Israeli Military Operations in Gaza

For John, BLUF:  The linked article is about a piece in The Atlantic about anti-Semitism on campus, but it also talks to Israeli operstions in Gaza.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Let's Talk About the Absolute Worst Thing in the World

From PJ Media, by Commnentator Stephen Green, 27 March 2024, 10:45 AM.

Here is the key excerpt:

But there is no Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip, no matter what lefties and other concern trolls might have you think.

Let me share something utterly remarkable with you.

Urban combat is about as bad as war gets. That's not just for the soldiers doing the fighting — it's also for the civilians caught up in it. Typically, civilian casualties far outnumber military casualties in city fighting.

Until now.

John Spencer is the chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point and an infantry combat veteran.  He's just back from the Gaza Strip, where he witnessed the extraordinary measures Israel has taken to avoid civilian casualties.

"By my analysis," Spencer reported for Newsweek on Monday, "Israel has implemented more precautions to prevent civilian harm than any military in history — above and beyond what international law requires and more than the U.S. did in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."

The net result — and this is that "utterly remarkable" thing — is that civilian casualties do not outnumber military losses.  The best estimate is just one civilian casualty for each military casualty.

Israel has accomplished this unprecedented feat "in intense urban warfare against an enemy trying to maximize its own civilian casualties."

Nations like South Africa,♠ and demonstrators here in the United States (and elsewhere_ who are demonstratying against Israeli operation is in Gaza, are playinbg the Hamas game.♥ 

I am on an internet discussion group with the gentleman cited, retired Major Johhn Spencer, a former Infantryman and with the Urban Warfare Studies section of the Modern War Institute at West Point.  I believe he should be listened to.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff
♠  South Africa went to the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of Genocide.  While they didn't get everything they wanted, they furthered the line that Israel is doing bad things in Gaza.
♥  To be honest, Hamas is doing a brilliant job working the political (informatonial) side of this conflict, and could seriously hurt Israel's standing in the world.