Quote:
Originally Posted by Saqe
But this is really the crux of the problem regarding the current situation. What authority does anyone have here? Are there any military experts who have been in a war? Like how on earth are people able to say what actions Israel should or should not be taking without knowing the situation and problems on the ground? If Hamas is using hospitals as a staging ground for operations, isn't evacuating the only right decision? As an example.
We can all armchair quarterback these decision if we like but I see absolutes thrown around about how wrong or right something is. And don't see basis for it.
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Well to use the hospitals as an example. Even if we accept that it must be evacuated (which is probably true if there's going to be a ground invasion), there are still different ways that can happen that can have varying humanitarian impacts. On the one hand, you can cut electricity and water, prevent fuel from getting in, and then give them 24 hours to evacuate an entire hospital while transiting patients through an active war zone.
On the other end of the spectrum, would be something like longer timeframes for evacuation, a short-term unilateral ceasefire that would allow patients to be safely evacuated without worrying about bombs dropping near them, and potentially allowing aid organizations into the southern part of Gaza to handle the influx of patients.
The latter are all things the US forces did when fighting irregular forces and insurgencies in the Middle East to minimize civilian casualties, as well as that of their own forces. And that last point is important. Getting civilians out of there not only limits humanitarian damage, but it also offers tactical advantages for Israel. An empty city is a lot easier and safer to invade than a full one is.