I am not OK with Israel bombing the AP headquarters.

[Coventina]

Attacking the press is never acceptable.

Never.

By any standard of warfare.

[Effete Snob]

1. This conflict is really over domestic politics and the recent election

It has hampered the ability for a majority coalition to include Israeli Arabs.

[Coventina]

2. I care not what it is about. The press is never an acceptable target.

Never.

[lark]

3. 100% agree n/t

[MOMFUDSKI]

4. But

Bibi . . . . .

[TreasonousBastard]

6. Absolutely, but it seems to be becoming a target again.

[Mr.Bill]

8. Especially the press of your ally.

I guess Trump calling them the enemy of the people took hold over there.

[SheltieLover]

12. +1,000,000!!!

Never. Ever.

Those responsible should receive the harshest punishment available under law.

[pnwmom]

16. The person you just responded to is clearly not trying to excuse the strike.

They're saying that the strike was intended as a distraction, which is probably true.

[DENVERPOPS]

25. Just Netenyahooo

creating a diversion, just like countless Republican Presidents have done when they are cornered and under the gun by the press.

[Roy Rolling]

5. Some things are off-limits

Media buildings, hospitals, schools, and ambulances are some.

[sarisataka]

13. What should a military force do

If their opponent takes over a hospital to quarter troops or set up an hour? Places a missile battery on the roof of a school? Uses vehicles marked as ambulances to carry ammunition?

Not specifically to the current conflict but in general when one side abuses protections granted under the laws of war?

[joetheman]

18. But not to Israel. And therein lies the real problem.

[2naSalit]

20. +1

[Jay25]

28. Truth!

[Pobeka]

7. Only one reason to bomb AP HQ -- to stifle reporting. More viscious attrocities must be planned.

[leftieNanner]

19. Not just AP

Al Jazeera was also in the same building.

[Loki Liesmith]

45. And Hamas.

[2naSalit]

21. +1

[Jay25]

29. Unfortunately, you are probably correct.

[cally]

31. YES

Israel won’t let them receive protective gear and wants ALL international media out of area

[tritsofme]

47. They were bunking with Hamas. That is the only reason the building was targeted.

But I’m sure wild conspiracy theories are more fun.

[TiberiusB]

55. So poor, underequipped Israel couldn't simply evacuate the building and do a sweep?

With all the tanks and weaponry and personnel?


When in need of a solid excuse for murdering children, just insist "Hamas!" and everything is permitted.

[tritsofme]

56. Oh yes, those blood lusty JOOOOOS!!1!1!

[Colgate 64]

58. Yep. Time to bring that canard out again.

[TiberiusB]

64. Blood lusty?

Maybe you mean blood thirsty?

Way to hide behind the old "if it's about Israel, it's never too soon to go to the anti-semite well" dodge.

I'm sure you have a solid explanation why the press building HAD to be blown up. I mean, besides "HAMAS!", which we already know, because Israel already said so.

I'm sure it wasn't a display of force and a not-so-subtle message to the press.

Whatever the case, I'm sure that building will be the key to a lasting peace.

[oldsoftie]

74. And how many would be killed doing that?

They'd have to GET to the building before doing "a sweep".
And they'd be attacked every step of the way

[TiberiusB]

75. You tell me

How many would be killed in an operation that never happened? It's funny how armed military incursions might actually involve some risk. Better they should just assume Hamas is in every building and level the entire area. How many Israeli soldiers have been killed to date? One? Hamas is not a saint by any measure, but Israel seems to think that it should be able to punish the people of the West Bank and Gaza at will and to any degree. Does Hamas poke the bear to elicit a massive overreaction so they can entrench their influence? Possibly. Is Israel's response grossly out of proportion and very likely a war crime (collective punishment)? It sure looks that way.

Israel needs to get out of Gaza and the West Bank and stop economically strangling the Palestinians and taking their land. Then there would be no argument over whether Hamas was ever to blame, or if some Israeli response was warranted.

[oldsoftie]

70. How does it stifle reporting when it didnt target reporters?

Property was all that was destroyed because they were warned to leave. Something Hamas NEVER does before they attack a school or restaurant

Reporters are still reporting from the area.

[mahina]

9. I'm not OK with any of it

How Israelis are OK with it is beyond me.
Palestinians have every right to be there

Attacking the journalists and journalism now too?

[2naSalit]

22. +1

[Dan]

10. Our hands are not clean....

[Mike Nelson]

11. I think...

... they most certainly have the technology to bomb a room or suite in the building, if it houses a Hamas leader. But they chose a different route. It's an act of terrorism - and it is an attack on AP and the media.

[notinkansas]

14. True. Never acceptable.

Neither is the killing of so many innocent children.

[Mysterian]

15. The free press is always a top target for fascists

The fascist Israeli government wants no media attention as they conduct genocide.

