body with unconventional weapons and with that comes a phenomena we have not seen before in any Israeli bombardment we have lived through for many years.”

He continued, “The hospital is central and sees almost all cases of injuries and deaths as a result of Israeli against the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip. These Israeli bombings are entering the body and fragmenting, causing internal combustion leading to up to fourth degree internal burns, exposing the bone, and affecting the tissue and skin.”

The doctor added, “These tissues die, they do not survive, which obliges us to perform arm or leg amputations, and there are fragments which penetrate the body and do not show up on X-rays. When entering the body they spark like a combustion firearm, but not chemically. They seem radioactive.”

He confirmed that there were dozens of wounded legs and arms. Many of them had been burned from the inside, and distorted to the point that they cannot return to life again.

Yesterday, Wednesday, was one of the most bloody of all in the recent attacks. Israeli forces killed 25 Palestinians. Dr. Al Sakka said, “It is escalating day after day. Yesterday alone Israeli forces killed 25 and injured dozens. Among them so many were children.”

Dr. Al Sakka revealed that the Israelis completely destroyed by the lab which would help in diagnosing such cases. “We no longer have the ability to make these examinations on phenomena that we see is not normal.”

He called on the international community to examine the latest weapons however the doctor reported that “no one has lifted a finger.” Dr. Al Sakka complained that he did not see any foreign medical institution interested in the use of new weapons and their affects on the human body. He said, “What we found were journalists who came to take pictures, but as for the medical community, nothing.”

[_Opi_]

This is an article from June 29th, 2006

http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006...srlpa13662.htm

(Beirut, June 29, 2006) – Israel's destruction of Gaza’s only electrical plant needlessly punishes the civilian population and has created the potential for a serious humanitarian crisis, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch also said that Palestinian militant groups are committing a war crime by using a captured Israeli soldier as a hostage to seek the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

" Militants are using Corporal Gilad Shalit as a hostage to bargain for the release of Palestinians in Israeli custody, and that’s a war crime. But Israel must minimize the harm to Gaza’s civilian population during any military operation to rescue the corporal, and that includes not destroying vital power plants.

On Sunday, Palestinian militants attacked an Israeli military post on the border with Gaza, killing two Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers and capturing Shalit. Three Palestinian militant groups – the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of the ruling Hamas party; the Popular Resistance Committees; and the little-known Army of Islam – took responsibility for the attack and the abduction on Monday, and demanded the release of all Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails in return for information about Shalit. The Popular Resistance Committees also claimed responsibility for killing Eliahu Asheri, an 18-year-old Jewish settler kidnapped in the West Bank, apparently in response to Israel’s current military action.

A hostage is a person held in the power of an adversary in order to obtain specific actions, such as the release of prisoners, from the other party to the conflict. International law prohibits the taking of hostages, which is a war crime under the laws of war. The summary execution of anyone held captive, such as Asheri, is also a war crime. Human Rights Watch calls on the Palestinian Authority to do all it can to ensure that Shalit and any other captured Israelis are treated in accordance with the laws of war, and urges militant groups to stop using Israelis as bargaining chips.

Human Rights Watch also expressed concern about the intentional and frequent use of sonic booms by Israeli military aircraft over Gaza, which has caused great fear among the civilian population, particularly among children. Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits “measures of intimidation” against the civilian population. As there appears to be no military justification for the use of the sonic booms, other than the prohibited practice of intimidation, Human Rights Watch urges Israel to immediately halt the practice.

Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced that Israel is willing to take “extreme measures” to rescue the corporal. On June 28, Israel began offensive military operations into Gaza. Among the first Israeli targets was the only electrical power station in the Gaza strip, which was hit by multiple missiles and reportedly destroyed. The station provides power to the majority of the Gaza Strip, and is responsible for powering the water pumps and other systems essential to the survival of Gaza’s civilian population. The destruction of the power station could quickly cause a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as electricity is essential to power the water system, sewage treatment, and medical services.

The laws of war prohibit attacks on “objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population.” Israel’s attack on Gaza’s only power plant is in violation of its obligation to safeguard such objects from attack. Even though Israel unilaterally withdrew its troops and settlements from Gaza in 2005, it continues to have obligations as an occupying power in Gaza because of its almost complete control over Gaza’s borders, sea and air space, tax revenue, utilities, and the internal economy of Gaza. At a minimum, Israel continues to be responsible for the basic welfare of the Palestinian population in Gaza, in particular the health, educational, and humanitarian needs of the population to the extent these are affected by the restrictions imposed on Gaza by Israel. Olmert reportedly threatened to block the entry of fuel and food to Gaza if Shalit is not released, which would violate these obligations.

Human Rights Watch urges Israel to take all possible precautions to limit the impact of its military campaign in Gaza on the civilian population. In particular, the laws of war require Israel to ensure that the impact of its military actions on the civilian population is not disproportionate to the military objectives it seeks to achieve, and that it does not target objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population.

[RACooper]

Originally Posted by _Opi_

Is the Isreali army using new chemical weapons in Gaza?

riiiiiight.... with the scrutiny that Israel's assault is under, and the many news groups out there - only the Palestinian News Network manages to scoop this story?

Anyways as to this alleged "weapon" being used - I also call BS on it. Sorry but the only thing capable of causing burns from the "inside out" and "distorting tissue" would be something along the lines of a microwave or high burst radiation (to have an immediate effect)... and last I checked microwaves don't come in bomb form, and high intensity/burst radiation would immediately show on an x-ray...

For shame _Opi_ to fall for such amatuerish and sloppy propaganda obviously aimed at the already convinced...


