"...with Israeli soldiers unleashing lethal force against mostly unarmed Arab protesters."
Right. The NYT writes as if the Gaza-Israel border is downtown Manhattan. Can't ya just see the headlines, "Police used excessive force against mostly unarmed (black, white, Asian, transgender, college, or pick an "identity" group and fill in)."
Arab "protesters" are there not to "peacefully" air their grievances in their struggle for a better version of Jeffersonian democracy.
Instead, Hamas inspired "protests" (remember that inconvenient fact that Hamas is on the US state dept. list as a terrorist group) are there for one reason, to test Israeli resolve and to inflame the situation. Which, btw, Iran encourages every time Israel acts to eliminate an Iranian military installation in the North, as she recently did.
No country in the world would permit its borders to be trampled by so-called "peaceful" protesters who are there to bring Israeli fire in order to urge naïve Westerners to pressure Israel and to boycott her. While cement to build new and deadly cross border tunnels flows into Gaza from Egypt unabated.
But I'd like the NYT for being honest enough to full out take the side of the racist Hamas, whose charter describes Jews as the descendants of "monkeys and pigs."
And yesterday was Holocaust Remembrance Day.
As a proud Zionist and American, permit me to oink my disgust.
36
It is so interesting that the NYT sympathetically portrays violent demonstrations sponsored by Hamas, a world-class terrorist organization. Hamas doesn't want peace, it wants to kill every Jew in Israel. That seems to be of no concern to the NYT. As for those who want to see a return to pre-1967 borders, where is the pressure on Egypt to take Gaza back? The NYT seems Gaza-blind on that question too. Stick to covering real protest movements for peace and justice, not terrorists hoodwinking naive Western journalists.
25
There is video of tires being placed and ignited just adjacent to the barbed wire fence. Standing next to the tires is a handicapped man with a cane. As he slowly walks away, it becomes apparent that a cable has been attached to the barbed wire, which is being tugged on by a group of "protestors".
Why is the NY Times not reporting this grotesquely immoral tactic - using a handicapped person as a human shield to cover an attempt to breach the fence?
26
It's heartening to see that many commentators here understand that the Palestinian Arabs in Gaza, by choosing Hamas as their overlords, destroying the infrastructure left by the Israelis, and not using their international aid and their own energies to build their government, are the authors of their own misery.
It's time for the Palestinian Arabs to admit defeat and enjoy the fruits of defeat, as Germany and Japan did.
https://www.jns.org/topic/israel-victory-project/
37
I cannot tell you how disappointed I am with Senator Bernie Sanders for uncritically taking a position against the Israelis in this border dispute, in which Israel is unquestionably facing a major threat and any consideration of excessive force must be seen in that light. This, on top of his support for the ouster of Al Franken from the Senate, is most disconcerting.
Sanders had a marvelous run in the 2016 campaign, during which he played a historic role in bringing progressive issues back into the American mainstream. It is too bad that he is frittering away much of the immense good will he has earned.
25
Israel is built on stolen land. This is simply incontrovertible historical fact. This fact would probably matter less if Israel were not still, systematically, stealing what little land is left to the Palestinians, but the theft continues. At some point in time, Israel and its supporters will need to come to terms with these facts. Israel is in the wrong; it always has been and always will be. Even if the last Palestinian dies in a squalid refugee camp never having experienced justice, it won't change these realities. Yes, it is time to move on, but those counselling the need to move on are often those who benefit the most from never saying "sorry" or recognizing how they have benefited from the suffering of others. This applies to the North Americans who exterminated the native people in their conquest of the US and Canada (and beyond); it applies to Israelis today. Stop building settlements. Accept your responsibility for dispossessing the Palestinians. Stop hiding behind the cloak of victimhood. Israel is destroying its moral core as it continues to build on the brutal oppression of a far weaker, more desperate people.
23
Why no mention of the Mercedes Benz Gaza? What is written is not the whole picture. Will you credit Israel for the success of those who are buying Mercedes Benz/
6
Do your worst Hezbolah, Iran and Syria. Instead of striving for peace - keep on stoling and funding this sort of stuff.
The result will only be bad for the Palestinian people.
Also - show me one other nation at war, which like Israel supplies water, gas, power, employment, medical aid, education etc to an enemy which is trying to destroy it. Would Iran, would Syria, would ..... ? No.
23
I highly doubt that Hamas ever tends to use non-violent protests. In some of these I heard that some of them had either rocks or petrol bombs ready to throw at either the IDF or at other Israeli civilians, which doubts them of having any intentions for being non-violent. I wouldn't be surprised if the main goal of these protests was to set up a PR campaign to make those who are gullible to their real goals feel more sympathetic to them. However, I am one of those who can see right through what they are really doing here. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if these so-called non-violent protests were really to be another intifada that they were going to do. As for the fence, the reason why it was there in the first place was originally because of the number of attacks done by Hamas and that it was put up to prevent any further ones. I really suggest some here looking at the causes for once rather than the effects to why Israel places security barriers. One other thing, the IDF didn't start shooting at them until only after they were attacked otherwise they wouldn't have done what was needed to be done to stop them. Unfortunately, there will always be those who will continue to believe such myths and lies Hamas, Fatah, and other Palestinian or Muslim extremists tend to place against Israel no matter how many times they are found to be false. Just imagine if this was ISIS or Boko Haram protesting and they were shot at. Would you say that was being oppressive as well?
24
Here’s a crazy idea.
Maybe the Palestinians could use their side to grow “avocados, carrots and an abundance of other crops” instead of burning tires.
33
It amazes me that we live in a world where Iran destabilizes the entire Middle East and terrorizes its own people, where Syria's government gasses Syria's citizens three times, where Lebanon is a mess, and Egypt is unstable and yet Israel, a democracy, is looked down upon with revulsion by the rest of the West for not making peace with who? A group without a country or government whose territories are used primarily as staging grounds for terror, missiles, kidnappings and raids. These people are split in half and ruled by the corrupt in one half and by murderers in the other. Much of their 'country' is ruled by people who suppress free speech, stop free elections, subjugate women, and condemn and kill homosexuals. All this in addition to their belief that Israel proper has not right to exist. How would the world be better, more stable and safer if this Iranian client state wannabe was set up on the borders of our closest ally in the world? The backflips American anti-Semits do to support this 'cause' boggles the mind.
27
A high-ranking Palestinian Authority (PA) official, Mahmoud al-Habbash, has said that Hamas is sending civilians to die in violent demonstrations along the Israel-Gaza border in order to influence media coverage. Habbash serves as the Supreme Sharia (Islamic law) judge and an adviser on Islamic affairs to Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the PA.
Mahmoud al-Habbash’s remarks were made in an April 6, 2018 sermon at PA headquarters in Ramallah and were subsequently translated by Palestinian Media Watch (PMW), a non-profit organization that monitors Arab media in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and eastern Jerusalem. Hamas has helped orchestrate the so-called “Return March,” in which thousands of Gazans violently demonstrated—some with molotov cocktails, burning tires and firearms—along the border with Israel. As CAMERA detailed in an April 4, 2018 Daily Caller Op-Ed, those committing violence are purposefully interspersed alongside civilians—in order to create casualties. Hamas hopes that by using human shields and causing the deaths of their own people, international public opinion—often influenced by uncritical media reports—will single out Israel for opprobrium.
19
Mr. Halbfinger et. al, has never mentioned, in his reporting, since he arrived in the region, that Israel under its Supreme Court edicit "Still" supplies Gaza with electricity and fuel. We Israelis are not as anti-humanitarian as we are made out to be, particularly by the NYT-Pravda on the Hudson.
