US asks Israel to delay invasion
An apparent conflict is brewing between the US and Israel over the timing of Israel’s much-hyped plan for a complete siege of Gaza. The dynamic between them is beginning to resemble the spectacle between MAGA and moderate Republicans over the election of a new House Speaker.
The Biden administration has advised Israel to delay a ground invasion of Gaza, hoping to buy time for hostage negotiations and to allow more humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians in the sealed-off enclave, according to several US officials.
But fast-moving events since Hamas released two American women on Friday have spurred the administration to more urgently suggest that the Israelis allow time to negotiate the release of 212 other hostages, the officials said.
(The New York Times, October 23, 2023)
Incidentally, one of Israel’s finest hours was when it executed Operation Solomon, airlifting nearly 15,000 Black Jews from Ethiopia to Israel in 36 hours. That’s why it’s heartening to see so many Black Jews in military uniform on the frontlines, amassing to fight for Israel in this – its darkest hour.
US plays good cop, Israel plays bad cop
What delay? Israel has been bombing Gaza to smithereens every day, including over 300 airstrikes just yesterday, since day one of this war on October 7. It has also been executing commando raids.
What about the hundreds of thousands of Israeli troops at the north and south borders? Well, they appear to be serving as comprehensive, menacing base camps.
That’s why it’s self-evident that the good-cop US is effectively providing cover for the bad-cop Israel. The US call for a delay and baying Israeli troops on the borders are mere feints, distracting from Israeli airstrikes and raids.
At least, I hope that’s the case. Because I called for these strategic attacks instead of a ground invasion in “Israel Is Planning a Complete Seige of Gaza” on October 10, 2023.
Hamas using the hostages to call for a ceasefire
Hamas has promised from day one that it would release all civilian hostages if Israel stops bombing Gaza. On Friday, it finally released the first two hostages, claiming, ironically, it was a humanitarian goodwill gesture.
Hamas aims to seem merciful and willing to negotiate, ignoring its own role in starting the war. And its banking on the media propagating its false narrative.
And why not? After all, the media propagated its false narrative about Israel bombing that Gaza hospital. Thanks to their misleading reporting, even Jews joined (often violent) protests across the globe.
You’d think the media would learn from rushing to provide such misleading coverage. Yet they are now propagating Hamas’s narrative about releasing these hostages as if it were like the homecoming of the (original) Iranian hostages, Terry Waite, or Brittney Griner.
But consider this: Hamas initially claimed 203 hostages; now it claims 222. So, with all due respect to the Times, far from being fast-moving, it will take years at this rate to release all civilian hostages. And, given the Gilad Shalit precedent, it will take decades to release the scores of soldiers among its hostages.
Hamas intends to string out this hostage drama. And it will proclaim “mercy,” fiendishly spinning its brutal capture and drip-drip release of innocent civilians as a humanitarian act. But Hamas is only emulating countries like Iran and Russia in this respect.
Oh, remember that genocidal war Iran is helping Russia wage in Ukraine? It’s still raging.
But you’d never know – given the media’s wall-to-wall coverage of this Gaza war; you know, the way they used to cover that Ukraine war not so long ago.
The looming humanitarian crisis
A real humanitarian act? That would be Israel allowing critical supplies into Gaza. After all, its bombing has displaced over two million people within this sealed-off enclave.
‘The relentless bombing campaign underway in Gaza, as we speak, is collective punishment of besieged and helpless people. It’s a flagrant violation of int’l humanitarian law. It is a war crime,’ King Abdullah [of Jordan] said. …
‘Attacking civilian infrastructure and deliberately starving an entire population [and prohibiting] them from food, water, electricity and basic necessities will be condemned. Accountability will be enforced immediately and unequivocally,’ he stressed.
(Egypt Today, October 21, 2023)
I agree.
Still, much is being made about Israel finally allowing Trucks to deliver supplies into Gaza through the Rafah crossing. The problem is that, before this war, an average of 500 trucks carrying supplies passed through. By contrast, less than 20 have each day for just the past two days.
That will do little to meet the critical needs of Gazans languishing in that “sealed-off enclave.” But I suspect this truck trickle is Netanyahu’s attempt to atone for the Hamas attack.
After all, Israel allowed Hamas to amass the arsenal of weapons its terrorists used to mount that spectacular attack on October 7. And, bear in mind, Israelis are saying that attack was the equivalent of thirty 9/11 attacks.
Legacy Note: With over 5,600 posts spanning 20 years, I am easily the most prolific blogger on the most eclectic array of topics on the web. That makes The iPINIONS Journal an unparalleled archive of informed political and cultural commentary. Visit the ARCHIVES section in the sidebar or search by topic. You won’t find a more consistent, independent voice on world affairs.