War between a democracy and a terrorist organization is not symmetrical

Shajaiya neighbourhood encapsulates the challenge Israel faces in the Gaza conflict: It is crisscrossed with an elaborate network of underground bunkers and tunnels containing equipment for the manufacture of rockets, storage facilities for rockets and other weapons, and launching sites from which the rockets were fired at Israeli towns. It was a civilian area where Hamas embedded its most important military capabilities, precisely to encourage condemnation of Israel should the IDF be forced to fight there. How can Israel defend itself without being accused of violating the principle of proportionality?

Israeli soldiers find a mosque with weapons and tunnel openings

Watch the video here.

Hamas' deadly capabilities

An estimated 15,000 active fighters, Russian shoulder-launched anti-tank weapons, homes and installations booby-trapped with deadly IED's (including one with signage indicating it was a UNRWA clinic), suicide bombers and bomb-laden donkeys, specialists trained in Malaysia, Syria and Iran --  tunnels too, mostly dug 18-25 meters (60-82 feet) underground, but one at a depth of 35 meters (115 feet) "like a 10-story building underground” -- these are some of the military capabilities of Hamas. More.

Hamas tunnels into Israel

A New York Times video report on Hamas tunnels into Israel.  Read the article here.

Relaunching our blog

Renewed hostilities between Israel and Hamas have prompted us to resume posting to this blog.  Please follow us for links to insightful journalism about Israel and its neighbours.