On November 14, Israel killed Hamas' military chief Ahmad al-Jabari in a targeted assassination. Since then, violence between Israel and Gaza has erupted, leaving over one hundred Palestinians and three Israelis dead.
The ongoing battle is not just a military one however, as both sides have taken to engaging in a war of propaganda online. Updates from the Israeli side can be found at @IDFSpokesPerson which is the "Official Israel Defense Forces Twitter." The military wing of Hamas can also be found on Twitter at @AlqassamBrigade.
The rhetoric between the two sides has been tense, and some of the comments put across by average civilians in social media and the press alike have been extremely disturbing. Yet the most troubling comments have come from elected officials and prominent civilians.
Here are five Israeli quotes that you will truly wish were fabricated.
"When I see Palestinian citizens escaping into Sinai, the way Lebanese citizens escape toward Beirut when there is a round of fire against Israel -- we will then know that the deterrence has been achieved."
Israel Katz, Israel's Transport Minister, in the Orthodox Hebrew website B'Hadrei Haredim on November 11. Katz's mention of Lebanese citizens escaping refers to an Israeli attack on Lebanon in 2006 which displaced close to a million Lebanese citizens, and killed over 1,300.
"There are no innocents in Gaza, don't let any diplomats who want to look good in the world endanger your lives -- mow them down!"
Michael Ben-Ari as quoted in the Israeli newspaper Hakol HaYehudi. Ben-Ari is a member of the Knesset (Israel's legislative body). This quote comes after numerous innocent children have been killed in Gaza thus far, including the eleven month old son of Palestinian BBC employee Jihad al-Masharawi.
"The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages, only then will Israel be calm for the next 40 years."
Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai on Israel's military operation in Gaza.
"We need to flatten entire neighborhoods in Gaza. Flatten all of Gaza. The Americans didn't stop with Hiroshima -- the Japanese weren't surrendering fast enough, so they hit Nagasaki, too. There should be no electricity in Gaza, no gasoline or moving vehicles, nothing."
Gilad Sharon (son of the former Israeli Prime minister Ariel Sharon) in an op-ed article published in the Jerusalem Post on November 18.
"We obviously knew there were journalists in the building, so we did not attack other floors in the building. But my advice to journalists visiting Gaza is to stay away from any Hamas position, site or post for their own safety."
Avital Leibovich, an Israeli Army Spokesperson, on November 19. Leibovich is referring to Israel's choice to target two buildings in Gaza City, which according to the human rights organization Adalah, "housed both local Arab and international media agencies such as Al Arabiya, Al Quds TV, Sky News, France 24, and Russia TV." Eight journalists were injured in the attack, including an Khader al-Zahhar who had his right leg blown off from the explosion.