Israel Resumes Long-Standing Practice of Retaliating Against Empty Buildings

Here's how the charade works: Israelis want to be defended from attacks but politicians are frightened of international reaction so they pretend to retaliate (Israel Vows 'Crushing' Response to Attacks) without actually attacking anything the enemy cares about. They believe they can fool people by having them see news footage of explosions at enemy targets. Anyone who thinks that Hamas is troubled by the destruction of empty buildings should review the history of the last few weeks.

The problem is that this public relations strategy backfires: there is little domestic gain and only international loss. Israelis are familiar enough with the pattern to not be fooled into believing it. The Palestinian "big lie" machine then goes into action to present fabricated victims and wildly exagerated casualty reports to buttress their victimhood image (cf. Jenin). The international press, which is complicit in Palestinian propaganda, is all too eager to present the Israeli and Palestinian misinformation as "savage revenge attacks" to an audience that justifiably has very little knowledge of the far-off conflict. This headline is a striking example: Israel Mounts New Strikes, Hamas Ends Attacks.

One silver lining in the current half-measures is that a targeted assasination was implemented and 207 Wanted Palestinians Were Arrested During the Night.

IDF attacks structure belonging to the Hamas in Gaza City

Tonight, the IDF attacked a structure belonging to the Hamas terror organization located in the Sajaiya neighborhood in Gaza City. The structure served as an educational institution and is part of the Hamas "Dawa" establishment. The institution was founded with the initiative of Ahmed Yassin. The IDF will continue to operate against the Hamas terror organization and
its infrastructure.