UK: Gaza Invasion Would Cost Israel International Support
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A ground invasion of the Gaza Strip would lose Israel much international sympathy and support, British Foreign Secretary William Hague warned Sunday.
Hague told Sky News television it was much more difficult to limit civilian casualties in a ground assault and it would threaten to prolong the conflict.
His comments came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the armed forces were ready to "significantly expand" their operation against militants in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip as it entered its fifth day.
Britain has said that Hamas bears the principal responsibility for the crisis due to perpetual rocket attacks on Israeli territory.
But Hague said it would be hard for the international community to maintain sympathy with Israel if it launched a ground operation.
"That, of course, is a different proposition," he said.
"The prime minister (David Cameron) and I have both stressed to our Israeli counterparts that a ground invasion of Gaza would lose Israel a lot of the international support and sympathy that they have in this situation.
"It's much more difficult to restrict and avoid civilian casualties during a ground invasion and a large ground operation would threaten to prolong the conflict.
"So we have made our views very clear on that with Israel, just as we have made very clear our view that the barrage of rockets from Gaza onto southern Israel is an intolerable situation for the Israelis and it's not surprising they have responded to that.
"A ground invasion is much more difficult for the international community to sympathize with or support -- including the United Kingdom."
He said Britain would like to see an agreed ceasefire, with an end to the rocket attacks being an essential component of any peace deal.
"In the absence of that ceasefire, we of course are calling on all involved to deescalate, to avoid civilian casualties and to abide by international humanitarian law," he said.
Hague said it would be a "mistake" for the Palestinians to try to gain observer status at the United Nations at this point as it would be "divisive" with the United States.
18 November 2012, 14:46
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Israel will almost certainly listen to the countries that request them not to send in ground troops.
Will the Palestinians listen to those same countries which recommend them not to go to the United Nations to try and gain observer status.
18 November 2012, 15:55
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This is interesting, coming from a natikon - the UK -- that invaded Iraq and Afganistan, and killed many civilains in each invation. Niether of those countries posed the threat to teh UK that Hamas poses to Israel.
18 November 2012, 16:49
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Just try and think back about 20 years.
Arafat met with Rabin at Camp David and refused to accept an independent State of Palestine on 97% of the territory of the West Bank and Gaza of pre '67.
If only he would have agreed.
1. There would have been no more war - no more causalties.
2. There would have been the State of Palestine taking its rightful place amongst the United Nations.
3. All aid received would have gone to improve the standard of living of the ordinary Palestinian.
4. Arafat's and later Abbas's refusals to sit down and talk peace with Israel brought about the bloodbath bringing the Hamas occupation of the Gaza Strip and all the subsequent agony to Gazans and Israelis alike.
So please tell me why the Palestinians are being "TERMINATED".
18 November 2012, 19:25
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Ok, first of all Rabin was then assassinated by an Israeli blessed by rabbis. Remind me again which side wants peace?
2. The Saudi initiative, agreed on by all Arabs, for a full peace n normal relationship between Arabs n Israelis, was ignored by Israel. Y? Since 2000, can u imagine the situation now had they agreed?
3. This "97%" u speak of... 97% of what exactly? Do u know how much land Israel has already annexed from the Palestinians? If that 3% was no big deal, then y not just go ahead n include it in the deal??
4. To blame the victim for not staying down, for fighting back, for demanding a basic level of dignity... U sir r the trash of society. U r def an Israeli.
18 November 2012, 19:14
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@philipo... Ur comparing a political move at the UN, to u ground invasion that will kill hundreds of ppl?
18 November 2012, 19:14
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@philipo... Ur comparing a political move at the UN, to u ground invasion that will kill hundreds of ppl?