[SCantiGOP]

17. I do not understand the original post

Bombing innocent civilians, including children, is OK but attacking the press is crossing the line?

I don't want to be argumentative, but the mass murder being committed in the Palestinian territories is an outrage and a crime against humanity. And yes, the missile attacks on Israel are also indefensible crimes, but the Israeli retaliatory attack is always much more severe than the original offense.

[Hortensis]

23. Yes, not this way. BUT, the AP bombed Hillary/Democrats repeatedly in 2016,

and their own bombs should have taken them out then -- for real and completely. Like the NYT, they were too powerful, though, and went unscathed. The same people are in charge and are alive to do the same in future if they feel the need to.

[Habitation]

24. Editor of the National Review Rich Lowry is a Moron

[GB_RN]

26. Everything Israel Does In Gaza

Is a war crime. That being said, pretty much everything Hamas does in Gaza is also a war crime: Hiding behind civilians, etc.

But what Hamas does to Israel, in no way excuses its unilateral responses with tanks, planes, and missiles. It's ridiculous.

[oldsoftie]

27. They attacked an empty building that housed Hamas.

Everyone was warned ahead of the bombing; something Hamas never does. Maybe the AP should put their offices in buildings with better neighbors

[cally]

32. Wrong. Given minutes. No time to take equipment and no

Personal security.

[oldsoftie]

34. Again, pick better neighbors. They were still warned

Everyone knows Hamas stays among civilians. No way the AP didnt know they were there; they're REPORTERS.
Stop enabling them

[cally]

36. They did not know

I think you are in denial about what Israel does. And you can’t deny that their equipment was destroyed

[oldsoftie]

67. Equipment isnt a life. Buy more.

Israel defends itself when attacked.

[cally]

71. wow!

You have no conception of war crimes and targeting the press. Putting one country above the basic tenets of decency and a free press. Just FYI: go read some first person accounts from reporters there on what happened and what was lost. Don't rely on Israel propaganda

[oldsoftie]

73. I dont. But I know the tactics of their attackers

Hamas uses civilians & the world falls for it every time. Not to mention ANY excuse for the Anti Semites the world over.
I've LONG tired of the self imposed victim hood of the palestinians; who have had a myriad of chances at peace and refused them all. The civilized Arab world has left them behind & are now making treaties with Israel. Israel controls less than 1% of the ME. Everyone else needs to get used to that tiny piece of land being Israel because they're not going anywhere

[tonedevil]

76. Israel just murders wholesale. /nt

[oldsoftie]

78. No, thats Hamas and their enablers. Continually

And their ilk do it all over the world.

[tonedevil]

79. They only have the distribution to do so retail...

Israel can and does indiscriminately bomb homes and families.

[oldsoftie]

91. No, it does not. Are they perfect? No. Hamas does it intentionally.

[tonedevil]

92. I will leave this here...

because you and I are so diametrically opposed nothing good can come frome further discussion down this path.

[ChubbyStar]

38. I sure hope you know your neighbors and they are cool people

Given what you say about neighbors. Have a nice day.

[Loki Liesmith]

51. I know my neighbors are not Hamas.

[ChubbyStar]

52. Those Xray glasses are fun aren't they?

[Humanist_Activist]

33. Where is the evidence that it housed Hamas, and on top of that, what is meant by Hamas here? n/t

[Amishman]

37. This could easily be true, Hamas is notorious for using sensitive buildings as cover

Hamas is infamous for using politically sensitive locations as cover for their own operations. A Hamas command bunker under the basement of the Shifa Hospital was an open secret for years.

While this definitely needs some explanation, it is entirely possible the AP offices were not the target - but instead was being exploited by Hamas as a shield

[IsItJustMe]

90. Destroying that building kind of reminds me of a person using a chain saw to cut a birthday cake.

[AngryOldDem]

41. Yes, maybe the AP should just cover this from New York.

And maybe Israel should stop lobbing missiles at targets that are noncombatant, which are there doing a job to get the facts out to the world. The motive of this attack is crystal clear: hinder the reporting of several international news services.

ON EDIT: Apparently Richard Engel told Ali Velshi that in all his time working out of that building, not once was there any evidence of Hamas. So, pardon me if I take Engel’s word over the tired, old Israeli excuse of “Hamas” whenever it hits another civilian entity.

[Ferrets are Cool]

43. Bullshit

[TiberiusB]

57. Exactly. This is the same fair, even handed treatment Israel shows to citizens of the West Bank

...before bulldozing their homes and illegally occupying their land.

[Devil Child]

72. A welcome voice of reason, +1 oldsoftie n/t

[malaise]

30. No rational person is OK with this

That is all

[Sneederbunk]

35. USS Liberty

[tonedevil]

77. Proof that the US will allow Israel any transgression. /nt

[Lulu KC]

39. What? I missed this!

Need to catch up.

