SAN FRANCISCO
Lee Heidhues 12.14.2023
With each passing day Israel continues to lose credibility in the forum of world public opinion.
The ongoing carnage Israel is inflicting on the people of Gaza has no limits.
Israel is not satisfied with slaughtering nearly 20,000 men, women and children in retribution for the vicious Hamas terror attack of October 7 inside Israel which resulted in the brutal deaths of 1200 people.
The retaliation by Israel, now over two months, has far exceeded the normal boundaries of a measured response. With the tacit approval of, and weapons provided by, the American government the Israeli military is operating with no restraints.
Now, according to the New York Times, a staunch supporter of the Jewish state, the Israeli military has taken to destroying Gazan holy places. The resting place for the dead.
A hideous action which is considered a potential war crime.
Excerpted from The New York Times 12.14.2023
Israeli ground forces have damaged or destroyed at least six cemeteries during their advance into the northern Gaza Strip, most of them in recent weeks, according to an analysis of new satellite imagery and video footage by The New York Times.
The laws of armed conflict consider the intentional destruction of religious sites without military necessity a possible war crime.
In Gaza City’s Shajaiye neighborhood, where heavy combat raged in recent days, Israeli forces razed part of the Tunisian cemetery to set up a temporary military position. A satellite image from Sunday shows armored vehicles and earthen fortifications on what were intact graves days earlier.
The Israeli military did not respond to questions by The Times about its reason for razing the cemetery and whether it has taken any precautions to protect religious sites in Gaza.
Much of the damage was inflicted this month, as Israeli forces advanced toward what Israeli officials believe are remaining Hamas strongholds in densely built-up areas of Gaza City. Israel appears to be using at least one cemetery as a temporary base for military vehicles.
Israeli military vehicles destroyed dozens of graves at a smaller cemetery in early December, next to an existing Israeli position half a mile to the northwest of the Tunisian cemetery. A video published by the Israeli military on Sunday shows soldiers apparently engaged in combat in the area.
On the same day, in the Jabaliya neighborhood of Gaza City, satellite imagery showed new tracks and possible military vehicles at Al-Faluja cemetery. Later video footage shows damage to gravesites but no established military positions.
Lee's Perspective 