Gaza

The drums of war are beating, loud and frenzied. After several days of increasing Hamas provocations which made the life of Israeli civilians in the towns and villages near the border hell, the inevitable attack came yesterday. The calls for a military solution to the missile problem came from the whole political spectrum and reflected the general mood of the public. 'For every Kassam missile we should send a thousand bombs' said one politician. For every Grad missile we should flatten a whole neighbourhood in Gaza said another. Not a single voice called out for doubling our efforts at negotiating a cease fire, mediated by our international friends. After all, we don't speak to terrorists. Or do we?

Now the media and public are intoxicated by the military success not seen since the 1967 six day war. 60 war planes attacked simultaneously at 11.30 am. The targets were Hamas facilities. Location: crowded urban centres, where Hamas operates from. Casualties: 225 dead and 700 injured in 1 and a half minutes. And the politicians and the public are saying it had to be done. 'We have to stop this evil called Hamas at any cost'. But most of the people paying the price are not part of the 15,000 Hamas guerrillas or the dozens of politicians. They are the ordinary people already traumatized by previous attacks, poverty and occupation. People who have the same needs and aspirations of anyone on this planet. But they are hidden behind an abstract entity: Hamas.

When will we, Israelis, be able to see and feel the suffering of our fellow brethren across the Gaza border?