Israel Kills 13, Including Women & Children, in Airstrikes Targeting Militant Leaders in Gaza

[Beastly Boy]

1. I have a real problem with Phylis Bennis' statement

“As the occupying power, Israel has the obligation to protect the civilian population,” says Phyllis Bennis, author and fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies. “Instead, we’re seeing the expansion of an apartheid regime, and one which is prepared to use violence at extraordinary levels without a moment’s hesitation.”

It is both false and prejudicious.

ART. 5. of the Fourth Geneva Convention states:

— Where, in the territory of a Party to the conflict, the latter is satisfied that an individual protected person is definitely suspected of or engaged in activities hostile to the security of the State, such individual person shall not be entitled to claim such rights and privileges under the present Convention as would, if exercised in the favour of such individual person, be prejudicial to the security of such State

This clearly strips the three PIJ operatives killed in the raid of any protections by Israel. and makes them fair targets.

ART. 28. an 29 of the Convention state

ART. 28. — The presence of a protected person may not be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations.
ART. 29. — The Party to the conflict in whose hands protected persons may be, is responsible for the treatment accorded to them by its agents, irrespective of any individual responsibility which may be incurred

This clearly places the responsibility to protect on PIJ, which they, not Israel, failed to do.

And her "Instead, we’re seeing the expansion of an apartheid regime, and one which is prepared to use violence at extraordinary levels without a moment’s hesitation.” is delusional and borderline antisemitic on its face, especially considering how far apart it is from the topics she is commenting on.