It’s very difficult to understand the kind of military tactics used by Israel. These are not surgical strikes but have caused death and misery to many innocent civilians.

— Jack Straw, former British foreign secretary and current Leader of the House, speaking on Saturday, July 29th, about the Israeli massacres in Lebanon.

I think it needs to be clear that Israel is not in a hurry to have a cease-fire before we reach a situation in which we can say that we achieved the central goals that we set down for ourselves.

— Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, speaking on Sunday, July 30th, and defending Israeli attacks in the escalating war in Lebanon.

Action is needed now before many more children, women and men become casualties of a conflict over which they have no control.

— Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, condemning the most recent Israeli attack against the Lebanese in Qana, in which more than 54 Lebanese civilians were slaughtered, including at least 34 children. Annan implored the Security Council to condemn the Israeli attack on Qana. The U.S., a staunch Israeli ally and member of the Security Council, has defended Israel’s actions in the continuing 19-day war in Lebanon.  

The Lebanese health minister puts the nation’s death toll at around 750 people, most of whom were civilians. Fifty-one Israelis, including 18 civilians, have died in the mounting war.  Israel attacked Lebanon after Hezbollah — backed by Iran and Syria and based in Lebanon — captured two Israeli soldiers on July 12th.

Mimi Hanaoka