Apart from an excess of media commentary about US Israeli relations, nothing is really happening in Gaza. IDF troops are revisiting several schools and hospitals because Hamas has returned to them. One terrorist called them Hamas safe havens, a refuge from Israeli attack. The operations in As-Shifa hospital have been conducted with great care to avoid interference with actual medical treatment. The move into the hospital was also conducted with added attention to secrecy, so that Hamas would not know it was coming. That aspect appears to have been quite successful. The Hamas operatives did not have any warning and were unable to withdraw. The large quantities of equipment captured appear to confirm this. IDF troops are still engaging terrorists inside the hospital (and with the possible disadvantage of allowing the terrorists to shoot first).
The struggle for media points and images regarding humanitarian aid also continues. Supplies dropped by parachute along the beach still stray into the sea. Yesterday some dozen Palestinians drowned trying to retrieve items. It ought to be surprising, but isn’t, to find that Israel is being constantly cast as the villain in this. The Israeli government is over-sensitive to being seen as an ‘occupier’. Meanwhile, the media has not told anyone who is actually handling aid distribution, and how. Is there registration of refugees? Who knows how many are where? By number or by name? Has anyone tried to organize them? At the end of WWII the allies established DP (displaced persons) camps. Has anything similar been tried in Gaza? Did Hamas do anything for the people that fled to territory under their control other than exploit them for propaganda? What has the UN really done(other than facilitate Hamas activities)? No one seems to be asking the right questions.
Wetherhorn 