And to Steve, under international law a UN General Assembly Resolution is not law. Thus, there is no legal right of return for the Palestinians who left during the 1948 war. Indeed, they were placed in camps by Egypt in Gaza and on the West Bank of the River Jordan, by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordon, not by Israel.
Of course, the situation in Gasza is dire. But, had Hamas been governing the area, like a real government, instead of building tunnels to infiltrate Israel and spending money on arms to fight Israel, it could have built a thriving life for the poor people og the Gaza Strip.
Indeed, if Hamas built hotels on Gaza's beaches, and not wage war against us, I can guarantee that Israelis would flock to these hotels, just like they did to the Casino in Jericho, before the second Intifadah. That tragic call and the consequent bombings and slaughter of innocent Jews, resulted in Israel closing its gates to over 900,000 Palestinian workers.
G-d help us and the Palestinians, that they do not cross the fence on 15 May, because as General Island implied, they will be slaughtered. We have the right and will defend our home
23
The Palestinians are the true victims. Hamas has used them as cannon fodder in order to pursue their own agenda. The only money they receive as a government comes from international aid. Hamas stages a protest, asks the Palestinians to protest and they get shot. The cameras are all ready to film the entire thing. The media eats this stuff up and claims outrage and Hamas receives money from international support. The Palestinians are being victimizes by Hamas, the PLO before them, the Israelis and also the surrounding Arab states who refuse to accept them as refuges from a war they pursued.
15
Whatever element of reasonableness claimed by Israel in their positions has been lost. Their inhumane treatment of unarmed people reduces their credibility to rubble and they need to pay a price for such reckless behavior. America should neither support nor remain complicit in unjust, barbaric actions demonstrated by any nation, least of all an ally.
8
The article states Gazans wish to "reassert the right to reclaim ancestral lands", without questioning IF that is truly a right, or a wish. Don't quote chapter and verse from General Assembly resolutions, as they are merely wishes without any legality. It could be argued that the real refugees, though who actually lived and left Israel in 1948 or earlier may desire to return. Their children have NO such status as refugees. They are Gazans. The descendants of the Jewish refugees from Arab lands cannot make a claim to "return" to ancestral homes. All this is a time wasting distraction from the grim reality. If Palestinians want financial compensation, so do the Jewish refugees from Arab countries. Not one without the other. Nobody is shifting populations. Peace does not include any "right" of return, nor the right to terrorize and murder. It never occurs to the NYT staff to question these assumptions of many Palestinians, does it?
18
Right there, that is the ember which justifies the anti-American hatred at the heart of Islamic Fundamentalism. Fundamentalism would never have grown without Israeli Fundamentalism as its counterpoint and Israeli atrocities which are justified by the US. The neo-cons would never have taken sides with Shia and Sunni(in turn) in turn nor meddled in elections throughout the middle east .Other countries would not have turned their hatred to America, 9/11 would not have happened, Iraq war would not have happened, Syria would not have happened, Merkel would not have naively opened the doors to all, not just refugees, the European immigration crisis would not have happened, Brexit would not have happened.
America has no higher moral ground. Therefore it cannot be a true leader but just another despot about to be replaced by a bigger despot, China.
7
By its behavior, Hamas has effectively killed the 2 state solution. They have shown the Israelis what happens if you give land to Palestinians; they don't build, teach, develop or create on it, they use it to attack Israel from. Israel evacuated Gaza, after having conquered it from Egypt (who didn't want it back in the peace treaty), but Hamas had no interest in building a state, only using the place as a platform from which to attack Israel. This is exactly what would happen if Israel were to evacuate the West Bank. It would be nice if the Israelis could trade the west bank to the Palestinians in return for peace, but there are no Palestinians interested in peace. They only want a state if it is built upon the ashes of Israel.
20
In fact, Gaza is recognized as being occupied by international law, in the same way that the Warsaw ghetto was not considered to be a separate territory. Israel has complete control over borders.. essentially it is a prison.
10
Most of the comments here are astonishing in their lack of humanity. Protesters burned tires, threw rocks and were shot to death. Sometimes, Israeli soldiers applauded their kill shots. Rocks vs. rifles - that's it, folks. And so many of the commentators here criticize the Palestinians! It is an American disgrace that our country is subservient to Israel and its land grabbing policies. Give the Palestinians armaments that could pierce Israel's Iron Dome. There would be a peace agreement in a matter of hours.
14
"...with Israeli soldiers unleashing lethal force against mostly unarmed Arab protesters..." Mostly unarmed? Mostly? Is there any doubt about what would happen if Israeli soldiers did not "unleash" lethal force? Would Palestinian "protesters" hug Israeli soldiers at the border? This is not a protest. This isn't some hippy doobie smoking music fest for peace. This is some kind of sick insane Hamas sponsored martyr challenge.
26
Gaza has been an open air prison, and the Palestinians are equal human beings. Its time to stop giving Israel a "pass", and time for the Israeli lobby to stop this coverup.
11
A current BBC video titled "Israeli soldier shoots Palestinian"
http://www.bbc.com/news/video_and_audio/headlines/43716963/israeli-soldi...
This sort of thing, with audio revealing the attitudes of the soldiers thus more accurately expressing the situation, would be front page news were the roles reversed. Instead an American has to go to the BBC. It's no wonder we never see change, our people are carefully fed one side only.
12
Hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians are killed in Syria, some with gas, and yet the media speaks about these Gaza protests.
The Palestinians are attempting to make claims on Jewish ancestral lands. During the 2001 Camp David accords Arafat denied the existence of the Jewish Temple(s) in Jerusalem, because admitting so we be to admit that the Palestinians were attempting to settle on Jewish ancestral lands.
As for today, "you reap what you sow." Hamas has killed many innocent civilians through their terror. In 2006, The Palestinians elected this terrorist organization over Fatah. A Palestinian Civil War ensured with many dead -- not killed by Israelis but by fellow Palestinians.
It is clear that the Israel was a country re-established on Jewish ancestral lands. In 1947, the UN created a partition agreement, but the Arabs turned it down trying to take all of it for themselves and ended up with nothing.
Meanwhile, $300 million per year of donor funds meant for poor Palestinians including those in Gaza are instead being used to pay terrorists in Israeli prisons or their families if they've been killed.
The Taylor Force Act, named for former US soldier and non-Jewish MBA student killed by a terrorist, passed a Senate subcommittee vote. This act will stop the use of US tax dollars to pay terrorists and their families.
I wish the article authors would spend more time talking about the suffering of Syrian civilians.
14
I am amazed at how one sided folks can be about basic rights that individuals have in relation to "Armed Conflicts'. So I decided to just copy and paste some of the many rights that are afforded to civilians from the following:
Laws of War :
Laws and Customs of War on Land (Hague IV); October 18, 1907.
Art. 46.
Family honour and rights, the lives of persons, and private property, as well as religious convictions and practice, must be respected.
Private property cannot be confiscated.
Art. 47.
Pillage is formally forbidden.
4
Here is a thought experiment: Pres. Trump has dispatched the National Guard to our southern border. If thousands of Mexicans rush the border, what do you think the Guard will do? And the Mexicans do not have a government whose charter calls for the destruction of the United States.
8
The article fails to identify the physical relationship between the border and the two parallel fences.
My guess is that the "crude barbed-wire barrier" is approximately on the border and the '"smart fence"' is set back on Israel land. This would make the burning tire fires visible in the arial image of the Khan Younis on the Israeli side of the border.
Is there some type of DMZ arrangement along the border? This needs clarification one way or another.
