Daily Lessons from Life 03 August 2014 - Israel declares missing soldier dead as Gaza toll rises

"Israel declares missing soldier dead as Gaza toll rises - AFP 03 August 2014

A special committee led by the army's chief rabbi said Lieutenant Goldin had been "killed in battle in the Gaza Strip on Friday", the Israeli armed forces said in a statement.

Military radio said that no body had been recovered, adding that this made the decision to announce Goldin's death a "very delicate" one. There was no government word on the whereabouts of the soldier's remains.

The Israeli side had previously suggested that 23-year-old Goldin had been captured by Hamas fighters in Gaza, sending chances of a more permanent ceasefire in the bloody offensive nosediving.

Such captures are considered by Israel to be casus belli. Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, had acknowledged its militants staged an ambush early Friday in which two other Israeli soldiers were killed, but denied holding Goldin. Both Israel and Hamas vowed Saturday to continue their bloody 26-day confrontation in Gaza, shunning efforts to broker an end to the bloodshed which has claimed more than 1,700 lives.

With no resolution in sight, a senior Palestinian delegation landed in Cairo for talks Sunday on an Egyptian ceasefire initiative, but Israel said it was not sending a negotiating team. "Hamas has proven that it breaches any agreement reached right away, as happened five times in previous truces," deputy foreign minister Tzahi HaNegbi told AFP. "It is therefore unclear at this stage what benefit Israel might see for participating in an attempt to reach agreements, based on the Egyptian initiative," he added.

US Middle East envoy Frank Lowenstein is expected to arrive for talks, along with representatives of both Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The Gaza violence has claimed 1,720 Palestinian lives and displaced up to a quarter of the territory's population. Goldin's death brings Israeli army deaths to 64 since the start of hostilities on July 8, its heaviest toll since the 2006 war against the Lebanese Hezbollah."

Will the 'dead' soldier be an 'excuse' for the powerful Israel army to continue to pound Gaza and made Hamas 'paid for daring to start a war'?

Lessons for me are:

1. I used to think that in a war there are heroes when I was young. Sgt. Sauder in the long running TV WWII series of the 'good' American soldiers killing the 'bad' German soldiers was my 'hero' then. As I grow older, I realised that there is NO heroes in a war but just 'survival of the fittest with some luck'!;

2. some of my friends, even one in Macau, expressed outrage at the treatment the Israel army is meting out to the Hamas in Gaza. Many news reports also seemed to question why the Israel army must continue to pound Gaza injuring and killing many innocent civilians! This is a bit unusual as most tend to 'empathise' with Israel on the need to be tough. Of course, some are saying the Hamas started this knowing that the Israel army will fire rockets into Gaza and that many innocent civilians will be injured and killed. Hamas also hope that the world will be angered by this killing of innocent civilians, especially the 2 'collateral damages' of UN-run schools and the children that were killed. Whatever it may be, the Israel army just cannot stop firing into Gaza? If they really want to kill the Hamas, just send their elite killing special forces and kill in a very targeted manner. No?;

3. the truth is, nobody know what the heck is happening in a war. Collateral damages are just too convenient for the army big brasses and politicians to claim. Will be interesting to see and hear what they have to say IF the 'collateral damages' are their family members and loved ones? Maybe they will ask for 'revenge'?

War is insanity. Nobody in the right mind will want war. Only those with ulterior motives will want to engage in war. Especially when they can just manipulate and orchestrate the war without having to risk their own lives!