A different view (last of 2 parts)

Gaza is a small piece of territory populated by one and a half million people, with a density of more than four thousand people per square kilometer. Naturally, in such a densely populated area where its militia practically blend in with the population, you will definitely have civilian casualties when conflict erupts. And with an average age of 17, you will have children among the casualties. And I believe Israel has gone out if its way to alert Gazans of impending attacks, in the form of leaflets and even press announcements.

In war, it is always the civilians who lose. So why would a country, with almost no military might save for a loose militia, pick a fight with a known military giant, and then cry out as the oppressed when the giant fights back? Israel has imposed a virtual blockade on Gaza, because Hamas governs it. Such a move may be seen as oppressive. But this is where diplomacy should have come in, and not the firing of rockets!

Israel has an open door to the West Bank, which is governed by the PLO. Why can't Gaza be like the West Bank? Because the PLO and Hamas do not see eye to eye. Why blame Israel for that. Here at home, we have walls to shield ourselves from the outside if warranted, such as a bad neighborhood. Israel has done the same. And as for a disproportionate response by Israel, I heard a good argument on CNN. Around three thousand were killed in a terrorist act on 9/11/01. In the coalition attacks on the Taliban, do they have to stop when they have killed three thousand terrorists, or would you rather eradicate terrorism in general?

War is hell. It always was, it always will be, no matter how good technology has made warfare more precise or surgical. So why start one in the first place? Clearly Hamas is the instigator, with Israel only defending itself. My criticism of Israel is how it is handling the foreign press, where it is not allowing them to enter Gaza at all. Israel is not a stranger to criticism when it comes to fighting wars. And we all know that with military superiority comes arrogance. And because a lot of civilians are dying or getting hurt, it has foolishly chosen to trample that very basic right of people to know.