2
Just another idea. Have read and watched this for 50+ years, with the 50th anniversary of the killing of Robert Kennedy nearing.
There is obviously nothing geologically or even linguistically involved.
How about a MLK Jr like event? People on both sides of this fence agree to walk to the fence as families and greet each other? I am not a party to this dispute but something needs to change. In the US we are still struggling with changes 200 years later. There is hope.
Lets look at a comparison.. 50,000 protestors organized by a known armed enemy of the US are at the US border. Their goal is to infiltrate the border and do harm to Americans. What is our government's response?
Or lets say, 200,000 protestors are poised at the Chinese border. They are organized by an armed enemy of China. Their goal is to cross the border and do harm to Chinese citizens. What does the Chinese government do?
11
"Mostly Unarmed" is Armed.
These are ARMED people using human shields. Not "mostly unarmed" protestors.
9
If you want to understand Trumpism and how it flourished with people who almost live and reason in something akin to an alternate reality, read the comments here defending Israel. It's always been amazing to me what people can come up with to justify murder, terror, and horror.
5
In the aerial photo, shouldn't conflict zone be labeled killing zone?
4
What I thought was revealing was how your UN Ambassador made much about Russia consistently vetoing any resolution against Syrian president Assad but nary a mention of the fact that the US consistently vetoes every resolution condemning the terrorist Israeli regime as they murder Palestinians with impunity.
I once sympathized with Israel's situation but any such sentiment for Israel has long since evaporated after they facilitated the massacre at the Shatila refugee camps during the Lebanon was.
4
Hamas, which is financing this tragedy, is hoping many "protesters" will be killed. A very poor attempt to make Israel look bad.
The NYT omits the photos of terrorists throwing firebombs, and rocks big enough to kill. I wonder how many have on suicide vests.
Many people don't realize that if Israel wanted to that this whole crowd could be wiped out in seconds. Israel could turn Judea and Samaria, there is no Palestine into parking lots in hours.
Hamas would like nothing better than if thousands charged the fence.
10
The outright bias shown in this series on this latest crisis by these reporters is astounding. It is almost as if they are egging on the Palestinians in a tradition of yellow journalism to create a fight they can report on, well-knowing this protest makes no sense and will only hurt the Palestinians. Their disingenuous description of the "valiant" martyrs throwing themselves at the fence urged along with the despicable words of a medieval warlord that this will be "what the world will think of as men" is negligent journalism - is there no shame? Their sarcastic reference to Israelis, on the other hand, climbing towers as if to watch a ball game also sadly diminishes Israeli fear and suffering at the same time. And I am just talking about the coverage here not even the merits of the situation which of course is absurd and only once again proves how pathetic and hopeless the cause of Gaza is and what a burden it is to Israeli efforts to live in peace and prosperity.
9
A glimmer of hope in this world of fake news.
I am truly heartened by reading readers responses to this biased article- as of now (37 responses) nearly every comment has the presence of mind to see past the pro-Palestinian angle of the free press.
I think the world WANTS the protesters to be peaceful. But...There is no Ghandi here. There is no civil rights march. No "I have a dream". There are stones and Molotov cocktails. Known Gaza terrorists videoed by the IDF wearing vests marked "PRESS". Ambulances transporting known rabble-rousers towards the protest. Placing children at the front of the march in harms way.
The bloodshed is painful to see. But lets place blame where it belongs. The instigators are the Hamas leadership.
10
"mostly unarmed civilians"? and what about the number of armed Hamas members? where were they? were they in military uniform or mixed in with the "mostly unarmed civilians" and using explosives and firebombs agains the fence and Israeli positions?
Unfortunately the NYT leaves out information that does not match their preconceived narrative rather than report all the information available.
Hamas is bent on Israel's destruction, as are the Hamas members hiding within the protesting throng. Israel is not going to wait until the border fence is breached and people are rushing in to act in its defense.
12
What's "contested" is the right of return, the full humanity of Palestinians, and the Palestinian refusal to live like cockroaches in a concentration camp.
"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Palestinians truly teach life.
7
Let`s look at the facts. The notion that the Israeli military uses only discriminate force... proportionate force has been discredited by the 110 page report from Breaking the Silence - a group of ex- Israeli soldiers who are tired and shocked by their country`s violence toward the Palestinians.
In 2014, Operation Protective Edge had 2500 were killed. Civilians killed, roughly 1,600—1,600 Palestinians to six Israelis, civilians killed. Houses destroyed, 18,000 to one house in Israel. Children killed, 550 to one. —it was a crime against humanity. You take a place like Shejaiya. Shejaiya, it’s a very densely populated neighborhood of 90,000 people. Israel dropped, believe it or not—it’s hard to even fathom—more than 100 one-ton bombs on Shejaiya. More than 100 one-ton bombs on Shejaiya. Did the same thing to Rafah. Did the same thing to Khuza’a. Did the same thing to the whole Gaza Strip.
U.S.A. txpayers need to join B:D:S.
Israel is the 14th economic power, a nuclear statee - they do not need the U:S: to support their barbarism.
10
--- Ismail Haniyeh, said in a speech this week that the demonstrators had "taught the world to be men." ---
That would be the same Haniyeh, the Hamas leader, whose personal wealth is valued in the many millions but is kept hidden in the names of his children.
Where did that money come from? Reports suggest much of it comes from skimming international donations and operating a black market of smuggled goods.
Then there are the Hamas leaders Khaled Mashaal and Abu Marzouk, both of whom have fortunes exceeding $2 BILLION.
These are the people congratulating the angry young Palestinian men who are told it's "heroic" and "masculine" to rush the border fence and be shot at.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2014/07/28/gazas-millionaires-and-billionaire...
5
Ten people approach the fence around your home with the intent of pulling it down. One carries a weapon. You can't see what the others are carrying. The one carrying the weapon fires it. Do you shoot back at just him, or do you perceive the others to be a serious threat? If your answer is "just at him," you've never been seriously threatened.
5
Why are Palestinians are so fully consumed with returning to Israel? Right or wrong, it is a futile venture as Israelis, left or right, will never accede to any right of return to anything more than a handful of people. Thus, the Palestinians would have to defeat Israel militarily, which is not going to happen for the far foreseeable future. Wouldn't it be better, on the Palestinian side, to focus on improving the land and economy where they now reside? And as Palestinians prosper, the passion to return (and the violence associated with it) may fade. And once that happens, my suspicion is that most -but clearly not all - Israelis would agree to some territorial compromise.
3
Israel had the right to be born, and has the right to defend itself. If Palestinian "exiles" were to return to heartland Israel, they would find it completely changed from their parents' memories.
3
Mentioned NOWHERE in the news coverage of the recent Gaza protests are the 10+ rockets fired from Gaza into Israel since January 1. Of course, compared to the 43+ rockets and mortars fired from Gaza in 2017, maybe it's not so newsworthy.
It certainly doesn't compare to the 4.594 rockets and mortars launched from Gaza in 2014. But that's OLD news.
11
Historical context:
- The UN resolution to create two states passed on Nov. 29th, 1947 was accepted by the Jewish leadership and was rejected by the Arabs.
- The 1948 war was started by 5 Arab countries to drive the Jews out of Israel; they lost the war.
- There were two groups of refugees as a result of the 1948 war - Arabs that lived in parts of what is now Israel and were displaced by the war that the Arabs started, and 900,000 Jewish refugees who were driven out from Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, Egypt, Iraq, Syria, etc...
- The Jewish refugees were resettled in Israel and build their lives.
