Not "ethnic cleansing" except by tendentious metaphor.

Israel is required by international law to try to minimize civilian casualties. Advising the populace to run for their lives before an all-out air campaign or a ground invasion may be the most effective way to do it. (Had they *not* given warning, they'd be accused of the merciless killing of civilians.)

When Coalition forces surrounded ISIS in Mosul, a city of 3,000,000 people, they also urged/warned/ordered the civilian population to evacuate. Many did, and their lives were saved.

Of course, whether there should be an invasion at all is another question.

What isn't in question, though is that Hamas, as Gaza's governing authority, is required to at least try to protect its population. Instead it tells them to stay where they are and achieve martyrdom. News reports show that thousands of people are ignoring that request (or "order"; reports are ambiguous). Their lives will likely be saved.


It could be argued that Israel has already pounded Gaza enough to punish Hamas for last weeks pogromic raids, but the level of punishment required to neutralize them is not known. Recall that Hamas's charter demands not just an independent Palestinian state but the "eradication" of Israel and the establishment of fundamentalist Sharia law. To many people that and recent events mean genocide, no metaphor necessary.

Israel talks about eradicating Hamas, not Palestinians. How to do it?

Hamas, of course, could return the hostages right now, no strings attached. (Taking hostages, like singling out civilians for rape and murder, is a recognized war crime.) It could renounce the genocidal clauses of its charter. It could order its soldiers to stand down or even disband its military. It could install leaders ready to negotiate the "two-state solution." In other words, it could surrender right now and dissolve itself.

It hasn't, of course, and won't, even though that would save thousands of lives, promote peace, and Palestinians in Gaza would be better off than they are now.

Or Israel could sit tight and wait for the next round of raids and rain of 5,000 rockets (by Hamas's own count). That would save lives in the very short run and do nothing else - except convince Israelis that their government doesn't care if they're fair game and persuade Iran and others that Israel is too weak and disorganized to go head-to-head.

Unfortunately the civilians involved are compelled to play the hands history dealt them.

According to the proverb, "When the buffaloes fight, the ants are trampled."