Explosions Seen over Gaza in "Saddest Photo Yet" from Space

[Rhykker]

Explosions Seen over Gaza in "Saddest Photo Yet" from Space

An astronaut in the International Space Station took a photo of Gaza and Israel. Explosions and rocket fire can be seen even from space.

Astronaut Alexander Gerst tweeted a nighttime photo of the war zone in the Gaza-Israel conflict. Amid the snaking street lights coalescing into bright city centers can be seen the flashes of rocket fire and explosions.

"My saddest photo yet," writes Gerst. "From the ISS, we can actually see explosions and rockets flying over Gaza & Israel."

Gerst has been living and working aboard the International Space Station for almost two months and has been regularly tweeting photographs taken in orbit of our planet. Previously featured in his images have been Mt. Etna, the pyramids of Egypt, Utah's Great Salt Lake, and other wondrous sights. His photo of the Gaza-Israel area serves as a grim reminder of the violence humanity brings to the world.

Over 600 people have died in the conflict in the two weeks since Operation Protective Edge began, a quarter of which have been children. Almost 5000 people have been wounded. The Gaza-Israel conflict began in 2006.

Born in Germany, Gerst was selected as an astronaut in 2009 by the European Space Agency. He is scheduled to return to Earth from his first spaceflight in November 2014.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald [http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/astronaut-alexander-gerst-shows-gaza-war-in-saddest-photo-from-space-20140724-zwbfu.html]

Permalink

 

[LysanderNemoinis]

The only thing I can think of is that maybe if the terrorist group Hamas didn't keep surrounding themselves and their installations with children for propaganda photo ops, then maybe those children would still be alive.

 

[SacremPyrobolum]

Cue Mad World

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

The only thing I can think of is that maybe if the terrorist group Hamas didn't keep surrounding themselves and their installations with children for propaganda photo ops, then maybe those children would still be alive.

Assuming that is true, which it almost definitely is, it doesn't stop the Israeli military from from firing on them anyway.

As has been the case with just about every war in history, both sides have blood on their hands and neither is the good side.

 

[Britpoint]

The only thing I can think of is that maybe if the terrorist group Hamas didn't keep surrounding themselves and their installations with children for propaganda photo ops, then maybe those children would still be alive.

Assuming that is true, which it almost definitely is, it doesn't stop the Israeli military from from firing on them anyway.

As has been the case with just about every war in history, both sides have blood on their hands and neither is the good side.

So very true. As Bertrand Russell said, war doesn't determine who is right, only who is left.

What a harrowing photo

 

[Made in China]

Guys, view the full photo on the Sydney Morning Herald. It's actually depicting a visually quite Gaza strip and a pretty "flaming" Israel - the entirety of it, even the parts in the West Bank which aren't involved in the conflict.
Conclusion - those aren't explosion, but urban lights. The explosions are too small and aren't simultaneous so they can barely be seen in standard photography.
It's also worth noting that most of the Gaza strip doesn't have electricity due to Hamas firing a rocket which hit a major electricity transformer which supplied it power from Israel. Israel wasn't able to fix the problem due to it being in a high danger zone.

BTW, I'm an Israeli - that's why I know the geography that well. The little bay on the top is the Gulf of Haifa, for a quick reference.

 

[Rhykker]

Guys, view the full photo on the Sydney Morning Herald. It's actually depicting a visually quite Gaza strip and a pretty "flaming" Israel - the entirety of it, even the parts in the West Bank which aren't involved in the conflict.
Conclusion - those aren't explosion, but urban lights. The explosions are too small and aren't simultaneous so they can barely be seen in standard photography.
It's also worth noting that most of the Gaza strip doesn't have electricity due to Hamas firing a rocket which hit a major electricity transformer which supplied it power from Israel. Israel wasn't able to fix the problem due to it being in a high danger zone.

BTW, I'm an Israeli - that's why I know the geography that well. The little bay on the top is the Gulf of Haifa, for a quick reference.

Most of the lights in the picture are normal city lights, yes. But the astronaut who took the photo said he was seeing explosions, and I trust that he knows what he's saying. He must have been seeing short-lived flashes. It's tough to say which of those may be seen in the photo, but I see at least one light pattern that looks like the shape of an explosion.

 

[Remus]

Guys, view the full photo on the Sydney Morning Herald. It's actually depicting a visually quite Gaza strip and a pretty "flaming" Israel - the entirety of it, even the parts in the West Bank which aren't involved in the conflict.
Conclusion - those aren't explosion, but urban lights. The explosions are too small and aren't simultaneous so they can barely be seen in standard photography.
It's also worth noting that most of the Gaza strip doesn't have electricity due to Hamas firing a rocket which hit a major electricity transformer which supplied it power from Israel. Israel wasn't able to fix the problem due to it being in a high danger zone.

BTW, I'm an Israeli - that's why I know the geography that well. The little bay on the top is the Gulf of Haifa, for a quick reference.

There's at least one puff of smoke along the northern edge that is in fact an explosion. You can see the fire reflected off the smoke in halo, like a thundercloud with lightning firing off within, except it's orange.

