"It's bloody and messy."
That's how one Middle East analyst described the situation in Gaza.
As you've probably heard, Israeli planes began attacking Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip around 11:30 Saturday morning. The targets included weapons factories, training camps and Hamas headquarters.
Israel stated the goal of its air campaign was to reduce the number of rockets being fired by Hamas and other Islamic groups into southern Israel. On Hamas's Web site, they claimed more than 150 Palestinians have been killed, some of them civilians.
Why the Israeli attacks?
During the six-month cease-fire between Israel and Hamas from June 19 to December 18, Hamas and other Islamic groups fired more than 300 rockets into southern Israel.
Since the end of the cease fire eight days ago, Hamas fired more than 200 rockets into Israel.
In the three years since Israel completely pulled out of the Gaza Strip in September 2005, Hamas has fired thousands of rockets into Israeli towns like Sderot.
Israel says there's not a country in the world that would tolerate this as a sustainable situation.
More than a quarter of a million Israelis now live within Hamas rocket range, under a state of high alert. In the past, some of them have asked rhetorical questions like, "What would the U.S. do if Canada started firing rockets from Windsor, Ontario, into Detroit?
Israel's military operation might last for several days. Tragically, civilians have been killed already and others might be caught in the crossfire in the coming days. It's gut wrenching to see families, women and children suffer and die. In the midst of this situation though, it's important to keep a few things in mind:
- Hamas purposely establishes its military bases, missile factories and headquarters within civilian areas. This makes it extremely hard for Israel to target legitimate military targets and avoid civilian casualties. Many of these Palestinian civilians then become human shields for Hamas's military. If they die, Hamas considers them "shahids" or martyrs.
- Israel used a variety of means to warn civilians in Gaza of an impending attack.
- For years, Hamas has indiscriminately fired rockets, missiles and mortars into civilian areas in southern Israel. The range of Hamas's rockets has increased significantly and, as noted, more than a quarter of a million Israelis are now in range. Israel says it felt it had to respond to defend its own citizens.
- Hamas is engaged in jihad or "holy" war. They are trying to eliminate Israel and take control of lands once controlled by Islam.
- One of the points in their charter states: "The day that enemies usurp part of Moslem land, jihad becomes the individual duty of every Moslem. In face of the Jews' usurpation of Palestine, it is compulsory that the banner of jihad be raised." (Article 15) This explains their incessant rocket attacks against Israel. Their goal, however, does not end with eliminating Israel but with establishing an Islamic caliphate in the Middle East on its way to the worldwide domination by Islam.
- Iran is providing funding, training and equipment to Hamas.
- Ironically, Israel provides 70 percent of Gaza's electricity, while Hamas targets the power plant providing that electricity into Gaza for its own people. Israel also allows tons of humanitarian aid and food on days when the crossings are not being fired upon by Hamas.
One Middle East analyst I spoke with believes this will be a limited Israeli action and not a comprehensive drive to topple the Hamas regime in Gaza.
However, he said it's important to note the Hamas of 2000 is not the Hamas of today. Although it does not match Israel's army, it's now better trained, organized and equipped than ever. If Israel does go in on the ground, he warns, it will be a bloody campaign for both sides.
In the meantime, Hamas has called on its military wing to do "whatever is necessary" in retaliation. That could include suicide bombers within Israel itself. A source in Israel's border police told me "the streets are lighting up" in neighborhoods throughout Jerusalem as Palestinian Arabs express solidarity for the Palestinians in Gaza. Leaves for the Border Police have been cancelled and the nation is on high alert.
In the midst of the Christmas season, it looks anything like "peace on earth." It's a time to pray particularly for innocent lives on both sides to be spared. It's a time to pray for wisdom for the leaders in this region and around the world and if there ever was a time to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, now is the time.