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Israeli officials have updated the number of dead upward to 500; that number is expected to rise.
Has there been any statement from Egypt about why they’ve closed their border with Gaza? Is it simply to avoid being overwhelmed with refugees?
The border between Egypt and Gaza has always been closed, albeit porous. The Egyptian government is no fan of Hamas (a branch of the Islamic Brotherhood) and it certainly doesn’t want any Palestinians in its territory.
Yes, but this happened in Germany too:
The Palestinian Samidoun network has celebrated Hamas’ attack by giving away sweets on the streets of Neukölln, a district in South-West Berlin with a large muslim community.
Israel’s ambassador in Berlin called the network “barbaric” and a “trojan horse” and urged the German police and public prosecutor’s office to act against it. According to the police, they established the identity of some of the persons and filed criminal charges. For this purpose, they are in close contact with the public prosecutor’s office.
The affiliation, the tempers and the loyalty of many people are extremely manichaean right now. Israeli and Jewish institutions, shops, resturants etc. are under hightened protection, as they are considered to be under an elevated risk. Just came back from a walk in my district (not Neukölln) and a small book store with Jewish books on display was protected by two policemen in uniform, clearly visible.
Also related to Germany, the young woman whose semi-naked body was paraded by Hamas militants in a pick-up truck was a German citizen.
How horrifying. I wasn’t paying close attention to the news or the Dope since Friday. I usually take a bit of a break on the weekend, so I’m just now catching up and realizing the depth of the atrocities. Best wishes to @Alessan to stay safe.
Gaza not under a blockade would certainly have been far, far worse.
My son-in-law was called up. We pray for his safe return.
There are so many terrible videos and first hand accounts starting to hit the news. Absolutely horrid and terrifying. I’m so sorry for all those affected.
Yeah, there are two things I am sure of. When all is said and done, there will be no more Hamas; and once Israel knows who is responsible for this failure, heads will roll.
The people who think this helps Bibi are absolutely bonkers. This happened on his watch.
3 posts were split to a new topic: Will Israel destroy Hamas
Hamas was never going to call up the General Staff in Tel -Aviv with details of their op. And it is well-known they have a robust industry training and arming themselves. So, what was missed? It is of course quite possible there was inadequate strategic depth on the Israeli side, with defensive patrols being replaced with automated surveillance, etc.; @Alessan alluded to the division being understaffed. However, leaving aside (even though we can’t really) the pogroms it sounds like Hamas has not been able to hold on to territory in Israel proper.
Can someone explain what they mean by the Iron Dome ? I suspect it’s highly technical. So explain it simply, please.
And do Israeli people have access to weapons for personal safety? As in guns.
(I know this is very American question, I don’t want to start a gun rights hijack, please guys)
Keeping it simple, it is an interlocking defense system of anti-missile missiles. All controlled by central computers to maximize shooting down incoming missiles without wasting shots and to prioritize dense population areas and vital military & Government installations. Active since 2011.
BTW: As anti-missile laser systems ramp up, they’re be added in. Already in the advance planning stage.
Currently I’m unable to get a decently document cite for how many missiles it intercepted this time and at what percent. The numbers are all over the place.
Are we assuming a bunch of these anti-missiles failed, for various reasons? There seems to be so much damage and casualties.
A U.S. carrier strike group has just been deployed to the area.
Some reports are stating 5000 missiles were shot in a short period of time. (possibly 20 minutes)
But I don’t trust the sources to report that as factual. This would be by far the largest numbers the Iron Dome had to intercept.
ETA: If 5000 missiles were launched, and the casualties from said are under 300, then the Iron Dome was actually a great success, just not the full proof shield they desperately hoped it would be.