Anderson, I am glad to see you doing field reporting. You’re the best at it! I am really looking forward to 360 tonite. Stay safe!

Cooper,
I knew you’d end up in Israel sooner or later. I figured you’d jump a plane and high-tail it over there! You just can’t stay out of the action can you!? Well I love it when you are in the field but just not in wars! So please be careful and stay safe…you and the whole crew. I’ll be praying for the safety of you all.

Hopefully you can get us some interviews with the bigwigs there and we can get a clearer look into this mess and what we need to do as a whole to stop it.

O…and don’t work too much, I know you love the excitement but get some rest!

Cindy…Ga.

Anderson, you better be carful. I can’t watch AC360 without you.

Can’t wait for the reports tonight – stay safe all.

Hi Anderson, thank you for being in the frontlines to keep us updated on this story. Will there ever be peace in the Middle East? Both sides have to want it before any change can be realized. I’m praying for your safety and swift return home. Take care,

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

Hi Anderson,
I visited that area right before the first intifada. It was scary then and you could feel the hostility on both sides. Israel now has something to prove or lose more credibility in the region. So does Hamas. Stay safe and I look forward to your reporting tonight. Can you find out if it is true that the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that journalists could be allowed into Gaza?

How can the killing of 4 Israeli citizens be justified by the killing of over 500 Palestinians. The UN needs to step in and stop this ethnic cleansing.

Every life lost is one life too many, no matter on what side of the border!

Anderson, it’s great of you to keep us informed, but please stay safe!!

Hey Anderson
Sitting here in my warm safe home watching pictures from Gaza makes my sure, how dangeros and sad the situation must be for the poeple in Gaza.I dont care who is right or wrong,because in this war both sides told and tell truth and lies.I am so sorry for that poeple and all i can do is to pray for ending this war.Anderson all my respect for doing this job, stay safe.

Hi Anderson,

Stay safe, it is hell down in Gaza Strip, Ramattan Crew is documenting what is going inside Gaza and the main hospital of Gaza city, it is terrifying what is going, and the majority of victims are children and women, even farmers were killed by Israeli soldiers and they have nothing to do with Hamas???Ambulances were attacked and victims are dying and nobody helping them to reach hospital, and actually there is no place for them in hospital….it is war crime, it is genocide by all means….

Tack a good care of yourself.

I think the logo for the program should be corrected – it’s abouts IDF vs. terrorists, not tanks vs. old ladies…

HAMAS launced about 4000 rockets targeting speciafically Israeli civilians since 2001, IDF never targeted civilians. Failure to acknowledge that is a moral flaw. When Putin in 1999 bombed Grozni for hours with thousands civilians killed nobody reacted, why now everybody is agaisnt Israel now?

I regret both israeli and Gaza civilian causulties., howevere HMAS should be called terrorists – that’s who they are…

Love you reporting Anderson I’ve been watching you since your days on Channel 1. I can’t wait till AC360 tonight I know you will have the most in depth coverage tonight.

Just don’t forget to report the WHOLE story, not just about the Palestinian side. How about why there’s strikes in Gaza in the first place? Or how about how many of the Palestinian deaths are that of militants?

It’s important that people know that militants are “technically” civilians when these numbers are released. I know you never skew the facts for us Anderson!

Anderson stay safe and also please report the truth unlike other reporters in the region.

Anderson, ask the people why each supports their side?

Hope you get into Gaza but you come back in one piece. Please report what is really going on in Gaza and the human tragedy that is occuring there. Our news is so one sided and all we are getting is from the Israel government spokepersons and military.

Anderson,

Seeing you are in Israel covering the conflict reminds me of your coverage of the conflicts in Europe which launched your TV career, if I am not mistaken. I am a trained print journalist who hasn’t covered war though, and know how difficult and dangerous places like that can be. be careful.

I know it’s not a groundbreaking observation, but it’s funny how Hamas/Palestinians complain about the ‘violence’ from the Israelis when they conveniently forget who started firing rockets into Israel in the first place. You reap what you sow—the hypocrisy is ridiculously obvious.