 

[LysanderNemoinis]

The only thing I can think of is that maybe if the terrorist group Hamas didn't keep surrounding themselves and their installations with children for propaganda photo ops, then maybe those children would still be alive.

Assuming that is true, which it almost definitely is, it doesn't stop the Israeli military from from firing on them anyway.

As has been the case with just about every war in history, both sides have blood on their hands and neither is the good side.

Yeah...I don't agree. At all. What's Israel supposed to do, not fight back at all? Just let Hamas (and every one of Israel's immediate neighbors) just wipe them out? How can Israel avoid civilian casualties when Hamas specifically engineers situations to make that the outcome? Israel's military doesn't want to hurt civilians, they're not chomping at the bit to kill people. They're trying to defend themselves against an enemy that knows that a lot of people (including the vast majority who will comment on this story) will buy their propaganda and claim moral equivalency or just shrug and move on, when we should all be supporting Israel at least with moral support so they actually feel like the entire world doesn't hate them.

 

[Cecilo]

The only thing I can think of is that maybe if the terrorist group Hamas didn't keep surrounding themselves and their installations with children for propaganda photo ops, then maybe those children would still be alive.

Assuming that is true, which it almost definitely is, it doesn't stop the Israeli military from from firing on them anyway.

As has been the case with just about every war in history, both sides have blood on their hands and neither is the good side.

Yeah...I don't agree. At all. What's Israel supposed to do, not fight back at all? Just let Hamas (and every one of Israel's immediate neighbors) just wipe them out? How can Israel avoid civilian casualties when Hamas specifically engineers situations to make that the outcome? Israel's military doesn't want to hurt civilians, they're not chomping at the bit to kill people. They're trying to defend themselves against an enemy that knows that a lot of people (including the vast majority who will comment on this story) will buy their propaganda and claim moral equivalency or just shrug and move on, when we should all be supporting Israel at least with moral support so they actually feel like the entire world doesn't hate them.

The Israelis could I dunno. Leave the land they have no claim to and are on illegally I suppose. Then no one would be firing weapons at them. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli-occupied_territories

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

But according to the western media, it's only sad when Palestinians are doing the bombing.

God, such brainwashing and warmongering.

The Israelis could I dunno. Leave the land they have no claim to and are on illegally I suppose. Then no one would be firing weapons at them.

Unfortunately that isn't true. I think Israel should end the occupation, but that wouldn't stop Hamas. They will not rest until they destroy Israel or die trying. Too much bad blood and too little intelligence and enlightenment.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

The only thing I can think of is that maybe if the terrorist group Hamas didn't keep surrounding themselves and their installations with children for propaganda photo ops, then maybe those children would still be alive.

Assuming that is true, which it almost definitely is, it doesn't stop the Israeli military from from firing on them anyway.

As has been the case with just about every war in history, both sides have blood on their hands and neither is the good side.

Yeah...I don't agree. At all. What's Israel supposed to do, not fight back at all? Just let Hamas (and every one of Israel's immediate neighbors) just wipe them out? How can Israel avoid civilian casualties when Hamas specifically engineers situations to make that the outcome? Israel's military doesn't want to hurt civilians, they're not chomping at the bit to kill people. They're trying to defend themselves against an enemy that knows that a lot of people (including the vast majority who will comment on this story) will buy their propaganda and claim moral equivalency or just shrug and move on, when we should all be supporting Israel at least with moral support so they actually feel like the entire world doesn't hate them.

They could stop firing on UN-run shelters for a start...

<a href=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28468526>BBC News link

Both sides are guilty of killing civilians, and you saying that one side deserves our moral support whilst they continue to be as bad as the people they fight is just wrong.

 

[Wilco86]

The Israelis could I dunno. Leave the land they have no claim to and are on illegally I suppose. Then no one would be firing weapons at them.

Yep, that worked well even in the 1900-century - and even in the USA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_antisemitism_in_the_United_States#Early_Twentieth_Century
(No need to play the Nazi card!)

Also, the Arabs have tried to wipe Israel from the face of the Earth even before it started to spread, making attacks as early as 1948 and again in 1967 (the "Trololo War", as I like to call it).

But if we really want to observe who has the right to be there, we can start blaming the friggin' Romans:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_diaspora

Who doesn't know history is forced etc. etc...

 

[Ishigami]

Yea...I don't agree. At all. What's Israel supposed to do,

Leave the unrightfully occupied areas.

not fight back at all? Just let Hamas (and every one of Israel's immediate neighbors) just wipe them out?

No Israel has the right defend itself but there is a difference between being the victim and being the aggressor.
Israel started out as the victim no doubt about it but the situation changed when Israel did not release the occupied areas.
Israel is actively opposing the UN in this matter and the terrorists are quite frankly the desperate answer of Israel?s unrightfully occupation and in the UNs inability to do anything about it.

How can Israel avoid civilian casualties when Hamas specifically engineers situations to make that the outcome?

They just need to not shoot.

