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Updated Google Maps shows destruction of the city of Rafah

943 points · 947 comments · slowin

  1. bognition · · focus · HN ↗
    Its really telling to see the destruction limited to where the structures used to be rather than to all of the surrounding green spaces. If the destruction of civilian dwellings was purely an accident you'd expect to see the destruction spread evenly over the area. Instead it looks much more like a prolonged set of surgical strikes to destroy the buildings while preserving as much of the surrounding areas as possible.

    For a great example of this, look at this pin <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;maps.app.goo.gl&#x2F;ZcMbdFcx87PrqoYNA" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;maps.app.goo.gl&#x2F;ZcMbdFcx87PrqoYNA

    And here&#x27;s a pin of where the farms were spared <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;maps.app.goo.gl&#x2F;iZbbTH4iH27FCz4s9" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;maps.app.goo.gl&#x2F;iZbbTH4iH27FCz4s9

    1. YZF · · focus · HN ↗
      The buildings were levelled with bulldozers for the most part after the civilians left during combat operations against the tunnel infrastructure and any remaining combatants. Not sure what the &quot;surgical strikes&quot; comment is about. Are you asking why weren&#x27;t open spaces destroyed or attacked?
      1. a_paddy · · focus · HN ↗
        How does bulldozing a family home have any affect on a tunnel?
        1. MiroslavPokorny · · focus · HN ↗
          Its called something like collective punishment, something that many cultures practiced around the world.
          1. newsclues · · focus · HN ↗
            Collective punishment like launching rockets at civilian cities indiscriminately? Collective punishment like kidnapping civilians from music festivals?
            1. estearum · · focus · HN ↗
              Yes exactly like that.

              &quot;We&#x27;re no worse than Hamas!&quot; is an interesting argument.

              1. newsclues · · focus · HN ↗
                So if two sides are doing the same things in an existential struggle, how can you say one sides tactics are deplorable and wrong?
                1. estearum · · focus · HN ↗
                  Because I can say that both sides are deplorable and wrong? In fact, I can even say they&#x27;re both deplorable and wrong in uneven amounts, but that both meet the bar of &quot;deplorable and wrong.&quot;

                  You think you have to choose a side between the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel? You think you need to send one of them money?

                  1. tt24 · · focus · HN ↗
                    So if we stopped sending money to Israel you’d stop talking about Israel and Gaza forever?

                    This idea that people only care about Israel because we support them with our tax dollars is such a joke

                    1. estearum · · focus · HN ↗
                      Well I care about it principally because of the degree to which it distorts our politics. The funding is one cause and effect of that distortion but there are others. For example the theological allegiance between US evangelicals and Zionists is a shockingly powerful force.

                      But yes the component that morally implicates me personally is the funding.

                2. expedition32 · · focus · HN ↗
                  What if... wait for it... They are both wrong?

                  Israel is the great betrayal. In 1948 it was supposed to become a secular country based on European values not a Jewish theocracy. It is dragging us down and for what?

                3. conception · · focus · HN ↗
                  The power imbalance allows one side to exhibit restraint and use more civilized options. These aren’t actors on the same footing. It’s a nuclear power with a multi billion dollar military against some of the poorest people on the planet.
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