- The Arab refugees were never resettled and are the first and only refugee group in the world that pass their refugee status from one generation to the next...to perpetuate the conflict and achieve through demographics what they lost in a war that they started.
- Multiple peace proposals made by Ehud Barak and Clinton in 2000; Ehud Ulmert and Zippi Livni and 2008 granting a Palestinian state in over 98% of the West Bank and Gaza were rejected by the Palestinian leadership, continuing the rejectionist tradition that started on Nov. 29th, 1947.
8
The Palestinian in Gaza must study more of Gandi and MLK before they can win international sympathy. Burning tires is not considered "peaceful" protest.
6
In 2005, Israel withdrew unilaterally from Gaza, thus creating an independent Palestinian mini-state.
Nobody realizes that Gaza is the result of a concession by Israel.
Gaza is ruled by Hamas, elected two years after Israel's gift of departure. The Hamas Charter rejects the possibility of peace.
If Gaza had decided to exist peacefully with Israel, there would have been a withdrawal from most of the West Bank.
3
The world is watching Israel's brutality with silence. They have been watching the tragedy for decades. The crisis is just an addition to the chapter of history and journalism. No tear to shed upon!
4
Maybe, I'm thinking, if the Palestinians would just stop with the constant drumbeat of wiping out Israel; stop digging tunnels into Israel and firing rockets onto farmers just because they are there; stop the hatred (I know this because I have been there many times and have been attacked by them) and listen to their god and their hearts, there could be some semblance of peace. It is rather sad that not one of the two primary signatories to the Camp David accords, Egypt and Israel, wanted anything to do with the Palestinians, in particular the Palestinians of Gaza. Even the other lesser know peace agreements with Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, not one nation would stand up for the Palestinians due their recalcitrance and publically avowed hatred accompanied by extreme violence. So it goes to this day.
4
The Palestinians have set up a provocation -- complete with a field hospital to attend to those who Hamas hopes will be shot -- with one purpose in mind: to generate bad publicity for Israel.
Message to the Palestinians: your behavior is uniting Israelis around a conservative banner. You will never -- NEVER -- earn goodwill from among Israeli voters, who are your key to ushering in a government more willing to engage in concessions.
Meantime, the world is focused on chemical warfare against Syrian babies. Most educated people understand that the IDF is acting to defend Israeli sovereignty.
Never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
7
The notion that the NY Times can give an accurate, unbiased report on this issue would be laughable, if not for the Palestinian blood that has been shed so far.
The fact that human rights organizations have condemned the Israeli violence must be ignored. Perhaps a portion of HRW's report will make it through moderation:
“Israeli soldiers were not merely using excessive force, but were apparently acting on orders that all but ensured a bloody military response to the Palestinian demonstrations,” said Eric Goldstein, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “The result was foreseeable deaths and injuries of demonstrators on the other side of a border who posed no imminent threat to life.”
"The killings highlight the importance of the International Criminal Court prosecutor opening a formal investigation into serious international crimes in Palestine, Human Rights Watch said."
4
why does the NYT emphasize the difference in the numbers of casualties to imply that Israel is using disproportionate force against Palestinians:
- three wars between Israel and Hamas that have killed thousands of Palestinians and about 100 Israelis...
- Since the protests began, Israeli forces have killed at least 29 Palestinians and wounded more than 1,000...There have been no known Israeli casualties.
The IDF's mission is to defend the Israeli people, keeping them out of harm's way and keeping harm away from them. The mission of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, by contrast, is to eradicate the Jewish state, sacrificing their people to become suicide bombers, human shields and otherwise urging their people to put their lives at risk by carrying out attacks on Israelis and the Israeli Defense Forces or breaching the security barrier to flood into Israel.
Why does the NYT always present Palestinians as blameless victims without any responsibility or agency. For example: - .protests that over the past two weeks have drawn tens of thousands of Palestinians to Gaza’s border with Israel, demanding to return to lands their families lost in the 1948 war that accompanied Israel’s founding. Whose fault was the 1948 war, launched by Arab armies with the intent of eradicating the nascent Jewish state?
Whose fault is it when someone is hurt or killed while in the process of attacking or trying to kill someone else?
7
Isarel left Gaza a decade ago. Egypt relinquished claims to Gaza aboutr 50 years ago. So what is Gaza today? A big nothing.
It is time for the US to grant statehood to Gaza whether they want it or not. Maybe they'll make the most of it with tourism, a great coastline, resorts, farming , industry. You know, normal stuff like everyone else does.
So there, that would be your Palestinian state. Gaza!
1
It's time for Israel to move the terrorist Gazans to the Sinai desert and reclaim Gaza as part of Israel.
1
It is not surprising that the NYT uses 90 % of the article to cover the Arab Palestinian view and 10 % for Israel's view.
Nothing is written about the mean manipulation by Hamas, pushing young people to useless harm, to gain propaganda points.
Nothing is written about the misery imposed on Gazans by the Hamas dictatorship, while Gaza could have been the first part of an independent and democratic Arab Palestine (with large amounts of financial and economic support offered) when Israel withdrew from Gaza more than ten years ago.
9
The Israelis are not going to allow large numbers of people to come over their borders. And how exactly is this supposed to work? Do the Gazans move into the homes and businesses that their grandparents supposedly left 80 years ago and throw out the present tenants? The basic problem is that the UN made the Palestinians the only "refugees in perpetuity", down through the generations. How about putting a stop to the UN using Western money (yours, folks) to feed, house and stoke Palestinian feeling of entitlement for four generations? The walls are going up, and the money is limited, as the southern hemisphere marches north. A situation which is going to get worse with climate change. If you truly sympathize with those who have not managed to put together a system that can support their own people and which you would care to live under, demand that the UN establish refugee camps somewhere that are not training grounds for violence or staging areas for illegal emigration (did you know that there are Summer camps in which little Palestinian children are trained to be suicide bombers?) and you can send a check.
1
You do not need to sort out the complicated history of disputed territory, the radical politics of Hamas and Likud parties. The fact here is lethal military force is being used against unarmed protesters. A journalist was targeted and murdered. You do not need to be anti-Zionist do be disgusted by what the IDF is doing to innocent people.
3
"Mostly unarmed" Arab protestors are armed.
4
A nation either controls its' border, by force if necessary, or it ceases to exist. This has been true for time immemorial. The Israelis' know this, the "sanctuary states" do not.
4
The Uncle Sam is about to attack Syria in retaliation for a CW attack for which the Syrian army may or may not be responsible. But Israeli snipers killing 30 unarmed demonstrators and wounding 1000, well, that's OK with US officials.
2
An interesting photograph. With the Berlin wall there was also an adjacent death zone - but this was on the East Berlin side of the wall. Maintaining a death zone extending well into Gaza gives lie to any claims that Gaza is not occupied.
3
I don't care how peaceful you pretend you are being, if you threaten to cross a border en masse (i.e., invade), a nation can respond with military force to defend the invasion.
4
Mostly unarmed, what does that mean, this is not fake news or at the very least bias and Im not Jewish
3
I am appalled and furious at the biased and incendiary reporting by the NY Times which, as usual, points the finger at Israel while failing to provide anything resembling a reality-based account of the violent and ruthless behavior of Palestinians at the border. Misleading and fuel for more anti-Semitic rhetoric than we already have. Thanks, NY Times.
7
Does the reader believe the first sentence describing lethal force being used by Israel against "MOSTLY UNARMED" Palestinians is remotely fair? What a tone it sets...
Would you feel safer knowing that the angry mob approaching your house was MOSTLY UNARMED?
