The Littlest Victims

Photo: A medic carries a Palestinian baby after an Israeli missile strike on a house in Gaza March 1, 2008. Three Palestinians were killed on Saturday and at least six children were wounded in an Israeli missile strike on a house in Gaza City, medical officials said. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA)

God bless these little ones, killed by senseless violence.

I wonder when the Israeli government will wake up to the reality that DOING NOTHING, absolutely nothing, will keep more Israelis alive than what they are currently doing. I do believe that Israel wants to wipe the Palestinians out, and I do believe that Israel wants to steal all their land, and I do believe that all this is evil. The Palestinians who fire rockets into Israel are also stupid and evil.

This came in an email from Jewish Peace News:

“Israeli attacks are continuing in Gaza, and the casualty toll is rising. By the time the Israeli armed forces withdrew on Monday afternoon, they had killed 108 or more people (54 of them civilians) and injured approximately 250, using among other means, F-16 military jetfighters to drop bombs of up to a ton on civilian areas (there are only civilian areas in Gaza as Israel does not permit the Palestinians to have an army). According to some reports, perhaps half of the dead were non-combatants.”

There has been one Israeli civilian killed in the recent rocket attacks, and two Israeli military (as far as I know).

There has been an argument made that Israel does not target civilians, but the Palestinians do, because they are “terrorists”. I think this is bull. The F-16 is a homicide bomber, per Michael Franti. And dropping bombs from an F-16 is an act of intention, and it is also KNOWN to cause massive civilian casualties. Therefore, the Israelis are just as much “terrorists” as the Palestinians who use violence.

Here is a blog post that gives an idea of what life is like for the people living in Gaza (and I really cannot read too much of this on top of all the evil I read about concerning the Americans in Iraq):

With calm voice she replied I could not go to work today. And she started to tell the story. Two people were killed before the pharmacy where I work and I could not do anything. I had my baby with me at work and I was taking the blood pressure of a pregnant lady when a rocket struck a car next to the pharmacy’s door. The blast was so strong.

I left the pharmacy and went to see what had happened. The car was on fire. The people there were burning. What I can do to save their lives? The sound of the Israeli planes were still in the sky hovering. What would be their next target? I asked myself. My baby was crying behind. The woman carried him and ran away far from the scene.

For a minute, my mind stopped thinking. My tears were frozen in my eyes while looking at the car powerless. What shall I do at this moment? Shall I save my life and run away or shall I try to do anything to help the victims? But to what extent my help can help at this moment? After all what can be done from my end? Nothing, I whispered to myself. The vicitms on the car are burnt. Yet, I started to call an ambulance but there was no signal. People started to gather bringing water to set the fire off.

This is insane. This is evil. This has to stop. Here is a link to an online petition calling for a cease fire.

“We, the undersigned, Christian, Muslims, and Jews that do not live in Palestine or Israel, call on the American Government and the International Community to urgently intervene to stop the escalation and bloodshed in and around Gaza. We support the recent joint Israeli-Palestinian call for ceasefire that was written by community leaders from the region.”

There is some good news though:

Vermont towns vote to arrest Bush and Cheney