Understanding the Israel-Gaza Conflict

My husband and I watched the news together yesterday. They were running another story about the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. Over the last several days, the news headlines have been consumed by the Israeli attacks.
My husband asked rhetorically, “Why did they start bombing now. Aren’t they ever going to stop all of their fighting?”

We sometimes talk about the problems in the Middle East and how the region has faced unrest for over 4000 years. His usual response is, “How can people kill each other over religion. I thought religion was supposed to stop War and Killing.”
Yesterday, the news reports talked about the bombing of UN Schools in Gaza. I heard one pundit ask, “Why are there people in schools? Surely they are aware of the bombings.” The on site correspondent in Gaza answered, “Of course the schools are not in session. However the people of Gaza took refuge in the schools thinking since they were UN schools, they would not be bombed.”
This aspect set my husband off. "Why are they bombing schools anyway?" The reporter responded, as if answering my husband’s question, “Israel says they have evidence the Hamas hide their weapons in schools and churches.” Now my husband sat and just shook his head.
I responded, “Well think of it this way. Suppose you are sitting in Manhattan and all the burroughs surrounding you hate you. Harlem, a neighborhood in Manhattan, hates you too. Harlem has a rogue gang that starts shooting missiles into other Manhattan neighborhoods. Local officials don’t or can’t do anything to stop them. The gang starts out small, then they start getting help from the burroughs. The missiles start getting bigger and you realize, through your inside Harlem contacts that Westchester, your biggest enemy that has nuclear weapons, is starting to build an underground subway system to feed the Harlem Hoods a growing and more powerful cache of weaponry that you know will make the hoods powerful enough to really hurt you and possibly destroy your burrough."
My husband turns and looks at me like I am talking about the “Gangs of New York.” And he said, “Ok. I get it. Israel thinks they have to do this to survive.”
“Exactly!” I answer. “Now remember, Manhattan is backed by the boys in Jersey! The burroughs are afraid of the Jersey Boys so they do not openly support the Harlem gang. They are especially fearful of the mob leader, Wacko-Mad-Dubya, WMD for short, who has a reputation for slaughter.” He’s nodding, understanding my analogy (and me) perfectly.
"I think what is curious about this move by Manhattan is their timing. The old boss, WMD, is leaving and the replacement boss is coming in," I continue. "The New Boss is said to be very smooth and diplomatic. Manhattan doesn’t know what he’s thinking yet. I think Manhattan is making their move now because, with all the confusion during the transition of power, no one will stop them. They will be able to rid the Harlem gang of all their weaponry and blow up the secret underground weapons subway from Westchester. Then when the New Boss comes in, Manhattan will play nice again and join in the Peace Talks with Harlem and the burroughs.”
So my husband nods and says, “Yeah! That sounds like a good move by Israel, I mean Manhattan.”
“I guess" I said. "I understand what Manhattan is doing, but what troubles me is all the innocent families and children in the Harlem neighborhoods that are getting hurt and being killed. They are the victims here. All dying! And for what? They weren’t doing anything wrong to begin with.”
“I know, but in the long run, this show of power will probably save lives. 'Might Makes Right' anyway and 'War is Hell.' Men have been at war from the beginning of time and always will be,” he said.
“Do you really think their actions will save lives?” I asked. “I forgot to add that even though Manhattan has the Jersey Boys, they also have the boys in DC and the states along the East Coast. In the meantime, Harlem and the Burroughs have the mighty Canada ready to pounce.”
“Huh?” he said. My last reference lost him.
“Canada equals Russia! DC and the East Coast equals Brittain, European Allies and the UN.”
“Oh, I got you. But we aren’t afraid of Russia anymore.”
“I wouldn’t be too quick to disregard them.”
We went back to watching the news and I checked out the news stories and op-eds about Israel and the Gaza Strip. I was still troubled about the deaths of innocents and the ferocity of the attacks on Gaza by air, land and sea.
As I read on, I saw several op-eds utilizing analogies similar to mine only using Tijuana as my Harlem example. Some writers and commenters responded, “We’d bomb the heck out of them and leave them a ghost town.” I just shook my head over their predisposed opinions and rationalization of devastating their enemies.

I don’t pretend to know who is right or who is wrong in this fight. Nor do I agree with the concept of Might makes Right or War/Death is a constant. As much as I try to understand what is happening from an unbiased perspective, what troubles me most is the deaths of all of the innocents.