War is a humanitarian crisis

The Israeli incursion into Gaza is now 11 days old and the world press continues to harp upon the humanitarian crisis for the Gaza residents. This is despite the regular, albeit limited (around 80), trucks delivering humanitarian aid via Israel. Lost in the discussion are: (a) the refusal of Egypt (their neighbor and fellow Arab) to open its border at Rafah for Arab/Islamic aid to enter and wounded to exit to receive necessary medical attention--the border is sealed shut to prevent a mass exit of fleeing refugees, (b) Hamas has purposefully placed its military strategic posts near very more densely populated civilian or religious sites (e.g. mosques) so as to garner better propaganda points. No one seems to address the issue that Hamas has placed its civilian population in a military crisis its entire existence as the governing body of Gaza.

• It staged a bloody coup to wrest control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority (viz Fatah) and has kept the population especially Fatah leaders, members and sympathizers under control;
• It has refused to change its raison d'etre to at least accommodate the existence of the State of Israel (aka "the evil Zionist entity"), if only as a facade to end the diplomatic siege/ boycott of Hamas by the international community;
• It has lobbed--complicitly or directly--rockets and bombs into southern Israel since the beginning of its control, thereby terrorizing Israelis and 'inviting' (dare I say taunting?) Israel to respond with military force and perpetuating the Israeli blockade of its crossings between Israel and Gaza.

Hamas created the humanitarian crisis and with international complicity (media and other 'well-meaning' international organizations) perpetuated it. Instead of working to reverse it and accept responsibility for improving the conditions for its people, it exacerbated the situation and blames Israel for all its problems.

The call for a cease-fire by many, the UN, the European Union as well as by the Arab/Islamic world is both an enabling device for the Hamas to divert attention from its own responsibility to protect its people from violence as well as another opportunity to prevent Israel from protecting itself from senseless provocation and terrorism. Unfortunately, Israel is caught begtween being an upstanding member of the international community and doing what it feels is needed to stop the bullying. Instead of waiting to hear from Hamas about its intentions about abiding by a ceasefire, it offers its response first. Instead of demanding Galit Shalit back first, it transmits funds to Hamas [Israel nismanagement of Dec 2008] and provides a list of prisoners (read Hamas terrorists) it's willing to release.

Let's place the conflict in context and have both sides feet put to the fire, instead of using the situation as (yet) another opportunity to bash Israel and its right to exist in peace and dignity.