@Xen:
"After visiting Israel and Palestine in 2008, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter stated that "Palestinian leaders from Gaza were noncommittal on all issues, claiming that rockets were the only way to respond to their imprisonment and to dramatize their humanitarian plight. The top Hamas leaders in Damascus, however, agreed to consider a cease-fire in Gaza only, provided Israel would not attack Gaza and would permit normal humanitarian supplies to be delivered to Palestinian citizens."[8] According to Carter, the Hamas administration itself was willing to consider a cease-fire in both Gaza and the West Bank but the Israelis only seemed interested in a Gaza agreement.[8]"

the cease fire conditions were clear, the blockade was never lifted how is that hammas's fault ?

also Israel didn't achieve what they wanted,
here is another post of mine :

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u really shoud listen to what the Israeli govermnet were saying when they first started my friend.

"we will not stop untill the firing stops" or "Hammas is not going to be able to fire rockets when we are done here"

"this is gonna be a very short war"

so yeah , nothing has been achieved

troops are there > the war is still going and the short war mission failed

22 days and hammas is still firing rockets > failed
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there is something happening that we don't know about but what is happening wasn't originally a part of Israel's plan.

Okay, well let's just put this in perspective here.

Hamas says that they intend to rearm and continue their war... there is no need to argument this point, because Hamas readily admits this.

So, in what what would "lifting the blockade" help Israel?

Lifting the blockade would make it easier for Hamas to do what they've already said they intend to do.  So, what is the point in lifting the blockade?

The blockade does not prevent humanitarian aid from getting in... hell, the Israelis are sending in humanitarian aid themselves.  The blockade is setup and used as a means to check all shipments coming in to prevent weapons from coming in to arm/re-arm Hamas.  Therefore, what is the problem with this?  If the Israelis truly only want to prevent Hamas from re-arming themselves, and actually welcome the humanitarian aid, what is the problem with the blockade?

I still get a kick out of the fact that the same people who are saying "boycott the Jews" are the same people who are saying "lift the blockade" against the Palestinians.  Does anyone other than me not see the hypocrisy in this demand?  Honestly, if you hate the Jews, just say it... I won't be mad at you.  I'd much rather have an enemy who tells me that they hate me to my face, than a coward who says that they love me and then spits on my back when I turn around.

My point is, if the world expects that the Jews surrender everything for peace, why do those same people not protest and jump in the face of Hamas and demand the same thing?  I get so fed up with the "victim" mentality of the pro-Palestinian camp that never once defends the Jews who get murdered by the Palestinians.  If you hate murder, then SPECIFICALLY name ALL groups (including the murderous Palestinians who kill Jews) for their acts of disgusting crimes.

I'm so sick of being the scapegoat for every crime that is commited on Earth simply by being Jewish... and yet the Muslims are somehow victims when they outnumber us 100:1.

Honestly, the same people who are saying the Palestinians are victims are the same people who deny that the holocaust ever happened.... you want me to feel sorry for a people who spit on my dead relatives, and then read Mein Kampf as if it is a historical truth?   Anyone who thinks such non-sense is coming to the wrong person for support.  I'm not an ignorant person who thinks with my emotions, I actually use my head.

Middle East region has been at war on and off for over 1000 years due to political and religious differences. How long will the peace last?

Wow. That's a horrible play by Hamas.

It basically forces Israel to keep their troops in Palestine. Which granted... is probably what they want since Hamas doesn't give a damn about Palestine... but sacrificing more people because they want to gain control of the new state...

sickening move by Hamas.

(By demanding they go... Israel has to stay or it loses international face for "retreating"... after a week or so Hamas will probably start again... then Israel will start again. Unless a western power jumps in.)

"The blockade does not prevent humanitarian aid from getting in... "

people were starving for 20 days , where were u? watching american media?

"I still get a kick out of the fact that the same people who are saying "boycott the Jews" are the same people who are saying "lift the blockade" against the Palestinians.  Does anyone other than me not see the hypocrisy in this demand?  Honestly, if you hate the Jews, just say it... I won't be mad at you.  I'd much rather have an enemy who tells me that they hate me to my face, than a coward who says that they love me and then spits on my back when I turn around."

??????????????????????????????????????????????

I hate the Israeli government not the jews, BIG difference.

ur post is somehow doesn't make sense,

"I'm so sick of being the scapegoat for every crime that is commited on Earth simply by being Jewish... and yet the Muslims are somehow victims when they outnumber us 100:1."

what are u talking about? so Palestinian people can't be the victims because muslims outnumber the jews ?

"Honestly, the same people who are saying the Palestinians are victims are the same people who deny that the holocaust ever happened...."

don't u mean the killing of jews in europe? was that done by us?

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finally , I told u many times that targeting civilians is immoral and that's what I believe in. I hope ur post wasn't about me.

these days I'm reading more and more into the history of palestine and Israel and I feel stupid for not doing so earlier , when I'm done we are gonna have a never ending debate lol.

the troops are leaving , don't know if they are gonna fully retreat or not.

It won't last.

Israel will keep blocking everything from entering, Hamas will be left with no choice but to resist the illegal imprisonment of its people, Israel will kill another 1000 civilians.

The only hope this time is that Obama is more balanced about the situation as he has promised. Lets pray for a truly neutral and balanced US position.