[reggaehead]

40. I'm pretty much not ok

With Israel in general. If they don't back off. We must cut them off.

[Ferrets are Cool]

42. But, but, but Israel

[tritsofme]

44. Hamas loves using women, children, and civilians as human shields.

[WarGamer]

50. absolutely.

Hospitals and big Apartment buildings full of families.

It's their MO.

[oldsoftie]

69. Many videos show them telling civilians to stay put

They know the fish will take the bait, bite the bottom lip, clutch the pearls and blame Israel.

[roamer65]

46. Al Jazeera was in that building.

That was the target. They don’t like AJ’s accurate reporting.

[WarGamer]

49. All occupants were warned in advance, they took computers and files out down the stairs.

I'd say there were probably Hamas rockets and weapons cache inside the building.

[ChubbyStar]

54. Your opinion

[cally]

61. Not what the AP reported

No evidence of Hamas and Israel so far refused showing any evidence. Much equipment left behind. AJ reported did not have very much notification and that families live in that building. Is it OK to you to destroy families and attack journalists?

[WarGamer]

80. Your post didn't age well

The US was shown the evidence.

No journalist was attacked. A concrete and steel building was attacked.

[cally]

81. Wrong!

Read so report and Al Jazeera report

[oldsoftie]

82. Yes, proof was provided to Pres Biden.

"Israel shared intelligence with the US showing how Hamas operated inside the same building with the Associated Press and Al-Jazeera in Gaza, officials in Jerusalem said on Sunday.
Officials in more than one government office confirmed that US President Joe Biden’s phone call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday was, in part, about the bombing of the building, and that Israel showed Biden and American officials the intelligence behind the action."

If thats a lie I'm sure Pres Biden will say so. If he does, then I'll retract my statement. I wont hold my breath


https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israel-showed-us-smoking-gun-on-hamas-in-ap-office-tower-officials-say-668303

[cally]

83. Waiting for retraction

Secretary Blinken has not seen evidence!

[oldsoftie]

84. He also said he'd "leave it to others" if it was shared.

He said he “will leave it to others to characterize if any information has been shared and our assessment of that information," according to the AP.
And the president hasnt denied getting it on their phone call

[oldsoftie]

85. Today Blinken says Israel has provided justification

“We did seek further information from Israel on this question. It’s my understanding that we’ve received some further information through intelligence channels, and that’s not something that I can comment on,”

[ChubbyStar]

86. That statement says nothing about justification being provided

"Further information" does not equate to justification.

[oldsoftie]

87. I'm sure he would've said it wasnt justified if he thought so

But he didnt. And Pres Biden hasnt denied getting info during the phone call with Israel.
Hamas could stop this but they dont want to. They were told that Israel would stop attacking if Hamas would just stop firing rockets for THREE HOURS. They refused. So they get what they get.

[ChubbyStar]

88. Did you ask your magic 8 ball? n/t

[WarGamer]

48. It's an office building, occupants were told to leave the building.

If you make ANY building "off limits" it will become a Hamas rocket warehouse in a few minutes.

[Warpy]

53. I'm not OK with any of this shit

Both sides need to knock it the fuck off for a week or two, enough time to get Netanyahu out, otherwise both sides will be stuck with him in office until he leaves feet first. Likely the next one will be just as bad but there's always a slim chance they'll get somebody sane.

I'd take that chance, no matter which side I was on.

[IcyPeas]

59. Video shows AP, AJ ... journalists gathering their equipment and gear to evacuate their offices

Video shows AP, AJ and other journalists gathering their equipments and gear to evacuate their offices in the 12-story al-Jala’ residential building in the heart of Gaza before bombed and destroyed it to the ground by missiles fired from its warplanes today.

Link to tweet

[moondust]

60. Richard Engel has never seen Hamas there.

He tells Ali Velshi he has been in that building many times and has never seen anything of Hamas, although he does say he has never been down in the basement.

In this age of BIG LIES used to cover up crimes and bad behavior--SHOW US THE EVIDENCE.

Velshi clip at link:
https://www.msnbc.com/ali-velshi/watch/israeli-airstrike-in-gaza-hits-high-rise-building-housing-media-outlets-112014405865?featureFlag=true

[Ron Green]

62. Lebensraum.

[MarcA]

63. Interesting this started after Netanyahu couldn't form a government, again. n/t

[questionseverything]

65. Smells like false flag to me

[oldsoftie]

68. Actually it is Abbas who does this regularly. For 15+ years

He postponed THIS next election before a shot was ever fired.
Every election period approaches, they start shit so he can "postpone" & stay in office

[Grey5]

66. I'm not OK with Israel bombing anyone or anything.