The people are not hiding among terrorists: Just the very opposite!
If the extreme minority madness that is Hamas had not existed; Gaza would be a very different place today!
And indeed, patiently waiting for Arab Israelis, to outnumber Jews at the ballot box!
And only a decade or so away!
In the interim, the millions sent as foreign aid, could have been spent on schools, doctors and hospitals, and the general quality of life inside that tiny, hugely overpopulated enclave. And not sent back as missiles, mortars and and suicide bombers!
I mean, who in their right mind would conduct murderous military hostilities from such a place; or indeed, use as a base from which to fire rockets with explosive warheads!
Given some of those very warheads, could be still viable and deadly, wherever they then fall, after being intercepted by the so called iron dome!
And only insane extremists, could live with themselves, given these still viable armaments, could fall on schools, hospitals or playgrounds inside Gaza!
The very first casualty of war is the truth, and the second, the complete loss of the personal moral compass!
Then this article, seems to be a prime, propagandized, pernicious example, of that first and second casualty!
It's time to call a spade a spade, and for all Palestinians to hold Hamas entirely responsible, for all the continuing casualties inside Gaza!
It's Hamas that needs to look in all those now homeless hopeless faces, and consider what they and they alone have wrought, in their mad desire to eliminate Israel, and indeed, create enough international and or local sympathy, in order to get others to do this dirty blood-lust work for them!
Rhrosty.

Hi Joseph,

Ever since Gaza was invaded and occupied by the Moslem Brotherhood by proxy, Hamas, the Palestinians in Gaza have lost their freedom under occupation. They now suffer Stockholm Syndrome and are utterly lost.

Hamas has no objectives to support any socio-economic development or sovereignty for Palestinians. Their objective is soley to wipe out Israel and Gaza has become their base of operations. Much international aid from the US, the EU and the UN is mostly redirected to the operational needs of Hamas rather then benefit Gaza residents.

The wording associated with Israel’s assault is significant, the words “demilitarization” of Gaza tell you all you need to know. I suspect that regardless of what any outside nations declare, Israel will pursue this objective.

They know that every previous attempt has been thwarted by the UN in particular who have previously imposed cease fires before Israel could finish that task, which makes the UN culpable for repetitive Hamas military build ups and attacks on Israel.

If the UN again prevents Israel from stopping short of their main objective we will see more loss of life because of the UN and not Israel.

The US has clearly telegraphed their disengagement in the ME. Now it’s up to the ME to solve the ME’s problems, let them get on with it

The author's juxtaposition of violence in the Middle East with cities in Australia is irresponsible.

And this was a multicultural affairs commissioner, being paid by Oz taxpayers.

God help us in our stupidity.

Here is a face: St. sergeant Matan Gotlib was killed two days ago by a bomb that was placed in a tunnel under an UNWRA clinic: Palestinian children asked for help - and as an active boy-scout he always wanted to help everyone, so he went in with his unit to help - it was a trap, he and another two were killed, nine others were wounded.

It seems to me that the interview with Henry Siegman titled Gaza "A Slaughter of Innocents" on Democracy Now provides a necessary antidote to all of the sound-bite "certainties" that mis-inform all of those who pretend that the Palestinians have no human faces, or that they are the only villains in this dreadful situation.

Henry is eminently qualified, and well informed via first hand experience. Especially his informed comments on the deliberately murderous intentions and actions of the more extreme Zionists, both past and present. The present one's having a significantly powerful voice and influence in/on the Israeli Government