Have you links to any pictures?
I’m not sure if this is the venue to post graphic videos of dead people.
Google Earth?
Maps of the bombing of Gaza:
Bear in mind that the bombing is just preparation for the ground invasion, which will probably start within the next few nights. Based on what I can tell, it’s going to be the largest military operation anywhere in the world since the 2003 allied invasion of Iraq.
My understanding is that the area around the hospital was in fact packed with civilians hoping to find shelter in a place they thought unlikely to be bombed, so the higher estimates for the death count don’t seem that implausible.
Heh. I don’t see any reason to think Hamas had spies on the inside. The kibbutzim are all on the map, and AFIACT they just attacked them all. Some were better able to defend themselves than others, but I haven’t seen any evidence that Hamas avoided the well-prepared ones.
In fact, for many years the Israeli government didn’t allow Google to use high-resolution satellite images for Google Earth maps of Israel, so that they wouldn’t be used for targeting purposes. They changed the policy a few years ago, which is something I’m sure will come up in future inquiries.
Bigger than Russia/Ukraine?
I stand corrected.
CNN interviewed some Israelis who successfully defended their kibbutz.
There were people from Gaza who worked in the kibbutz. One of the defenders recognized one as he shot him.
It’s really a surprisingly small area. Israel is basically the size and population of the state of New Jersey going to war with an area roughly the size of New York City with a population of 2 million or so,
Cross-border commerce would obviously ultimately be a desirable feature of a peaceful two-state solution. But Netanyahu’s policy appears to have been to encourage it under the blockade to prop up Hamas as a foil to weaken other Palestinian factions.
Toward the end of Netanyahu’s fifth government in 2021, approximately 2,000-3,000 work permits were issued to Gazans. This number climbed to 5,000 and, during the Bennett-Lapid government, rose sharply to 10,000. Since Netanyahu returned to power in January 2023, the number of work permits has soared to nearly 20,000.
Two hostages (US citizens) have been released.
That’s two more than I assumed were still alive. Good news.
There’d be no point in kidnapping people only to kill them soon after - you may as well have killed them immediately. You kidnap to have some leverage.
I sort of assumed the hostages were dead as soon as Hamas realized that Israel wasn’t going to negotiate for them.
Apparently numerous people were sleeping in and around the parking lot.
Hostages have a certain value and are usually worth keeping alive. It’s far less trouble to simply kill or leave behind people rather than taking them prisoner. I’m sure with the bombardment some of the hostages have been killed but I expect most are still alive and getting what food, water, and medical treatment can be provided.
International hostages - those with citizenship other than Israeli - continue to have value if they can be used to pressure other nations or otherwise gain advantage for Hamas.
In other news: the news is reporting this morning that the Rafah gate has been opened and aid trucks are entering Gaza. But it’s only 20 trucks. I suppose it’s better than nothing.
One would think the Hamas tunnels had fuel and generators in them.
I’m certain they do, but I doubt they share that electricity with the civilian population.