In an article on another Israeli bombing of more homes of Hamas
terrorist leaders, the Jerusalem Post
notes:
Palestinians and Israeli defense officials said that prior to
the air strikes, the IDF either warned nearby residents by
phone or fired a warning missile to reduce civilian casualties.
IAF aircraft also dropped leaflets east of Gaza giving a
confidential phone number and e-mail address for people to
report locations of rocket squads. Residents appeared to ignore
the leaflets, stepping over them as they passed by.
How many countries would fight a war against a bitter enemy that
is targeting its civilians and go to such lengths to prevent
civilian deaths?
Israel is in a difficult position -- as a civilized society
always is when fighting a terrorist group. Hamas purposely
launches and stores its rockets and hides its leaders in areas
where they are surrounded by civilians so as to give pause to
Israelis who they know would not indiscriminately carpet bomb
Gaza. If Hamas were that concerned with the death of Palestinian
civilians, they could make efforts to evacuate civilians to safe
areas and separate themselves from the civilian
populations. They could also stop firing rockets into Israel,
which only prolongs the bombardment of Gaza. But they won't, and
that's why the blood of any Palestinian civilians is on their
hands.