More Gaza Links and questions of IHL

Just some new Gaza links - From Reuters A history of Gaza Seige -

A brief history of "the Gaza Folly" by Gershom Gorenberg in American Prospect.

I always thought the Daily Beast was a bit of right wing rag - but waddya' know --- Amazing - Israel flotilla disaster - it is Americans' fault for turning a blind eye!

Great article by Amos Oz - Cannot use weapons to fight an idea.


Very very interesting if the slightly esoteric article and comments on IHL and the Law of the Sea. Interestingly, I learned that "International Humanitarian Law" (IHL) is the law of war (I never knew!) and that there are a number of versions and additions to the Geneva Conventions and that there are lots of debates about who is at war, when, and who is a "belligerent" - what I might think of as a comabatant. This is important because if you are a belligerent - then you have to be treated as a POW and not as a criminal. I also learned though that in today's world these arguments are all about who is a terrorist - because if you are labeled a "terrorist" - then you are not a belligerent. I followed the links and read articles about whether Hamas is a terrorist organization or a state, and whether the seige/blockade is therefore legal. . . more accessible than some other international law arguments I have tried to follow. Highly recommended.