Anyways on to your other article - while they cite the Geneva Convention which follows:

No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.
Pillage is prohibited.
Reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited.

They also fail to point out that it is specific in it's application of when this applies; ie. against an occupied civilian population, or attacks specifically directed at terror or intimidation with no strategic/tactical military application... and so far Israel hasn't violated this as far as I can see from news sources.

If they are refering to the broader application under against the collective punishment of enemy civilian populations in times of conflict under 3rd Protocol (1977) then it doesn't matter as none of the combatants (or even possible combatants in the Middle East) have signed onto that protocol.... in fact very few countries have (ie. the UK and US haven't)

[Tom Earp]

Yes, and while this may be true, temperance should be used.

Now that I have said that, who is not to be harmed in an armed conflict and who should be immune? Who helps the attackers and who doesnt?

There is little work that a Bomb doesnt do to The Bad Guys that it doesnt do to the innocent. Then the innocent are presented as being persecuted only.

So, then let them who do not point out the bad guys be implicated too? Hasnt that been the way of military incursions?

All one has to do is look at Iraq. Who is getting killed at a greater rate?

They are afraid to point out the baddies, they are afraid of getting killed. Well, what is happening there now?

[_Opi_]

Originally Posted by RACooper

riiiiiight.... with the scrutiny that Israel's assault is under, and the many news groups out there - only the Palestinian News Network manages to scoop this story?

Anyways as to this alleged "weapon" being used - I also call BS on it. Sorry but the only thing capable of causing burns from the "inside out" and "distorting tissue" would be something along the lines of a microwave or high burst radiation (to have an immediate effect)... and last I checked microwaves don't come in bomb form, and high intensity/burst radiation would immediately show on an x-ray...

For shame _Opi_ to fall for such amatuerish and sloppy propaganda obviously aimed at the already convinced...


Anyways on to your other article - while they cite the Geneva Convention which follows:

They also fail to point out that it is specific in it's application of when this applies; ie. against an occupied civilian population, or attacks specifically directed at terror or intimidation with no strategic/tactical military application... and so far Israel hasn't violated this as far as I can see from news sources.

If they are refering to the broader application under against the collective punishment of enemy civilian populations in times of conflict under 3rd Protocol (1977) then it doesn't matter as none of the combatants (or even possible combatants in the Middle East) have signed onto that protocol.... in fact very few countries have (ie. the UK and US haven't)

What you said may very well be the truth, as I have no weapon knowledge background. However, as you will notice from my post, I posed a question. I did not say anything about its validity. I saw the article and passed it on. However, I do wonder if there is validity to it.

As for propoganda, there's many propoganda being perpetrated from both sides :-) We always get reports from the Israel news media here, don't we not?

As to the application of the Geneva convention to this conflict, are you saying because they have a "strategic military planning", that it justifies what their doing in Lebanon/Gaza? You don't think their terrorizing or punishing the civilians , rather than Hizbullah?

[Rudey]

Originally Posted by _Opi_

What you said may very well be the truth, as I have no weapon knowledge background. However, as you will notice from my post, I posed a question. I did not say anything about its validity. I saw the article and passed it on. However, I do wonder if there is validity to it.

As for propoganda, there's many propoganda being perpetrated from both sides :-) We always get reports from the Israel news media here, don't we not?

As to the application of the Geneva convention to this conflict, are you saying because they have a "strategic military planning", that it justifies what their doing in Lebanon/Gaza? You don't think their terrorizing or punishing the civilians , rather than Hizbullah?

No it isn't a "May..be the truth". It is the truth.

You posted a BS article so you believe in the validity and are aiding in spreading lies. There is ZERO validity to that.

What "propoganda" is being spread from both sides? I'd love to know what the Israelis propoganda is.

Again Opi let me break it down for you.

Gaza:
1) Israel is not in the area because of a pussy, and the Israelis get attacked without justification.
2) Israel elects a pussy peace government and the Palestinians choose a terrorist government.
3) Israel is attacked daily by rockets and has its citizens kidnapped.
4) Palestinians gave the terrorists power and keep them in power.
5) At any point the Gazans can stop firing rockets and release the soldier.
6) The Gazans are determining that they are fine with the consequences.
7) It is Syria and Iran that pushed to make sure that Hamas didn't return the soldier.

Lebanon:
1) Hezbollah is a part of the government.
2) Hezbollah controls the entire Southern border of Lebanon.
3) No Lebanese national troops were moved into the South.
4) Hezbollah, a part of the government, attacked Israel. Hence Lebanon started a war.
5) It is Iran and Syria that provide support to Hezbollah.
6) Given that you know nothing about the civil war, I'm sure you don't know that the Southern Beirut neighborhoods are Hezbollah members and supporters.
7) Israel did not indiscriminately attack civilians. The Lebanese did.
8) Israel destroyed an airport, a main highway, Hezbollah buildings, and blocked all the sea ports so that they can't move the kidnapped Israeli into Iran.
9) At any point Hezbollah can move away from the South, Lebanon can put national troops there, and the Israeli soldiers can be returned.
10) There is no justification to Hezbollah or Lebanon doing this. ISRAEL HAS NO OCCUPYING FORCES IN LEBANON AS CERTIFIED BY THE UNITED NATIONS.
11) Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and many gulf states BLAME LEBANON AND HEZBOLLAH AS WELL AS IRAN AND SYRIA.

So tell us what the propoganda is. I would love to know what it is. Instead of reading Arab news that is fully fabricated, read something with a bit more truth to it.

-Rudey