Morch

Nope. He's a joke. He's got no real background regarding the ''scientific' elements of his books. He's claims and theories aren't widely or well received in academic circles, other than the obvious political ones. On a personal level, he's *ick.

One of them, at least. But no use pretending it ain't there.

My first guess is that you are aware that the Gaza Strip also borders Egypt. My second guess it that you are aware why the blockade is in place.

You really convinced me there with that one-liner. Then I remembered that the Gaza Strip was bordering Egypt as well. And that even so Hamas was able to built enough rockets to keep throwing at Israel. Try harder.

Sounds like something ISIS or a mohel would say.....

It's 'quiet' this time too, because neither side wants to seem 'weak'. A whole lot of rumors and denials. Funny you should mention families - one of the routine Palestinian (well, Gazan) complaints this time is that Hamas leaders smuggled their families out of the Gaza Strip beforehand. I have no idea if this is 100% true, but it's a fact that some are/were living with families abroad. Sinwar is one of the two main people behind the attack. The other being Deif. And to add extra spice - a year or two back he was almost voted out as being too 'soft' vs. Israel. I don't know if the plan was already in the works, and the 'softness' (everything is relative, eh?) was part of it, or whether political pressure within helped push this along. Yes, there's a lot of that too. I think mostly for public consumption. In effect, intel should know who's who, and who matters.

As I understand it, the first phase (aerial bombings) is aimed at taking out whatever targets they can this way, and also clear a path (that's the destruction part) for ground forces. Since two or three days ago the IDF is carrying nightly large scale raids into the Gaza Strip. I think part of that is to do with what you mentioned. While the IAF packs quite a punch, I think they can't handle this simply with airstrikes.

Yeah, I guess most of us on here aren't very observant, religious or whatever. The point being that our views not necessarily mean much for the people directly involved. Have to allow for beliefs being part of the equation.

Not really. He's a joke. No one takes him seriously.

All this one people, DNA stuff is BS. No one cares. Least of all the people on both sides of the fence. On these topics, is nothing but a diversion. Nothing that's relevant to the situation at hand.

You just go down there and try this line on people. Wear your trainers.

Dully noted. In the bean.

Sand. You must be desperate indeed. This one is usually played when no more cards are left.

In your mind, perhaps. That doesn't mean a whole lot. The issue is not what you choose to believe, but the way you dishonestly claim that's an accepted fact. It is not.

You seem to prefer waffle....

No, you claimed 'terrorist', nothing about that in them links that I noticed. Also not much of your over the top language.

Now....if we could only find a link for a Palestinian, or Arab, Or Muslim protest focused on denouncing the Hamas attack and atrocities committed..... Always amusing some posters feel the need to point the obvious fact people have different points of view, even Jews.

The tunnels run under residential areas, hospitals, schools etc. Not sure what you meant.

There is, apparently, a swap deal arranged by Qatar - not there yet, but maybe close. Previous negotiations in hostage situations took months and years, though. Need to wait and see. One correction and one anecdote - it was actually a bit over 1000 Palestinians who were released, among them one Yahya Sinwar....

Oh, you're a nihilist now? That's interesting. You haven't presented any 'facts'. The two links above do not support what you claimed. And also funny you dismissed governments, then rushed to quote to government types.

Armies do that when fighting in urban combat zones. Are you calling all other armies to have ever done that 'terrorist'?

To utterly destroy Hamas is probably impossible. Rendering a minor threat for years to come is a different matter. Not easy, but not impossible. With regard to the second proposition - not destroying Hamas will allow for that as well.

What, under the circumstances and within reality, would be considered 'proportional', in your opinion? When Palestinian terrorist organizations manage to get their hands on Israeli hostages, the 'exchange rate' (even for bodies) is hundreds to one, at the very least. Netanyahu cares about Netanyahu. He's not exactly invested in ideology, hatred and so on. He can flip like anything if deemed politically beneficial and possible.

You calling the IDF 'terrorist' on an open internet forum in Asia doesn't carry a whole lot of weight. How does your own government see things? How do Western countries? Any of them share your views?

Dead. Killed. Wounded. Injured. Maimed....whatever rocks your nitpicking boat. Israel cares more about it's own civilians, as it should. There is no way to avoid civilian casualties in wars like these. Hamas started this. You go and on about Israel.