A month of Isreali attacks on Palestinian targegets in Ghazzah and The WestBank, killing over 40 Palestinians, mostly civilians, culminated with Isreali troops moving into Southern Ghazzah on June 28.
The extent and immedaite objectives of the operation are not yet clear but,as always when considering Israeli actions, one must ditinguish between what they say, which is usually designed for public relations purposes and has little connection to reality, and their underlying strategy.
The latest developments, therefore are certainly more than just a response to the capture of one soldier by Palestinians. Instead, they must be seen as part of the broader Israeli response to the victory of Hamas in the Palestinian parliamentary elections in January.
Supported by the US and the rest of the "international community", Israel has refused to deal with Hamas government, ostensibly because of its refusal to recignise Israel's "right to exist" and to renounce "violence" , and has instituted a number of measures designed to punish the Palestinians for daring to elect leadres of their own choosing, rather than those wanted by Israel and the West.
Israel and the US have also done their best to divide and cause friction between the Palestinian political groups.
The increase of direct military harassment by the Isreali's has been designed to force Hamas to abandon it's unilateral ceasefire, so that Hamas can once again be portrayed as a threat to Israel and Isreal once again has no choice but to deal with them militarily.
Hamas has announced the end of it's ceasefire in response to the ever rising Palestinian casualties
If their was one main factor that launched Iseali's attack on Ghazzah and it was the ill prospect of an agreement being reached between Fatah and Hamas on the so-called Prisoners Document. this document is not so much a radical change in the Palestinians position as a reminder of the basic points on which the Palestinians already agree.
This document states that Palestinians should work for a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Ghazzah, with Jerusalem as it's undivided capital, without giving up the aspiration of liberating the whole of Palestine in due course.
Because of this "two-state" solution the West had said that it was an "implicit" recognition of Isreali's right to exist.
The document also called for the repatriation of more than 5 million Palestinian refugees forceed to leave Palestine since 1948.
This new found aggression is the one constant in Palestinian situation, and the inescapable context in which Palestinian politics take place. This last few months and the preceeding months have and will show the real limits of Palestinian freedom, even in the areas in which they supposedly have autonomy and self-government. The direct and indirect dark shadow of the Isreali power over the lives of Palestinians has become clear..
Taken from an editorial from the Crescent Magazine on www.muslimedia.com
Insha'Allah we make Duaa for the safety of all civillian women and children in the Middle East
:salam2: