What a Surprise – So Many Leaping at an Opportunity to Make Israel the Villain Again
March 1, 2024 - Issue #44
A terrible thing happened yesterday—many Gazans died, and hundreds sustained injuries, when crowds, eventually numbering in the thousands, swarmed trucks carrying humanitarian aid destined for northern Gaza.
This was a tragedy.
But, of course, it was exactly what Hamas wanted. Its leadership’s only chance for survival is to mobilize world opinion, and especially that of the United States, to stop Israel from winning the war that Israel must win. Therefore, within hours that evil machinery cranked into motion. The Palestinian Health Ministry issued a report that 112 Gazans had died and 760 injured. Really? Maybe. But its race to report was all too reminiscent of the Ministry’s statement on October 17 within hours of a terrorist rocket that fell short near a hospital, killing a claimed 500 Gazans. What both incidents have in common are at least five things:
High casualty counts announced by the Hamas run Health Ministry before there is any chance that an accurate count could be made.
Hamas blames Israel.
Some media worldwide once again unilaterally blames Israel.
Other media lead with slanted headlines that poison the reader or viewer before token disclaimers are incorporated or a fairer listing of the facts is provided.
Political pressure targets Israel, which is exactly Hamas’ goal and only remaining chance for survival as a governing entity in Gaza.
Think I am wrong? Let’s examine two items from yesterday: A CNN Headline and the U.N. Security Council
CNN Headline
Yesterday, as I was putting the finishing touches on an article about UNWRA I intended to write for this issue of my newsletter, I saw this blaring CNN Headline— Carnage at Gaza Food Aid Site Amid Israeli Gunfire and Panic. The headline creates the impression that Israeli gunfire was the cause of the carnage (my quick Google search did not find any CNN use of the word “carnage” in a headline about October 7 when more than 12 times the number of people were killed by Hamas, many of which in even more gruesome ways than yesterday). Much of the article was then based on the eyewitness account of Khader Al Za’anoun, who CNN informs is a local Palestinian journalist. However, Za’anoun is at least a freelance journalist (CAMERA says works) for WAFA, that is the official news agency of the Palestinian Authority. Wikepedia says about WAFA—"The president of the [Palestinian Authority (meaning seemingly President for Life, Mahmoud Abbas)] appoints WAFA's head, and the organization is viewed an arm of the Palestinian government, rather than an independent agency that criticizes the Palestinian government.” So much for Za’anoun’s objectivity!
Also, my brief Google search of Za’anoun found plenty of articles articulating what he had supposedly seen, none of which in my opinion, provided me with any confidence in Za’anoun’s balanced perspective to say the least. Yet CNN and others write articles regarding what he says without independently verifying his comments while usually taking pains to state that what the IDF says in response is not independently verified.
Hmmm.
Yes, the CNN article included responses from Israel, but much farther down in the piece and in a somewhat questioning manner. But even so, the headline and the first few lines already did the damage by creating the impression of Israeli perfidy and never addressing the root cause of the problem—Hamas. Furthermore, I find it troubling that a respected news organization would race to report on salacious accusations that it knows will inflame large sectors of world society without first giving Israel the time to professionally investigate what happened and provide a cohesive response. Shame on those that put eyeballs before truth.
And I find it outrageous when a headline leads with an accusation hours after an incident before an objective investigation can be accomplished and does not have verified facts from objective sources to back up the sensational claim or inference made. Do you?
The U.N. Security Council
Not surprisingly, the same day of the tragedy, Algeria drafted a resolution for the U.N. Security Council blaming Israel for what occurred. Reportedly, 14 of the 15 members of the council supported it, but the United States blocked it.
What is going on here?
Nothing more than a rush to judgement that blames Israel for everything without even a cursory examination of the facts. That was business as usual before October 7, for a few short days there was a respite, and now that business has returned with a vengeance. Where is the resolution unilaterally blaming Hamas for October 7 and calling for its unequivocal release of the hostages and its surrender? Where is the resolution calling on Egypt to allow Gazans in need to temporarily move into barren Egyptian land in the Sinai? Where is the resolution calling out UNWRA for its failures, reporting honestly on what it is, and dissolving it? Where is the resolution calling out Hezbollah for firing more than 5,000 missiles and projectiles into Israel and demanding that Lebanon’s army and UNIFIL fulfill their requirements under Security Council Resolution 1701?
It is no wonder that Israel does not trust the United Nations or any other nation’s formulation that guarantees Israel’s security.
The Facts as I See Them at the Moment
For each of the four days before February 29, the IDF created a humanitarian corridor that permitted trucks with humanitarian aid to move from Egypt, via Israel, to a site in northern Gaza.
On February 29, at about 4:40 a.m., a fifth convoy, again coordinated by the IDF, consisting of 38 trucks, crossed from Israel into Gaza in the same manner as the previous four days.