6
I have what is surely an unpopular opinion. From this moment on, no one on either side of this issue should be permitted to bring up even one alleged historical fact, or argue any alleged inconsistency, or blame anyone else for anything that has happened in the past, or assert any position based on should have, could have or would have. Instead, from this moment on, the only thing that can be said, is how we can create peace; or how we go forward together to create a solution to the present problem. And if their respective governments, then the citizens on each side should meet and do the job. Naive, yes; but the only solution.
13
It's naive because you are relying on sources such as The New York Times. One of the biggest facts on the ground that you dont read about are the daily line-ups of Israeli trucks bringing supplies into Gaza. Missing also from the reports you read, is an investigation into where those supplies mysteriously disappear to once they're across the border.
7
Billions of dollars went directly to Hamas and what did they do, give any to the needs of anyone? No, it went into bombs and missles and tunnels and military assault armamentation to use on Israel, which it then all was.
5
Naive, yes; and not a solution.
1
The Arabs spend time protesting and rioting instead of working and building their communities. They know they will get welfare and food so no need to work an hones day...just cry for the death of Israel...
45
What a biased article, disguised as an objective reporting. Few facts that were conveniently left out:
- First, those are not peaceful demonstrations by unarmed protesters. Plenty of of video footage of fire bombs, rocks and attempt to infiltrate the fence...where are those images??? Just today few "demonstrators" were injured when an explosive device that they tried to place next to the fence exploded. Now a bit of history:
- The Nov. 29th UN partition plan was accepted by the Jews and rejected by the Arabs (you can check the NYT headline from Nov. 30th, 1947)
- Shortly thereafter, 5 Arab countries and the local Arab population started the 1948 war by attacking Israel, resulting in 900,000 Arab refugees and 900,000 Jewish refugees (who were driven out of their homes throughout the middle east).
- The war that the Arab countries and the local population started ended in their defeat; the Jews weren't thrown to the ocean as the Arab leadership declared as its intention.
- The Jewish refugees were settled in Israel and rebuilt their lives. The Arab refugees became the only refugee group in human history to become "permanent" refugees and pass on their status to now the fifth generation....perpetuating their misery and embarking on a 70 year journey to wipe Israel of the map, rather than rebuilding their lives after a war that they started..
72
Sorry, but the Zionists started the conflict and the Palestinians have a right to return to the lands from which they were wrongfully expelled. Even if the Zionists had not started the war, they had no right to expel a largely unarmed, civilian population.
The Zionists expelled hundreds of thousands of Palestinians before any foreign intervention by any Arab country.
The Palestinians refugees and Jewish refugees from Arab lands are separate issues.
The Arabs were smart to reject the '47 partition plan, it was a terrible plan. Even the Zionists didn't abide by it.
The Palestinians refugees became the only permanent refugees in history? Really, that is an argument that Zionists, who claim to be returning from a 2000 year exile, should never, ever make.
Finally, the demonstrations are mostly peaceful. There is a massacre of innocents taking place.
5
they would appreciate it if someone would let them out of their open air prison
37
execution is a better solution.
All they need to do is stop calling for the eradication of Israel and demanding return of lands they will never get back. Also, really, they are allowed to leave, but no other nation wants to take them in.
1
Are they protesting at the Egyptian border? No, because they know what would happen to them there. These people have only their own leaders to blame. Abbas and Mamas have enriched themselves through the largess of international aid, and the little that they do not send to their Swiss bank accounts they use for tunnel construction. I would be in favor of withdrawal from 96% of the territories if I thought that it would bring peace, but I'm afraid it would just create another Gaza controlled by Hamas.
3
How many in the Gaza mob are wearing suicide vests, ready to detonate as soon as they might be in range of an Israeli soldier?
Were you in the IDF, would you be willing to take that risk?
Or in the chain of command, risk your children?
And where are the marchers in the street and a BDS movement against Russian, Syria and Iran for the gas attacks and 500,000 dead?
34
Yes, three dozen Palestinians "protesters" have been killed, some of them while throwing molotov cocktails at soldiers. Many have been injured by their own people because of them burning tires emitting carcinogenic toxic smoke. Some were injured today by their own bomb that they laid by the fence. The allegedly "indiscriminate" shooting by the Israelis has miraculously hit only young men, the majority of them proven members of terrorist organisations. No women or children have been killed. How indiscriminate is that?
Meanwhile in Yemen ten thousand people, men , women and children have died as a result of Saudi bombing. 40,000 have been injured. Why isn't this on the front page? Is it because Jews aren't involved?
61
As a Jew, I am deeply ashamed that Israeli soldiers are shooting live ammunition and have killed people, including that innocent young journalist. If these soldiers feel free to shoot anybody they feel threatened by, how aree they different from the police in America who shoot young blacks for holding cell phones or just for being there. The Palestinians have committed no crimes warranting summary execution by heavily armed soldiers. This is insane! I cannot support Israel anymore or send my child there.
2
One of the most unbalanced articles I have ever read. The New York Times should be ashamed of itself for publishing this piece. You make it seem like the Israelis are totally guilty and the Palestinians have done nothing wrong. It is far from the truth. When the Palestinians are ready for a real peace, we can talk. Right now, they just want to drive the Israelis from a country that they were given by a UN resolution.
Now lets see if you publish this letter.
61
Israel is the Goliath. It is and has used tanks, planes, missles, 100 ton bombs.
Israel is a nuclear power -- the 14th largest economy in the world.
The Palestinians are throwing "ROCKS"
Molotov cocktails. WHY? They are imprisoned on all sides by the Israeli super-power.
SHAME on all Israelis and Americans who support this apartheid state.
B.D.S.
I doubt that any of my letters will be printed.
4
Pathetic isn't it. Israel, friend of the US, has taken land from Palestine and done about everything they can to harm the Palestinians. Now they use tanks and guns to go after unarmed people, who are throwing rocks. I simply don't know why the US continues this charade of sponsoring Israel. They are the ones at fault. Palestinians are prisoners on what is left of their own land. Disgusting and hateful.
39
You want pathetic? From this article: "The protests resumed on Friday, and the Palestinians plan to keep the weekly protests going with large turnouts until May 15, when many plan to try to cross the fence en masse." And, by the way, by "cross" I think the NYT means charge into and smash the fence into the ground so that the "protesters" (yeah, right) can go streaming over the border, and to do what I wonder...
7
Are you aware that the "unarmed" people of Gaza have fired more than 10 rockets INTO Israel since January 1?
Are you aware that "unarmed" people of Gaza have died from their own bombs, which exploded prematurely while they were placing bombs them at the border fence?
6
Unfortunately this is being stoked by Iran, Hezbolah & Syria.
As for the treatment of the Palestinian people by Israel, show me one other nation at war, which like Israel supplies water, gas, power, employment, medical aid, education etc to an enemy which is trying to destroy it. Would Iran, would Syria, would ..... ? No.
3
This is Hamas's new strategy-- since they cant launch missiles or dig tunnels or send suicide bombers, they hope to harm Israel by forcing its soldiers to kill their own people-- gazans. This is predicated on its certainty that the liberal New York Times and Western media will act as its partner and ensure the success of its lethal propaganda stunt … So long as the media and the left rush to indict Israel for its efforts to defend itself and its citizens against its terrorist foes, who turn the laws of war on their head as a matter of course, these attacks will continue and they will escalate. Am Yisrael Chai!
