Things do not bode well

Most of this post I wrote on Friday, but I failed to post it because it needed editing and I put that off. I will post it now with only a few minor changes.

Yesterday, a series of attacks occurred in Southern Israel, near the Red Sea resort town of Eilat.
Eight Israelis were killed from the attacks, which involved shootings and detonation of explosives. The attacks were allegedly carried out by Palestinian militants who crossed from Gaza into the Sinai in Egypt, and then from the Sinai to Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak blamed the attacks on the Palestinian Resistance Committee and proceeded to call for air strikes on the Gaza Strip, despite the fact that the PRC is denying involvement in the attacks. The ensuing airstrikes by the Israeli Air Force over the night on the Gaza strip, killed several members of the Palestinian Resistance Committee held responsible for, yet not proven to be involved in, the attacks, as well as a 13-year old boy and a 2-year old boy. Militants from Gaza responded by shooting rockets from the Gaza strip into Southern Israel. The rockets have continued throughout the past couple days, with Hamas now claiming responsibility for some.

For more detailed information about the attacks yesterday, and the escalating violence from today, please read these articles:
10 Rockets Strike Israel Day After Coordinated Attacks Kill 8 - Haaretz
Attacks Near Israeli Resort Heighten Tensions with Egypt and Gaza - New York Times

It's hard to know what to say as violence continues to escalate. At a time when negotiations have completely stopped and Palestinians are getting closer to their request for statehood at the United Nations in September, an escalation in violence will only harm these processes. Random violence by militants and then immediate calls for air strikes based on little evidence of these militant's identity have resulted in a deeper escalation in violence.

Furthermore, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement yesterday: "I have decided on a principle – when you hurt Israeli citizens we respond immediately and with force," exacerbates the situation further. There is no excuse to collectively punish all of the Gaza strip for the actions of a group of militants that also live there. Responding to violence with violence, will only push Israel and Palestine further into a never-ending cycle of violence. As a writer for 972 Magazine stated: "We are all familiar with this circle: Attack, terrorist attack, attack, terrorist attack, attack, major terrorist attack, major operation, terrorist attack, attack and so on and so forth." (Source: Why Israel Should Not Attack Gaza).

I know that my ideas of non-violence in which those oppressed resist non-violently, instead of using terror attacks, and force is not the response to resistance seem idealistic in situations such as these. But I can't help but hope for and dream of the day when this nonsensical violence ends and a true, lasting, and just peace

Photos: Israeli bus hit by gunmen c/o Haaretz.com. Damage after airstrikes in Gaza c/o nytimes.com.