More than 200 have been reported dead in Gaza after Israeli attacks which were in response to ongoing rocket fire from Hamas. Israel's hammering of so-called Hamas targets have left over 300 injured and Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has said Israeli attacks will go on for "as long as necessary."

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More than 200 have been reported dead in Gaza after Israeli attacks which were in response to ongoing rocket fire from Hamas. Israel’s hammering of so-called Hamas targets have left over 300 injured and Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak has said Israeli attacks will go on for "as long as necessary." (See Raw Story for more.)

The U.S., being the biggest of ally of Israel, bears some responsibility for the worsening situation, which supporters of Arab and Palestinian rights are speaking out against.

Reactions to the attacks from the Arab League, Syria, and Iran consist of these following remarks, which are being reported by BBC News:

AMR MOUSSA, ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY GENERAL

"We are facing a continuing spectacle which has been carefully planned. So we have to expect that there will be many casualties. We face a major humanitarian catastrophe."

SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT

"Syria is following with great anxiety the barbaric Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza... a horrific crime and terrorist act.

"Syria calls on the Arab nation and the international community to use all possible means to put pressure on Israel to immediately stop the aggression, allow the wounded to enter hospital and open all crossing points [to Gaza].

"Syria as president of the Arab League calls on Arab leaders to hold an emergency summit to assess the dangerous situation in Gaza."

HASAN QASHQAVI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN

"Iran strongly condemns the Zionist regime's wide-ranging attacks against the civilians in Gaza.

"The raids against innocent people are unforgiveable and unacceptable."

Syria and Iran have been on the short list of nations the U.S. is willing to attack--the Axis of Evil---and that may be because Israel considers these countries to pose grave threats to their security.

In an IBA News video posted on the Jerusalem Post website, Dr. Raanan Gissin, ex-spokesman for Ariel Sharon, offered his take on the situation, one that many supportive of Israel, like those in the U.S., will most likely consider accurate:

“This is only the first shot in what will probably be a long, enduring sustained operation on which its main purpose is as I understand it is not so much to break the military force of Hamas as much as to break its will, to continue the fighting, and to establish a different ceasefire, a comprehensive one which will ensure that the citizens of Israel along its southern border can live in peace and security. Israel is exercising in a rightful way it’s right to self-defense. This is something I think we can explain today better than in the previous war in Lebanong. No doubt in my mind this is only the first or one of a serie of confrontations in fighting the frontline forces of Iran whether its in the south, Hamas, or in the north, Hezbollah. We still have several of these confrontations so long as Iran continues with its intent to drive a wedge into the Middle East and extend the influence.” [emphasis added]

Gissin added before his analysis was over, “Israel’s action is much wiser than in 2006 against Lebanon.” And in a comment that one would expect from the lips of George W. Bush, “Terrorist organizations require perseverance, endurance, and patience on the part of the citizens” because in this day and age, “most of the wars we are going to be forced to fight---not choose to fight---forced to fight will be of this kind.”

So, why is Hamas firing rockets at Israelis?

The U.S. considers the democratically elected Hamas organization to be a terrorist organization (as does Israel). Hamas attacks Israel in ways that terrorists attack countries---it employs guerrilla warfare while Israel employs military operations that only rich countries with rich U.S. support can employ.

The White House said in response to the attacks:

“"Hamas' continued rocket attacks into Israel must cease if the violence is to stop. Hamas must end its terrorist activities if it wishes to play a role in the future of the Palestinian people.

"The United States urges Israel to avoid civilian casualties as it targets Hamas in Gaza."

Barack Obama, on vacation, could not offer a comment. But, as Justin Raimondo over at Antiwar.com suggests, he probably would side with the Israelis.

Raimondo has links that lead to this letter from then-Senator Obama and it explains why Obama might think Israel has a right to respond to Hamas rocket fire.

Dear Ambassador Khalilzad,

I understand that today the UN Security Council met regarding the situation in Gaza, and that a resolution or statement could be forthcoming from the Council in short order.

I urge you to ensure that the Security Council issue no statement and pass no resolution on this matter that does not fully condemn the rocket assault Hamas has been conducting on civilians in southern Israel…

All of us are concerned about the impact of closed border crossings on Palestinian families. However, we have to understand why Israel is forced to do this… Israel has the right to respond while seeking to minimize any impact on civilians.

The Security Council should clearly and unequivocally condemn the rocket attacks… If it cannot bring itself to make these common sense points, I urge you to ensure that it does not speak at all.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator

That was Obama then. Perhaps, we should consider Obama’s reaction to Carter’s trip to the Middle East to meet with Hamas as an indication of what he is really thinking now.

Carter said of his trip in April of this year:

“It's very important that at least someone meet with the Hamas leaders to express their views, to ascertain what flexibility they have, to try to induce them to stop all attacks against innocent civilians in Israel and to cooperate with the Fatah as a group that unites the Palestinians…There's no doubt in anyone's mind that, if Israel is ever going to find peace with justice concerning the relationship with their next-door neighbours, the Palestinians, that Hamas will have to be included in the process.”

Seems fair, right? Obama responded to Carter’s logic by telling a group of Jewish leaders:

“We must not negotiate with a terrorist group intent on Israel’s destruction…We should only sit down with Hamas if they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel’s right to exist and abide by past agreements."

Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights, of course, have issued this statement condemning the attacks and asking people take action.

As of this writing, Israeli Air Force attacks today on the occupied Gaza Strip killed an estimated 200 or more people and injured hundreds more. These Israeli attacks come on top of a brutal siege of the Gaza Strip, which has created a humanitarian catastrophe of dire proportions for Gaza's 1.5 million Palestinian residents by restricting the provision of food, fuel, medicine, electricity, and other necessities of life.

While the scope of civilian casualties in today's attacks is not yet clear, it is unmistakable that Israel carried out these attacks with F16 fighter jets and missiles provided by the taxpayers of this country. From 2001-2006, the United States transferred to Israel more than $200 million worth of spare parts to fly its fleet of F16's. In July 2008, the United States gave Israel 186 million gallons of JP-8 aviation jet fuel. Last year, the United States signed a $1.3 billion contract with Raytheon to transfer to Israel thousands of TOW, Hellfire, and "bunker buster" missiles.

In short, Israel's lethal attack today on the Gaza Strip could not have happened without the active military and political support of the United States. Therefore, we need to take action to protest this attack and demand an immediate cease-fire.

As the situation worsens, as the attacks continue, more will be reported by OpEdNews. In the meantime, consider why Hamas is firing rockets. It may look like terrorism, but one man's terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.   The only way Israel’s actions can be considered self-defense is if we are certain Hamas is not employing violence because it wishes to attain freedom from Israel's actions, which recently have included a vicious blockade against Palestinians.

Also, it may be worth asking this question: Exactly what Hanukkah tradition involves waging violent conflict? 

Authors Bio:
Kevin Gosztola is managing editor of Shadowproof Press. He also produces and co-hosts the weekly podcast, "Unauthorized Disclosure." He was an editor for OpEdNews.com