In spite of the calls from the international community to end the hostilities between the Israeli troops and Hamas, the Israeli government seems very determined to punish and destroy the Palestinian extremist group. There have been a lot of escalations between the two belligerent parties in the past, but this war is certainly the most destructive and has cost a lot of casualties. Israel is in a position of winning the war.

This war also confirms the limits of the United Nations. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on Israel, without success, for a unilateral cease-fire. The Israelis are silent and will continue their operations until Hamas accepts their conditions of truce. As the Bedouins of Egypt say, “Silence is more than just a lack of words.”