Casualties in Gaza too high – US
Casualties in Gaza too high – US, BBC News, July 31, 2014
(I have yet to see any specific suggestions on how Israel could lessen civilian casualties in Gaza without effectively surrendering to Hamas’ missiles, tunnels and booby trapped “civilian” structures for peace program. Perhaps the U.S. Department of Defense could share ideas on how to do it. Or Hamas could be given more reliable missiles that would detonate in Israel rather than in Gazan civilian areas.– DM)
The US has said that civilian casualties in Gaza are “too high”, and called on Israel to do more to protect civilian life.
“The Israelis need to do more to live up to their very high standards… for protecting civilian life,” a Pentagon spokesman said.
The UN has also criticised Israel over the worsening situation in Gaza, saying people there are “facing a precipice”.
Some 425,000 Palestinians have been displaced by fighting, the UN says.
Meanwhile a senior Israeli official told the BBC that the army had “neutralised” 70 to 80% of Hamas’ offensive tunnel network.
Israel says it will not stop its operation in Gaza until all the tunnels – which militants use to infiltrate Israeli territory – have been destroyed.
Since Israel began its offensive in Gaza on 8 July, 1,400 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
It said 173 people had been killed within the past 24 hours.
Some 58 Israelis have been killed, 56 soldiers and two civilians. A Thai worker in Israel has also died.
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WarSclerotic 
July 31, 2014 at 7:49 PM
DM,
The criticism being waged against Israel by Hussein and his cronies, the UN, and the leftist media is nothing short of outright anti-semitism. It’s time Jews start to call it out as such.
Nothing they say can be believed any more.
Even the major Arab nations all support Israel over Hamas now.
July 31, 2014 at 7:52 PM
So says the country that dropped its entire nuclear arsenal on civilians in ww2.
July 31, 2014 at 8:55 PM
What an asinine suggestion from the U.S. government.Whether the current administration believes the Palestinians have a legitimate claim or claims against Israel is not the issue in this matter.The Palestinians supposedly could be right,but to ask a country that on a daily basis is being attacked-and the attacks are on the jewish civilian population-to avoid palestinian civilian casualties,when the missiles are being launched from Palestinian civilian populated areas is the most ridiculous thing anyone can ever say.What the U.S. needs to say to Hamas is to stop firing missiles at Israel.Otherwise,it is very simple,they are going to be hit by Israeli firepower,and no matter how precise Israel can try to be in their targeting-the civilians are going to get hit. Iran also needs to be told and warned that their supplying of missiles to Hamas and others is simply going to inflame the region.But common sense dictates that is what Iran wants.One cannot expect that if one throws a brick at another,that the other is going to respond by throwing flowers in kind.
August 1, 2014 at 5:14 PM
If you take this twisted logic a little further, then Israel would have to share its nukes with Iran.
August 1, 2014 at 5:56 PM
@ LS , to play completely fair, they have to launch the nukes on them self !!
July 31, 2014 at 8:58 PM
JW, you’ve been very quiet. What’s your take on things in Israel now? And where do you see things heading from here?
August 1, 2014 at 4:23 PM
Nothing to add, that’s ok. Hope you remain safe.