I’ve read that in abandoned settlements greenhouse plumbing was removed and sold. I do wonder wherever the rocket casings come from, what is used for propellant and warheads.
Propellant is a mix of sugar and fertilizer, warhead is smuggled explosives or more fertilizer. The warhead is set off using a bullet cartridge.
Thanks, Babale.
And as far as aiming them, I suppose ‘Thataway’ is what they use.
yep, sometimes it Thatway, right over the Hospital
They are doing better than Congreve. The British finally just fired them off on the ground to frighten horses.
The ground war is beginning.
Morning (US) update:
For the last several days, the Israel Defense Forces had mounted a series of limited incursions into Gaza, in which soldiers left soon after entering. But Saturday’s announcement was the first extended presence of Israeli troops in the territory.
The town itself is almost deserted.
Most civilians have either left or been evacuated.
From 6 hours ago:
The Israeli military has massed tens of thousands of soldiers along the territory’s perimeter fence, along with tanks and artillery. It has activated some 300,000 reservists, alongside its standing force of 160,000.
Hamas is thought to have about 25,000 people in its military wing. It also has a vast labyrinth of underground tunnels across Gaza, which it has previously claimed stretch 500km (310 miles).
The Turkish president suggested in a speech at a pro-Palestine rally this afternoon that Turkey can “come at any night unexpectedly”.
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Erdogan delivered a speech to a rally this afternoon in which he told attendees Israel was responsible for war crimes, and framed Hamas as “freedom fighters”.
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The footage, which is currently circulating on X, formerly known as Twitter, purportedly showed the pro-Palestine crowd responding with the chant: “Turkish military to Gaza.”
Wow. The Turkish President is A: attending a pro Palestinian rally and B: threatening to join them.
News updates:
Israel attack of refugee camp takes down one of the Hamas planners.
It appears to me that hamas takes shelter behind human shields, and the Israelis don’t give a damn. Given the population ratio, killing 1200 Israelis is equivalent to killing 50,000 Americans. They want to be rid of hamas.
I wouldn’t say they don’t give a damn. But after allowing every prior engagement to end in a “ceasefire” resulted in the October 7 atrocity, it’s clear that doing anything short of beating Hamas all the way to surrender or destruction is Israel’s only option for any sort of eventual peaceful co-existence with whoever will be in charge of Gaza.
Agreed,
I’ve noticed a lot of US based journalists sniffing around “rules of war” at the major press conferences with American officials.
Without taking “sides”, it begs the question. These “rules of war” are not ordinarily specified, or if they have been, I’ve not heard.
What specific “rules” of war are Israel and Hamas signatory to, if any?
It’s likely Israel is trying to hold itself to the customary laws of war, but anything extraordinary will probably be defended by military necessity (which is also typical).
I don’t know if Hamas is operating under any rules other than “kill as many Israelis as possible” and “make Israel look as bad as possible”.
…these rules of law are very much specified, well known, ratified by 196 states. You don’t need to use “” around them. They are very much real.
The thing is, Hamas don’t need to be a signatory for Israel to not be in compliance. The Red Cross considers the Gaza strip to be occupied territory. The Fourth Geneva Convention " affords protection to civilians, including in occupied territory."
By the numbers: Israel have killed so far since October 7th: 3500 children, 29 journalists and media workers (many in what looks like targeted strikes), 70 UN Aid Workers have been killed. There are people still trapped under the rubble. Hospitals desperate for fuel. People drinking sea-water.
The rules of law exist for a reason. It isn’t to protect Hamas.
My son and I were debating which side is more at fault yesterday and came across a question we couldn’t easily Google the answer for:
Did Israel allow residents of the Gaza Strip to become citizens after the initial offering in 1967 (not including becoming a citizen by marriage)? If so, when did they stop?