Days after Christmas, Israel started a campaign of airstrikes onto the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Mainly, the targets were Hamas targets. Unfortunately, the airstrikes claimed civilian lives. In response, the Islamic group Hamas continued its rocket attacks on Israeli soil. This clash had brought other Middle Eastern nations into the mix such as: Iran, Syria, and Lebanon.
Many across the world protested against the Israeli offensive. After the airstrikes, Israel followed up with a ground offensive. Overall, it spells out a major international problem for Barack Obama once he officially takes office of United States President on January 20. That is only but two days away. After the long day of festivities, Obama will have to bring his S+ game afterwards.
Now, an end to the fighting has been declared. World leaders are left with cleaning up the mess. How will Obama respond? We will have to wait and find out. Obama did not say much because he said that there cannot be two administrations leading the US at the same time. Even though Inauguration Day is only two days away, George W. Bush is still the US President.
In regards to the current situation in Gaza, Israeli troops started to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he wanted to get his forces the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks out of the Gaza Strip as soon as possible. Olmert met with European leaders in that regard.
“We didn’t set out to conquer Gaza. We didn’t set out to control Gaza. We don’t want to remain in Gaza and we intend on leaving Gaza as fast as possible,” Olmert said. He did say that the civilian casualties were saddening.
There brings another question: Will the UN seek to take action against Israel? It was a few days ago that a UN warehouse full of food and supplies meant for Palestinian refugees was hit. Yesterday, the UN gave the suggestion that Israel may have committed war crimes. However, Israel’s government brushed off the suggestion.
Back to Gaza, an analysis says that Israel must do something to help the Palestinians living in the war-torn Gaza Strip. Despite the ceasefire, there is still pain, anguish, suffering, and frustration.
“What we have to be concerned about is the radicalization that flows from violence and the impact on the mindset, outlook and orientation of the people,” said John Ging of the U.N.
According to Yossi Alpher, a former Mossad agent, Israel should end the economic blockade. Alpher said that the blockade did not help Israel’s security at all.