Why Hasn't Israel Used Its Artillery in Gaza Yet?

Claims that Israel “massacred” or “slaughtered” innocent Palestinians are bald-faced lies.

Israel takes unprecedented precautions to avoid hurting innocent civilians. Gazan civilians actually received telephone calls from the IDF last week warning of impending attacks. Even master terrorist Nizar Rayyan (pictured right), the Hamas military commander killed in Thursday's air raid on his home, received a warning to evacuate his family. He refused, preferring martyrdom for his family over life. Rayyan once dispatched one of his own sons to carry out a suicide bombing. Few tears are being shed for Rayyan, especially in the Palestinian Authority who Rayyan hated as much as he despised Israel.

All of the attacks on Hamas until now have been carried out by the Israel Air Force, but frankly, it just doesn’t make any sense. All targets within Gaza are within range of Israeli artillery or MLRS rockets. Artillery shells are much cheaper than air-delivered bombs and missiles. Artillery can be directed against targets 24/7 and are not limited by bad weather. Send up a plane to hit a Hamas target in Gaza, and the pilot and a $35 million plane are both at risk.

There is only one reason for artillery not being used: It is not as accurate as an attack from the air. Civilians could be hit.

If Israel meant to “massacre” innocent civilians, it certainly has the means. The IDF can eradicate Hamas fighters and anyone within a mile radius without jeopardizing its soldiers. But Israel has repeatedly put its soldiers in harm's way in order to protect Palestinian civilians. Evidence the 23 IDF soldiers killed in close quarter combat in Jenin during Operation Defensive Shield in 2002. Blasting away at the alleyways of Jenin with artillery or tank fire would have spared their lives but would have killed countless civilians. The military tactics of Russia, Syria or the Palestinians simply do not exist in the IDF playbook.

To recall, during the Chechen war in the 1990s the Russians carpet-bombed Grozny. Russia allegedly fired missiles into the Grozny market and a local maternity ward. The Syrians are known for playing according to “Hama rules” -- named for a Syrian stronghold of Moslem Brotherhood supporters. Hama was pulverized by Syrian tanks and artillery for three weeks in 1982 resulting in the death of anywhere from 7,000 to 30,000 people. Don’t forget Hamas itself. The Islamic organization made suicide bombings a science, targeting buses, pizza shops and restaurants. During its war with Fatah last year, Hamas threw Fatah enemies off of hi-rise apartment buildings; others were spared when they were only "knee-capped." Last week, Hamas gunmen roamed hospital corridors in Gaza executing their enemies.

When Israel launches its ground assault against Hamas, tragically Palestinian civilians will be hurt or killed. Israel’s government, citizens and soldiers will regret each and every one of them.

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