Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Palestinian civilians in Gaza were “responsible” for the Saturday attack by Hamas.
“It is an entire nation out there that is responsible. It’s not true this rhetoric about civilians [being] not aware, not involved. It’s absolutely not true,” Herzog said Friday. “They could have risen up, they could have fought against that evil regime which took over Gaza in a coup d’état.”
“I agree there are many innocent Palestinians who don’t agree with this, but if you have a missile in your goddamn kitchen and you want to shoot it at me, am I allowed to defend myself? We have to defend ourselves, we have the full right to do so,” he added.
The Israeli president made the comments while calling for over 1 million people in northern Gaza to evacuate in 24 hours. The evacuation was first announced to Gaza residents via leaflets from the Israel Defense Forces.
“Civilians of Gaza City, evacuate south for your own safety and the safety of your families and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields,” the leaflets read. “This evacuation is for your own safety. You will be able to return to Gaza City only when another announcement permitting it is made.”
Hamas has told people in Gaza to ignore the evacuation order.
“Israel is removing Palestinians from their homes and lands for a second time, and we have responded to the Zionist crimes by targeting them and Ben Gurion,” Abu Obaida, spokesperson of Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades, said. “Displacement and exile are not for us, Israel is carrying out psychological warfare through the threats and their dark history, which shows they carry out crimes and killings as a form of collective punishment.”
The United Nations has called the evacuation “impossible,” due to the large number of people asked to leave the area, according to CNN. John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, called the evacuation a “tall order.”
“We understand what they’re trying to do: They’re trying to move civilians out of harm’s way and giving them fair warning. Now it’s a tall order. It’s a million people and very urban, dense environment. It’s already a combat zone. So I don’t think anybody’s underestimating the challenge here of effecting that evacuation,” Kirby told CNN.
The war between Hamas and Israel started on Saturday when Hamas soldiers attacked Israel from Gaza. Hamas killed over 1,000 people and took over 100 hostages in that attack, according to NPR. Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by many countries including the U.S., Israel and those in the European Union. Since the beginning of the war, Israel says Hamas killed 1,300 people. The Palestinian health ministry reports 1,800 killed in Gaza.
Palestine is the only one whose existence is at risk here.
Edit: Think about it like this: You moved into my house without any consent, claim it is yours, keep tasering me and have two missile launchers aimed at me, yet you act offended when I point my own missile launcher at you.
Yet another demand that Israel let themselves be destroyed. You aren’t interested in solutions, only in placing blame on Israel. Israel exists. They have the right and the power to defend themselves. If the Palestinian people cared to keep their children from dying, they would raise them to live in peace. They have not, or cannot. They have not or cannot rid themselves of Hamas. Israel will do what it must to defend itself.
Someone should tell them to stop attacking Israel and harboring terrorists. It’s not working out well for them.
They regularly punch a sleeping bear and then cry foul when it predictably mauls them yet again.
Because being repeatedly attacked by, and surrounded by, people whose stated goal is the destruction of your nation isn’t an existential threat. /s
I’m not going to pretend Israel is entirely in the right, but pretending that they’re not under constant threat of destruction is disingenuous. Israel’s continued existence is not for lack of effort by Hamas and others.
Israel has repeatedly offered a two-state solution over the years. Only Hamas has refused any solution that doesn’t involve the destruction of the other party
Ok, your side’s facism is better than the other side’s.
Good job murderer.
Palenstinians and Israelis are the same fucking people.
Again and again, the pro-palestine comments show themselves to be nothing but demands Israel let themselves be endlessly attacked and destroyed. They have the right to defend themselves. This is what that looks like.
Your argument can be used the same way for palestine. You are either discussing in bad faith or hasn’t bothered to inform yourself well enough.
How is the killing of innocent civilians included in the right to defend oneself?
Hamas provoked asymmetrical war with a superior force, and innocent people get killed in war. That does not imply that a counterattack isn’t self-defense. Also, intent matters. Israel isn’t targeting civilians. Hamas is. Just because they’re punching up rather than punching down does not make that okay, or imply that there should not be military retaliation to eliminate the threat.
Your hypocrisy is kind of funny.