Within minutes, hundreds and then thousands of Gazans rushed the trucks, some violently pushing and trampling other Gazans to death and looting the supplies.
IDF tanks and soldiers were securing the corridor.
The mob brought the convoy to a halt at 4:45 am and some attempted to take supplies in the trucks by force.
IDF Tanks tried to disperse the mob with a few warning shots fired into the air that were not aimed at them and did not strike anybody.
As the crowds grew, rather than engage or risk injury to Gazans, the tanks backed away.
Throughout this period at least one IDF drone flew overhead and took video of what ensued. The IDF has shared some or all of that video with media.
During this process, the convoy, composed of independent third-party drivers moved through the crowds and seemingly tried to push through them as depicted in the video.
The IDF reports that dozens of Palestinians died during what ensued, and that most suffered their injuries were caused by being trampled by other people or being hit by the trucks.
In a second location nearby, unidentified Palestinians fired on the trucks and stole supplies.
Subsequently, in a third location, a large group of Palestinians came within 25 yards of an IDF force on the ground, threatening their security. The IDF reports that its small force first fired warning shots in the air and then when the crowd continued to move towards them, those developments necessitated the soldiers to fire for effect to save their lives. This resulted in the death of about ten Gazans. Whether the crowd had aggressive intentions or was simply chaotic is not clear, but I doubt the soldiers felt that they could afford to hold fire and hope for the best with the worst being their demise at the hands of a mob if they had held their fire.
My Take
War is hell, especially for civilians. Bad things will happen. Accidents will happen. Miscalculations will happen. But the following is clear to me:
This tragedy happened in the context of Israel’s good intent to provide humanitarian aid and a safe corridor for the trucks to move through.
I suspect, but do not know, that the corridor was likely more designed to protect from Hamas interference, which was a known risk, rather than a huge mob of Gazans.
How that mob formed is still open to question. Was it spontaneous or was it organized by Hamas?
Israel has tried to convince Gazans to leave northern Gaza. Hamas seeks to prevent them from doing so. As a result, perhaps a couple hundred thousand remain either due to their own decisions or Hamas’ gunpoint influence. Unfortunately, their presence in northern Gaza makes providing them with sustenance perilous. But make no mistake, their presence in northern Gaza is due mainly to Hamas and not at all because of Israel.
Israel had no interest in blocking the deliveries or firing on them and every interest in ensuring their safe arrival.
Hamas had every interest in blocking the deliveries, preventing their safe arrival, and creating an incident it could propagandize.
All this ends if Hamas surrenders.
Who then is the culprit?
Is it Israel that was victimized by Hamas on October 7 and that had no intention to go to war until that infamous day caused it to do so in self-defense? Or is it Hamas who after killing, murdering, and raping ran back to Gaza to hide behind the Gazan citizenry that it is responsible for? Is it Hamas, whose only remaining chance for survival is manipulation of world opinion by causing the death of Gazans, intimidating journalists, and co-opting international organizations? Or is it Israel who will only lose this war if Hamas’ manipulations succeed?
Hmmm.
The Northern Arena and the Shiite Axis: Weekly Review of Events and Key Data (February 19–25, 2024)—Written by Tal Beeri for the Alma Research and Education Center—February 26, 2024
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Harvard Poll Reveals Large Majority of Americans Support Israel in War Against Hamas—Written by Eliana Jordan for the Jewish Chronicle—February 28, 2024
Mapping the October 7th Massacre—This is a hugely valuable tool for understanding what happened on October 7.
From War to Peace in the Middle East? Observations from a Regional Tour—Written by Robert Satloff for the Washington Institute for near East Policy—February 23, 2024.
![President Joe Biden speaks in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Joe Biden speaks in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F58d4c973-cf1f-4860-8cad-c55d926d8615_640x400.jpeg)
The US Charge of ‘Indiscriminate Bombing’ is Over the Top—Written by Michael Oren for The Blogs at the Times of Israel—February 15, 2024
Arab States Are Giving Palestinians the Cold Shoulder. Here’s Why—Written by Michael Hirsch for Politico—February 21, 2024
At Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, IDF Achieves War Goals with Precision—Written by Yaakov Lappin for Jewish News Syndicate—February 25, 2024—An important read regarding what really happens and the lengths the IDF goes to ensure civilian safety.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh receives Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi in Ramallah, June 14, 2022. Photo by Flash90.
PA Government Resigns Amid Hamas Unity Talks—Written by Charles Cybezeler for Jewish News Syndicate—February 26, 2024—This means that Hamas will take control of some, much, or all of the PA.
Israel’s Struggle with Hezbollah—A War Without End is now available in eBook and hardback format on Amazon and IngramSpark. This compelling narrative explores Hezbollah’s origins and cancerous growth, traces Israel’s response, and reveals Israel’s present readiness to meet Hezbollah’s challenge.
Cliff Sobin
Important Link—Alma Research and Education Center: Understanding the Security Challenges on Israel’s Northern Border