35
"...they hope to harm Israel by forcing its soldiers to kill..." That's like a man saying "my wife manipulated me into killing her just to ruin my life." Can you even see the irrationality? As a Jew, I witness Israel more and more using toxic religiosity and entitlement to justify whatever they do. The Jews deserve a homeland and treatment as a sovereign people --- but so do the Palestinians and everyone else who is a human being. The widespread condemnation of this confrontation isn't simply a product of anti-semitism. People have an innate sense of fairness that is being violated. Why can't Israel, a land I love, see that?
4
Where's the mention of the restricted flow of people across the Gaza-Egypt border? Where's the aerial shot -- or even the current Google Maps satellite photo - showing where the Palestinians bulldozed the nice new homes that the Israelis built, and abandoned for the people of Gaza in the name of peace? The New York Times' reporting on this issue has been very lopsided and this article is not an exception.
37
Lopsided for sure!
Where are the photos of bombed out houses, hospitals, and schools which have not been rebuilt since Israel destroyed them! Israel keeps Palestinians in ghettos and prevents the supply of goods so these people can live like normal human beings.
4
let's see, since Israel left Gaza occupation, Hamas and friends shot thousands of missiles at Israeli towns over the border, received 120mm in foreign aid and invested zero in schools. Instead building arms, tunnels, and IEDs. Sympathy? Yes. Tolerance for Hamas teaching children to hate their neighbors, no.
Many many more Arabs have died in sunni:shia:alawite conflict than against Israel, but lefty intelletual dishonesty doesn't bring this up.
45
Tragically for the Palestinian protesters, their leadership -- even after 70 plus years -- has failed to learn the very first lesson of survival in their ongoing struggle with Israel, which is … when you hurl stones, burn tires, stab innocents, dig tunnels, shoot rockets, terrorize and threaten to annihilate Jews, they will shoot back at you.
45
"Mostly unarmed" except for the Hamas soldiers carrying weapons and cutting tools. Come on, NY Times.
41
What about Egypt's blockade, which is even more severe? Why doesn't the article mention it instead of just making Israel the bad guy. Come on NY Times!
34
The hypocrisy and irony never fail to amaze me. Sunni Muslims are killed by gas and cluster bombs by Iran and Russia backed Shia/Awali Arabs in Syria every day. Who knows the death toll? 500,000? 600,000? Millions displaced.
I’m a life long Zionist, and veteran Combat Base Volunteer. I don’t blindly support the Israeli Likkud. My politics are on the Left in the Israeli spectrum. I call out what I see as Israeli injustice with the occupation.
That said, where’s the outrage on the so-called Arab Street? The outrage of today’s neo-leftists who argue “intersectionality “—whatever that means-Aside from the fact it disenfranchises Jewish and Non-Jewish Progressives and Leftists from the discussion?
93
They're being oppressed by people like you and the tyrannical governments of the middle east (israeli and arab). Blaming the powerless is the most Zionist position one can take so it's not surprise that you feel this way.
16
It is an unfortunate failure that the NYT does not mention the danger Israeli civilians face, were tens of thousands of Palestinian organized by the Hamas government and led by Hamas terrorists be allowed to enter Israel. These are not "peaceful" marches claiming "Right of Return", these are marches expressing hate of Israel, negligence of the Arab world and Palestinian despair, and the false hopes and dreams that destruction of Israel will benefit and promote their cause. Not one Gaza Palestinian dares to chant, or express a desire to live peacefully beside Israel. The march disguised as ‘Freedom of Expression’ is led and organized by the Hamas Terror organization which aims to kill Jews and destroy Israel as the first step to salvation.
1
World leaders can speak out against more than war crime at a time - though I agree that the Syrian war is more severe.
Here we have another example of the so-called balanced journalism, the same balance that destroyed Hillary Clinton, while letting Trump off easily. The comparison is apt. Hamas is a deadly organization that has embittered its own people's lives in the name of a chimera, but the essay barely alludes to this. Before the intifadas, and before Hamas, thousands of Gazans worked daily in Israel, earned living wages. If Israel reacts strongly today, harming western progressive sensibilities, there is a need for those offended to realize that one cannot trust anything coming out of Gaza. Do we really know the unarmed are unarmed? We do not. One can talk sanctimoniously as long as it is not their own children who might be killed by an infiltrator's knife, or kidnapped as a soldier and held for years.
I am not defending the Netanyahu government, let this be clear. But I am defending my children, friends, and neighbors.
131
It was Trump who got blasted by the press, not Hillary--an honest mixup, I presume. Hillary is no friend of Israel and Trump is.
I agree with the above view. NYT has disappointed me as a reader. They are no longer the gold standard in journalism (or at least in anything related to Arab-Israel conflict). Get your news (and facts) elsewhere.
How many reporters does the NYT have on the ground in these conflict zones?
1
The 1948 UN Resolution 194 has the following clause regarding the return of refugees:
"The refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property"
In accordance with common sense, the resolution very clearly makes the return contingent on their willingness to live at peace with their neighbors. In 1948, and for decades afterwards, the Palestinians made it abundantly clear, by their words and actions, that they did not intend to live at peace with their neighbors. The only other choice given by the resolution was not to return, accompanied by compensation for their loss. By choosing not to live at peace with their neighbors, they chose not to return, and their property rights were replaced by a right of financial compensation.
The "Great March of Return" is an attempt by the descendants of the refugees to reverse the choice that their grandparents made. Any discussion of the right of return needs to be accompanied by the history of the forfeiture of that right. The NY Times is remiss in selectively recounting the Palestinians' displacement and omitting the critical clause in Resolution 194 that makes restoration of property contingent on willingness to live in peace with their neighbors.
61
Also, since it was only a resolution of the General Assembly, Resolution 194 does not have any binding effect or the force of law.
3
A better analogy is someone holds a gun to your head and forces you to move out of your home. Then years later says you can return and live in the unfinished basement of your home.
21
"Last year 1,363 of them [Palestinians], many from generations-old Jerusalem families, lost their right to live in the city—..., and the highest annual total ever." Economist 2007
"The state [of Israel] on Monday asked the High Court of Justice to reject legal challenges to a controversial law that would allow for the retroactive expropriation of land owned by Palestinians in West Bank settlements." Haaretz 2017
"Likud politicians celebrated the launch of a book by an Islam expert Wednesday night, but it wasn’t your typical book party. The author, historian Raphael Israeli, says the Israeli Arabs are a fifth column who “suck from the state’s teats” and cannot be integrated into Israeli society." Haaretz 2017
"The Israeli embassy official who was caught on camera plotting to “take down” British MPs has resigned from government service." The Guardian 2017
"On the eve of the vote, the House majority leader, Dick Armey of Texas, endorsed a position flatly at odds with the precepts of the Oslo peace process. "I'm content to have Israel grab the entire West Bank, he said in an appearance on MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews." He added under questioning, "I happen to believe that the Palestinians should leave." Hours later he tried to soften his remarks, saying he simply meant that Palestinians who supported terrorism should be exiled." NY Times 2002
Good thing that the Palestinians are the only one's deserving blame!
9
Why are the Palestinians rioting? Because their economy has collapsed. Why has their economy collapsed? Because Hamas is using money to pay for weapons and supplies to wage war on Israel instead of providing for its citizens and supporting the economy. Why is Israel using live ammunition and tear gas and rubber bullets on protesters? Because within the 300 yard area Palestinians are throwing firebombs and firing upon the soldiers and trying to damage the border wall. What does the New York Times report? The Israelis hate the Palestinians and are indiscriminately shooting at them. The land that the Israel took during 1967 war when the surrounding Arab countries attacked them was actually taken away unrightfully.
112
Why has their economy collapsed?
