Israel's Response to Hamas Rocket Attacks

Talking points for use in the present crisis:

·       Israel has every right to defend itself and has the duty to protect its civilian population under attack according to international law

·       Hamas bears responsibility for the escalation. 

·       Hamas and the terrorist organizations deliberately target Israeli civilians  and cynically use Palestinian civilians as human shield, which is clearly against international law.

·       There is clear evidence that Hamas is calling on Palestinian civilians to serve as human shields for its terrorist infrastructure.  

·       Hamas is similar to other extremist Islamist organizations such as ISIS and al-Qaeda. 

·       Israel showed great restraint during the past three weeks of continuous rocket fire from Gaza and made every attempt to avoid escalation, only to be met by further barrages. 

·       Israel is making every effort to avoid causing harm to genuine civilians, phoning them, texting them before an attack.

·       Israel cannot tolerate a situation in which millions of its citizens are forced to live under a barrage of missiles.  

·       The main objective of the operation is to restore stability and quiet to the residents of Israel.

·       Israel’s actions are measured and directed at the missile launchers and the terror infrastructure. 

·       Israel left the Gaza Strip completely in August 2005 and does not have any territorial claims there.  

·       There is no blockade of the Gaza Strip: goods enter and exit the Gaza Strip freely as long as Hamas rocket fire doesn’t prevent it.