Vice Adm Brad Cooper, deputy commander at US Central Command, told reporters in a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday that the pier had achieved its intended effect in what he called an “unprecedented operation”.

Critics call the pier a $230m boondoggle that failed to bring in the level of aid needed to stem a looming famine. The US military, however, has maintained that it served as the best hope as aid only trickled in during a critical time of near-famine in Gaza and that it got close to 20m lbs (9m kgs) of desperately needed supplies to Palestinians.

Aid groups slammed the US military pier as a distraction, saying the US should have instead pressured Israel to open more land crossings and allow the aid to flow more quickly and efficiently through them.

      • VeganCheesecake@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        6
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        4 months ago

        Yeah, the thing is, it seems like it’s not “oh no, they’re using human shields, we can’t blow them up”, but more like “human shields? Oh well, load the bombs.”

        The atrocities commited by hamas in no way justify the atrocities commited under the leadership of the Israeli government, doubly so since an organised military force with a clear chain of command is quite different from a group of extremist militants.

        • Burstar@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          14
          ·
          4 months ago

          Yeah, the thing is, it seems like it’s not “oh no, they’re using human shields, we can’t blow them up”, but more like “human shields? Oh well, load the bombs.”

          Finally, someone gets it.

          The atrocities commited by hamas in no way justify…

          This is where the disagreement truly lies and I’m sorry but you’re wrong. Israel absolutely has the right to go after Hamas and the civilian casualties are Hamas’ fault, not Israels. As you so eloquently put it, Israel is prioritizing the lives of its soldiers over those of the unfortunate, but almost certainly sympathetic or supportive, ‘civilians’. The second Hamas surrenders and releases the hostages you have a point. Until then, you’re supporting terrorist warcrimes by using genocide hyperbole instead of calling it the tragic intentional consequences of Hamas’ strategy.

          • VeganCheesecake@lemmy.blahaj.zone
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            8
            ·
            4 months ago

            I honestly don’t see much difference between this stance and saying that the years of oppression by Israel justify the attacks by hamas.

            I think the only thing we can do here is agree that we very fundamentally disagree.

            • Burstar@lemmy.dbzer0.com
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              arrow-down
              13
              ·
              edit-2
              4 months ago

              There’s a huge difference. Hamas invaded Israel and intentionally slaughtered civilians and followed up by taking hostages whom they to this day refuse to release despite the ‘horrors’ being visited on their people. Israel is specifically going after Hamas and while being indifferent to the collateral damage. I’m absolutely certain the Israelis would prefer a clean fight for obvious unfair reasons but I have no illusions they will ever get that so here we are fundamentally agreeing to disagree.

              The (edit: the past) mistreatment of the Palestinians is a crime that I fully support ICC justice for. It should have been what all these people downvoting made the wedge issue LONG ago and their outrage poorly conceals their guilt to this end. Regardless, it does not justify terrorism and anyone that thinks it does is lost. I also think the UN should force the issue to both sides dissatisfaction so we can end this century+ of BS but I’m not holding my breathe.

              • BigFig@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                5
                arrow-down
                1
                ·
                4 months ago

                Israel certainly prefers a clean fight when they checks notes bomb UN Schools and Neutral Aid Camps filled with children and innocent civilians

                • Burstar@lemmy.dbzer0.com
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  arrow-down
                  3
                  ·
                  4 months ago

                  … housing Hamas weapons or under attack by Hamas specifically because it was supposed to be safe.

      • BigFig@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        4 months ago

        So what say you about the video where IDF had Palestinians in hand cuffs and had them walk in front of them as shields while the IDF soldiers cleared a building?