- Because there is an embargo on the Gaza strip by Israel that has led to a 50% fall in GDP
Why is Israel using live ammunition and tear gas and rubber bullets on protesters?
- Because the IDF is allowed to commit war crimes without consequences
5
Protest AWAY from the fence. Unless creating martyrs is your real goal.
83
Ah, but creating martyrs is indeed Hamas' real goal.
53
Hamas couldn't care less about the people they sacrifice in such events such as these mainly because they constantly use them as pawns on chessboard that they made against attacking Israel.
6
Look how calmly these commentators excuse the willful murder of protesters by armed soldiers of an occupying and blockading force. Israeli snipers shooting protesters (and journalists) is excused, even justified, because those protesters should have known they were going to get shot for creating such a ruckus. They should have protested indoors at home, quietly, without making much noise.. the way protests are supposed to be right?
5
Sadly this article is as much propaganda as news. Israel completely evacuated
Gaza over ten years ago, which should have laid the foundations for a more
extensive peace settlement. But, against the wishes of both Israel and the PA, Hamas's seizing it by force made certain this would not be the case. And look
what's ensued whether it results from Hamas, which most of it does, the Israelis,
and or the Egyptians. It's a tragedy that could and should have been avoided.
And if from the start the Arab World had been willing to accept the existence
of a tiny Jewish state within its midst, so too would all the deadly wars. As a result practically as many Jews living in Arab countries were evicted as Arabs
who fled. Yet Israel welcomed the latter rather than making them, as the
Arab world did the Palestinians, into pariahs. Yet in 1948 the Palestinian
Jews were willing to accept a state that was less than the size of Delaware.
To be brief, since the collapse of Camp David 2, which was mainly Arafat's
doing; the failure of the ensuing Taba negotiations; the destructive Second
Intifada, the failure of Israel's Gaza withdrawal, and consequent Palestinian
rejection of both Livni's and later Olmert's peace offer, Israelis lost whatever
faith they had in the other's side's willingness to make a fair settlement.
Hence the severe increase of Jewish settlement in the territories since
2000 and the succession of rightwing Netanyahu governments. This bodes ill for both sides.
75
If I were a Gazan, instead of a mass demonstration/picnic/ provocation/publicity stunt/massacre, I would prefer to show proof of my ability to be a country like any other:
-state of the treasury, assets and debts, allocation of funds
-constitution or other kind of statement of government and citizen's rights and obligations
-plans for education, health legal and welfare systems
-infrastructure needs and plans for funding and building roads, hospitals, electric plants and water facilities
-and any other of the necessary foundations a country needs to function
Many many Gazans have gotten on with their lives, succeeding in so many fields. Perhaps they could make a change, because change is what is needed - a change of focus from Israel to themselves.
72
This was indeed the route chosen by so many notable fighters of human rights. Who can forget Martin Luther King quietly getting on with improving the schooling of black students rather than fight the broader injustice. Or Gandhi improving the infrastructure of India so it could be a more prosperous part of the British empire
Incidentally, it is hard to build the economy, infrastructure and government services when there is a embargo in place...
4
Look at the Israeli side of the fence and border. Orderly fields, plowed and growing produce for harvest. Then look at the Palestinian side of the border. Nothing growing, but plenty of protesters milling around aimlessly, burning tires and creating havoc. That is the difference between these two peoples in a nutshell. Israelis produce and contribute to a modern nation. Palestinians do nothing to improve the situation for their own population, and blame Israel for their own bad choices.
121
Yeah, just like the slaves in the American south never had any value until we put them to work! Your perspective is triumphantly bigoted and bizarre. Oppressed people have a hard enough time surviving, especially when colonials steal their land, resources and murder their children by the score.
20
Palestinuians are not slaves. They enjoy more freedom than most in the Arab world, but they've used it to create the narrative of their own oppression.
But I'm taking by your responses that you consider the very existence of Israel illegitimate. Funny how the Isarael-haters (who are of course NOT anti-semites, doncha know) go on and on about the sanctity of every UN resolution and vote---except the one that recognized the reconstituted Israel.
2
Hamas has recently complained about a shortage of tires in Gaza. That's at the same time that they are collecting tires to burn at the fence. Amazing logic , isn't it?
2
Why do you refer to the fence as "contested"? It is an internationally recognized border.
84
Border with what? Gaza's not a recognized state.
14
Actually, it is an armistice line, as is the 67 green line. Nonetheless, Israel isn't "returning" any land to Gaza. Gaza is overpopulated, its dictatorial leadership corrupt, it uses much of the imported cement to build tunnels, and it pays the Hamas militants plenty of money to keep them happy. As for the rest, do they care? This article avoids mentioning that the PA is largely responsible for holding back money, too, as it tries to squeeze Hamas out of business.
22
Sorry, but you are wrong. The "border" is artificial. Look up the Geneva Conventions , and read carefully the Law of Land Warfare.
2
While interesting, the article provides a curiously and suspiciously short description of the Israeli side of things. How do they feel? What's their lives like? How many victims among them?
Yes, Gazans feel "choked" because of the blockade and many other socio-political factors, and some of the blame is Israel's. Among those factors, however, the article --curiously and suspiciously again-- fails to mention the brutal Hamas rule and criminal corruption, which is probably more to blame than Israel for the "choking".
Finally, the article seems to imply that the objective of so much Palestinian bravery is just "crossing the fence." But we all know what many young Palestinians who 'cross the fence' do to Israeli citizens once they're inside. Connecting the dots for you now, had the authors shown a bit more honesty and concern for the Israeli side, they would have also reminded readers that, for Israelis, protecting the fence is self-defense and survival.
Shabat Shalom.
65
Interesting statement:"It would amount to the destruction of Israel by demographic means." Is that not the same modern Israel was created?
Yes the Palestinians are a threat, but is extreme response by Israel not costing it international support?
5
The Arab/Muslim world will never accept a Jewish state, no matter what treaties are signed, agreements made. The rest of the Christian world will find some excuse to despise a Jewish state, just as it found lots of excuses to despise and annihilate the Jewish people for the last 2000 years. International support is most a charade. The reality of the Holocaust made it a necessary policy, but as time goes on, the old habits and customs of inquisitions, pogroms and Jew-hatred will come back strong, as we already start to see in France, England, and even here.
4
I am impressed to find this informative article on the Palestine-Israeli confrontation along the border of Gaza. The major news sources in the US have been disturbingly quiet on the conditions in Gaza and the nature of the conflict. Americans have little understanding of the many Palestinians who were forced off their land many years ago and are still living in occupied Gaza under terrible conditions. The Times could do a great service to the country with a series of articles on the history of this conflict.
26
One important note -- Gaza is not occupied. Israel pulled out years ago.
42
It is a fenced in, blockade at sea, and the destruction of the one airfield by Israel. And it is against International Law.
8
No it is not occupied it is simply under blockade.
13
What is most disturbing about this article is its failure to focus on an important fact -- that Israeli snipers are shooting Palestinian men who are lawfully demonstrating and posing no danger to anyone. This, in spite of the existence of videos that clearly show some victims standing far from the fence when they were shot. While Israeli soldiers have a duty to protect their country, I find it disturbing that they are rarely held accountable even when surveillance and other videos clearly show that they have unlawfully used deadly force against Palestinians who pose no threat to their safety. Israel will never take responsibility for its immoral and illegal treatment of Palestinians and America will never take Palestinian lives and concerns seriously until the NYT and other news sources put aside the excuses, lies and misrepresentations of Israeli officials and present the truth.
