Israeli Forces Use White Phosphorous In Continuing War But Congress is Deadly Silent
In a sorry display of Congressional ineptitude on Friday, the House passed a non-binding resolution supporting Israel in the current war against Hamas and the Palestinian people. House Resolution 34, sponsored by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, condemns Hamas and blames the group for the war launched two weeks ago. Though the resolution goes through the litany of issues regarding Hamas (rocket attacks aimed at Israel, kidnapping of an Israeli soldier, breaking the “cease-fire,” etc.), the resolution makes no mention of the economic embargo waged by Israel, halting most commerce and aid to the Gaza Strip.
House Resolution is a de Facto Sanction for War Crimes
HR 34 does nothing to contribute to the debate or resolve the conflict in Gaza. While it placates pro-Israeli constituents in the U.S., Congress has utterly failed in its leadership role to contribute to any resolution of the conflict. It seems that it is business as usual in Congress.
Stripping away the boilerplate, the resolution demands that Hamas end the rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and extends its condolences to Palestinian and Israeli victims. There is no mention of the economic embargo imposed by Israel on Gaza and fails to address the underlying human rights problems facing the Palestinian people.
In the mean time, Israeli troops pushed into a heavily populated area of Gaza City from the south early on Sunday in what the army and locals described as fierce fighting, according to the NY Times. “At least eight people died – four fighters, two women and two children, according to Palestinian hospital officials. The fighting was described as fierce and close to Al Quds Hospital in Sheikh Ajleen. Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they had ambushed the Israelis, but there was no immediate indication that any Israeli soldiers had been hurt.”
Al Jazeera reports that Israels spokesman Mark Regev will neither confirm or deny that the IDF is using white phosphorous in shells it is launching into urban areas in Gaza. However, the following video suggests otherwise.
In the words of our soon-to-depart President, George Bush, “Good job Pelosi!”
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