[amazingman]

Are you claiming the Hamas does not use the entire civilian population under their rule as human shields? I hope not, because that reality is obvious. It's not merely individuals, either: it's policy.

(Before responding with rhetoric in the other direction, please note that I have not taken a position on Israel here.)

[Hikikomori]

Where would they go where there isn't civilians that isn't just target practice for Israel?

But let's flip it, Israel does it, like outting a military HQ in a mall.

It's just an excuse used by Israel to obliterate any building they want. Hamas shot some missile from there 10 minute's ago (why would they stay around?), so they send a bomb that takes out the block. Any civilians were just human shields anyway.

[Sabinus]

There are places in Gaza that are agricultural and suitable for rocket launches. It's not residential blocks from fence to fence.

Hamas is motivated to damage Israel's international reputation as much as possible. (Not that Netanyahu isn't helping with that). Deliberately launching from civilian areas then condemning Israeli retaliation is in alignment with Hamas rethoric and incentives.

If a Hamas rocket hit civilian areas nearby the Israeli military HQ and Hamas said it was the target, then it would be a militarily justified launch.

[Hikikomori]

So target practice then?

US managed to use ground forces against the Taliban without leveling the city.

So you do think Hamas stay around after launching a rocket? As it would take quite a few minutes for Israel to determine launch location, get a plane in the air and drop it on that location. Then they use block leveling bombs rather than a smaller precision bomb.

Do you think the lies and denial for the buried ambulances case or the killing of journalists like Shireen Abu Akleh were just one off cases?

[Sabinus]

>So target practice then?

No, it's likely retaliation with a military excuse.

>US managed to use ground forces against the Taliban without leveling the city.

Not in Raqqa or parts of Mosul. Dense urban fighting produces major destruction. Neither was Afghanistan a sealed, prepared, hyper-dense urban enclave. The Taliban largely withdrew from key cities rather than making their last stand inside them. If you check the state department reports [1], neither did the USA use troops to assault entrenched Taliban positions. It was bombing, and then local proxy infantry.

>So you do think Hamas stay around after launching a rocket?

Probably not. But the alternative is Israel just intercepting rockets with no retaliation which is unrealistic.

>Then they use block levelling bombs rather than a smaller precision bomb.

They use a variety of munitions with varying sizes and precision.

>Do you think the lies and denial for the buried ambulances case or the killing of journalists like Shireen Abu Akleh were just one off cases?

I think many Israelis have been radicalised (like the Palestinians) and several army commanders are perpetrating war crimes and atrocities. I don't think their system directs or encourages it, but it certainly doesn't do enough to prevent it. The fog of war, deference to people on the ground, the bullshit the radicalised commanders feed upward, and the political cover from the extremism of the Israeli cabinet cause the system to defend the atrocities. Although, sometimes, when the case is very obviously unjust, Israelis are held to account.

[1] https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2001/html/10262.htm

[donkeybeer]

I think I should find some datsset about Israeli citizens and with a configurable radius determine how many civilians live within radius of an IDF or Mossad member. Then compare the numbers against Palestine.