39
They aren't lawfully demonstrating. They are trying to infiltrate the border (hence the reason for the protest and the fact that it's being held at the border). Try breaching the US or Canadian or German border with weapons and we'll see how long you last.
3
One side uses the land to farm creating an "abundance of crops", while the other side burns tires and lays waste. After Israel gave up the Gaza strip, the sought for peace and got constant war closer to their front door then ever.
71
One side makes sure water wasted to create abundance of crops in the middle of the desert doesn't cross the fence.
20
One side invaded the other side's home while the other side wants its home back.
19
One side lost a war in which they and their allies tried to destroy the other side.
18
There is absolutely zero doubt that the Israeli army is committing the most serious crimes against Palestinians, including cold blood assassinations of protesters who did not threaten in any manner the security of Israel. The assassinations are not only condoned by the Israeli army and Israeli Government, but are becoming officially authorized by the instauration of new rules of engagement. The footage of the man being shot in the back while walking back in the direction of Gaza is very emblematic of the cynicism and complex of superiority that a colonizing power has over the populations it controls. The people colonized are completely dehumanized and the killing of them does not matter. The British, the French, the Dutch, the Spaniards, the Italians, the Russians and the Afrikaners know very well what it means to feel stronger, morally, religiously and ethnically superior, and to grant itself the right to kill the populations it has colonized and any person who protests even peacefully against the illegitimate power. Fortunately, history has freed at least to a certain extent the populations once dominated through violence. I hope this one day will happen to the Palestinians. Unfortunately, there is no sign that it will happen any time soon.
51
There is zero doubt that you will ever recognize the reality of this situation; that the Palestinians through their unwillingness to negotiate and compromise are perpetuating this cycle of violence and necessitating that Israel undertake these measures to protect their society from the scourge of terrorism.
5
zero doubt? really? Are you equally concerned about rights of sunni in Iraq, and in Iran? women's rights in Saudi Arabia? Or is it only when Israelis defend themselves that lives matter?
3
So what do Palestinians clearly state they want: a right to return to lands within Israel, that under the 1948 partition were ceded to Israel, which under the same plan would have created a Palestinian nation in an area greater than the West Bank and Gaza Strip today, plus areas which are today part of northern Israel. That deal, which would have ended conflicting claims arising with the end of Ottoman Empire in 1917, would have averted decades of war and misery on both sides. But while Jewish leaders accepted this plan Palestinians did not.
In recent decades, two separate Israeli governments offered Palestinians land for peace deals that would have met nearly every Palestinians demand. Indeed, the Clinton Administration was stunned that the Yassir Arafat rejected this offer, just as U.S. officials were dismayed that Mahmoud Abbas rejected a similar deal.
No one can deny the Palestinians frustrations, but their misery has been of their own making.
133
In summation: the Palestinians didn't take the deal so now the systematic oppression of their people is justified...
5
There is a desperate need for a political solution. Open the prison doors. The stage is being set for a third intifada, in which thousands of Palestinians will once again die. And, Israel won't care. Israel believes that they continue the oppression and colonization indefinitely--it has become normal to them, a way of life. And, what a price the U.S. pays as we are regarded by the world as Israel's enabler. If the U.S. had treated Israel as it would any other occupying state there would have been peace 60 years ago. When the American Ralph Bunche mediated the separation of Israel from Palestine in 1948 he said he couldn't offer the Palestinians justice, but could offer them peace. The Palestinians want to go home.
29
Bad situation here and I'd expect it to get worse. I doubt the Palestinians will ever understand that there is no "right of return". A couple of conquerors have willingly given land back to the conquered, England has done so repeatedly, but it was always the conqueror's choice to do so. Israel is not going to allow millions of Palestinians back into Israel, and I don't blame them.
Also Israel has had their perception of Palestinians warped by decades of terrorist attacks on civilians, random rocket fire, suicide bombings, and so forth. They're using live fire on these protesters because they expect live fire to be coming back at them, and they're not that wrong.
But all of what's going on now is going to pale in comparison to May 15th, if Hamas' plans go through. If thousands of people rush the fence at once, there will be a massacre. Israeli troops will just open up with tank fire and whatever else might stop the charge. It's going to be an ugly sight, exactly as Hamas wants. Hamas knows it can't succeed militarily but figures if it has enough martyrs, funding will come in from Arab states, and Israel will be punished somewhat, internationally.
That's part of why this protest and siege is not going to happen on the Egyptian border, that would generate no funding nor international pressure against Israel.
34
"I doubt the Palestinians will ever understand that there is no 'right of return'."
Well Mr, Stackhouse, the Israelis insisted upon such a right, and still do. When was it revoked?
5
Israel is using the least amount of force necessary to prevent an invasion planned by Hamas. If Hamas agreed to live in peace with Israel there would be no blockade, and in fact Israel would help them build their economy. Saying that Palestinians were "displaced" 70 years ago is misleading. Many of them wanted to stay in Israel, the Israelis wanted them to stay, the Arab leadership forced them to leave so that Arab armies could come in and destroy Israel. Well it didn't work out that way, and the Palestinians have been pawns of their own leadership and the surrounding Arab nations ever since.
97
So the US could shoot unarmed Hondurans trying to cross our southern border? Oh as long as the least amount of lethal force was used.
27
False equivalency and you know it DaveD. Hondurans are not crossing the US-Mexico border to stab, blow up, or kill in any possible manner as many US citizens as possible.
3
And many did stay, and currently live prosperous lives in Israel.
2
Please note that the first picture here shows a dotted line indicating the barrier fence and Israeli military positions behind the fence. It does NOT show the Gaza border, which of course would indicate that both the fence and Israeli military positions shown are on Gaza territory.
10
Wrong. The precise location of the border isn't determined. The fence was recognized as the de-facto border by both sides in the 1994 agreement between the two sides, but not as the final recognized border.
9
Are you sure of that Norm? Maybe it just doesn't show the border on the drawing here. And also, maybe Gaza is Israel's property anyway, so the border is of no consequence.
4
Even if you are referring to the 1967 cease-fire line, it was never meant to be an official border line of any kind, plus the Gaza Strip continues to this day in being a disputed territory.
3
Thank you for including the points that the crowd included people preparing gasoline bombs and that a cleric was delivering a homicidal anti-Semitic message. These, too, are part of the whole picture: it is not one of simply peaceful protesters.
92
Arabs are Semites. How does calling out on group[ of Semites unconscionable treatment of another group of Semites constitute ant-semitism?
3
Oh for crying out loud Joe, get yourself a new talking point that doesn't involve trying, and failing, to distort the meaning of anti-semitism. By doing so, you show yourself to be bigoted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism And this time wikipedia gets it right.
9
Some historical context for you on the term "antisemitism":
"While in Berlin, Rashid Ali was apparently disquieted by the language and, more especially, the terminology of anti-Semitism. His concerns were authoritatively removed in an exchange of letters with an official spokesman of the German Nazi Party. In answer to a question from Rashid Ali as to whether anti-Semitism was also directed against Arabs, because they were part of the Semitic family, Professor Walter Gross, director of the Race Policy Office of the Nazi Party, explained with great emphasis, in a letter dated October 17, 1942, that this was not the case and that anti-Semitism was concerned wholly and exclusively with Jews. On the contrary, he observed, the Nazis had always shown sympathy and support for the Arab cause against the Jews. In the course of his letter, he even remarked that the expression “anti-Semitism, which has been used for decades in Europe by the anti-Jewish movement, was incorrect since this movement was directed exclusively against Jewry, and not against other peoples who speak a Semitic language.”
https://historynewsnetwork.org/blog/21832
10