They're trying to defend themselves against an enemy that knows that a lot of people (including the vast majority who will comment on this story) will buy their propaganda and claim moral equivalency or just shrug and move on, when we should all be supporting Israel at least with moral support so they actually feel like the entire world doesn't hate them

? what? I certainly don?t approve of the Hamas shooting useless stuff at Israel but just like that I certainly do not support Israel?s claims to the occupied territories.
Those two thing are linked.
If Israel wants to be the good guys here then follow the UN ruling?

 

[CriticalMiss]

The only thing I can think of is that maybe if the terrorist group Hamas didn't keep surrounding themselves and their installations with children for propaganda photo ops, then maybe those children would still be alive.

Assuming that is true, which it almost definitely is, it doesn't stop the Israeli military from from firing on them anyway.

As has been the case with just about every war in history, both sides have blood on their hands and neither is the good side.

Yeah...I don't agree. At all. What's Israel supposed to do, not fight back at all? Just let Hamas (and every one of Israel's immediate neighbors) just wipe them out? How can Israel avoid civilian casualties when Hamas specifically engineers situations to make that the outcome? Israel's military doesn't want to hurt civilians, they're not chomping at the bit to kill people. They're trying to defend themselves against an enemy that knows that a lot of people (including the vast majority who will comment on this story) will buy their propaganda and claim moral equivalency or just shrug and move on, when we should all be supporting Israel at least with moral support so they actually feel like the entire world doesn't hate them.

If only Israel had some kind of multi-million dollar missile defence system... Nope, the only way to defend themselves is by bombing civilians who can't run away. You know, for peace.

 

[Craig Rigby]

muslims have way less claim to Israel and those territories, having invaded some time after mohammed died. the Jews have been that the 3000 years and there is historical evidence to prove that.

The two state solution occurred early in the 20th century when Jordan was split off, it was 75% of the British mandates mass and that wasn't good enough for them.

Israel has done everything it can to minimise casualties and if it was America bombing gaza a lot more people would have been killed. hamas launched over 6000 rockets before operation cast lead and the moment hamas was able to, they started all over again with even greater intensity. they are dedicated to the extermination of Israel, they deserve everything that is coming to them and 100 times more.

Israel does not teach its children to slaughter muslims even if it means committing suicide acts. they do not use ambulances as armoured personnel carriers or surround missile batteries with children.

Israel willingly left gaza as part of a peace agreement which gazans responded to by putting hamas in power, a group whose very charter calls for the extermination of israel. those territories are not occupied, they are disputed, there is a big difference.

There is no such land. Palestine is a term invented by the Zionists. There is no Palestine in the Bible. Our land was for hundreds of years a part of Syria.
Arab leader, Auni Bey Abdul-Hadi, 1937 Peel Commission

Such a creature as Palestine does not exist at all. This land is nothing but the southern portion of Greater Syria...
Ahmed Shukari. Founder of the PLO from the UN podium 1956

A country named 'Palestine' has never existed.
the late Syrian President, Hafez al-Assad,. 1987

 

[Cecilo]

The Israelis could I dunno. Leave the land they have no claim to and are on illegally I suppose. Then no one would be firing weapons at them.

Yep, that worked well even in the 1900-century - and even in the USA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_antisemitism_in_the_United_States#Early_Twentieth_Century
(No need to play the Nazi card!)

Also, the Arabs have tried to wipe Israel from the face of the Earth even before it started to spread, making attacks as early as 1948 and again in 1967 (the "Trololo War", as I like to call it).

But if we really want to observe who has the right to be there, we can start blaming the friggin' Romans:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_diaspora

Who doesn't know history is forced etc. etc...

Even if you want to try to blame it all on people hating the jewish people. At the moment they actually have a reason to hate the Jewish people. They are illegally ON THEIR LAND. The Gaza strip does not belong to Israel as determined by the United Nations and a previously signed pact.

If the Hamas still attack the people of Israel after that they lose their sympathy from me. But right now ya know, They have a legitimate reason to attack and hate Israel. They are occupying their homes and settling their land.

 

[Wilco86]

If only Israel had some kind of multi-million dollar missile defence system... Nope, the only way to defend themselves is by bombing civilians who can't run away. You know, for peace.

The defense systems have little use against short-range missile fire, as the system can't properly react to so small targets so quickly. If it could, we wouldn't have news about rockets hitting anywhere in Israel - they do hit, btw, but casualties have been small.

Also, I live next to oh-so-dear Russia, and I can say I wouldn't want them sending missiles against me almost every day even if we had something to block them. So I should just play this song?:

 

[AoGenius]

Perspective

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ongoing_military_conflicts

And if you don't like wikipedia, just google "list of ongoing wars" and see the results for yourself.

 

[Wilco86]

The Gaza strip does not belong to Israel as determined by the United Nations and a previously signed pact.

So the attacks against Israel were sanctioned by UN? Good to know...

Also, in 1967 Israel's counterattack made them capture wast areas of land next to Egypt - that they later gave back after Egypt ceased hostilities against Israel. Just a hint to the surrounding Arabs, but they won't learn...