Stay safe Anderson! (and the crew, of course!)

Stay safe Anderson!

Reporters should be granted entrance into Gaza. Israel shouldn’t get the final say about that- without objective eyes and ears in Gaza, we only have Israel to rely on for information. One side of the story is useless!

Stay safe whatever you manage to go, 360 crew and Anderson.

Mr. Cooper,

Being unbiased must be extremely difficult. The Middle East has been a powder keg prior to 1948. Having always looked at two sides to a story it has finally become clear how Hamas has a total disregard for human life. The Palestinean’s as well as Israeli’s lives mean nothing to Hamas. Only Hamas’s objective of dominance appears important. What a shame all these innocent lives must be lost. For the first time I hope Israel eliminates the threat once and for all and that peace comes to the Palestineans and Israeli’s. Respectfully Submitted, Michael Garman

Anderson, I am never surprised to hear that you’re close to the action. Please stay safe! We love AC360 and can’t wait to hear more about the conflict through your perspective.

Anderson,

You should do reporting from Gaza itself in order to show the real tragedy of the Palestinian people, and the genocide that they are subjected to.

Make sure that you are balanced in your reports, and not presentingthem from the Israeli perspective only.

Hi Anderson,
We’re with you there in spirit – thank you for everything that you do. We appreciate all your hard work reporting on all these issues and this on-going war. It seems that this year is starting off on a bad foot – let’s hope it will get better soon. As for now, let’s hang in there, we’re all in this thing together. Stay safe….we’re thinking about you.

Now the Israelis legitimize the killing of their people? What legitimized it until the ground war? Where were the diplomatic efforts and outrage as thousands of rockets rained down on Israeli civilians for the past seven years?

Anderson,

You and your crew stay safe. Look forward to your reporting.

-E

You want into Gaza? How about a HALO jump with a couple of crew members? Undoubtedly, those in Gaza would welcome a reporter of your caliber reporting the devastation from within the country. I’d like to see Israel stop you… what are they going to do? Catch you in the air?

AC — it seems the media is overlooking the siege that Israel has imposed upon Gaza. Can you go into this on your show? No one talks about it. Every representative from Israel presents a one-sided view that rockets must stop but why don’t they mention the fact they [Israel] have been holding Gaza hostage in inhumane conditions for a long time. Show the other side.

Anderson,
You and your crew be careful over there. Give us an honest view into the situation in Israel and Gaza. We need to know more about the behind the scenes negotiaions that are taking place and who is involved in them
thank you.

Good to see you on the front lines. Will you be coordinating the efforts of the other CNN folks there? Don’t venture into gaza prematurely. Stay safe!!!!!!

Why won’t Israel let reporters in? That doesn’t seem right. What don’t they want reported?

Dear Anderson,

I realize that this is a dangerous situation for you and all of the other journalists on the Gaza border, but it is great to see you reporting from the field again on an important story!

I caught yours and Christiane’s very informative reports this morning on “American Morning.” You seem to be in your element once again.

I am glad you and Christiane gave a little background on what has led to this conflict. I have not taken sides, but I don’t think many people realize that although Israel turned over the Gaza strip to the Palestinians in 2005 it has been blockaded by the International Community since then. Of course there must be a diplomatic solution, but it must include Hamas as the elected representative body.

Thank you so much for your reports this morning and for your very informative blog this afternoon.

Stay safe,
Jo Ann
North Royalton, Ohio

AC- Be careful!!!

Coop,
I look forward to hearing your report tonight. You provide a real eye opening perspective on things when you are out in the field reporting. Stay safe and come home in one piece.

Anderson,

In my review and research of the middle east, the hamas have taken steps to integrate their groups within communities so that when Israel does strike them, the Hamas can claim that Israel is targeting civilians, thus legitimizing their own strikes against Israeli citizens. is there any way you can confirm or research this on the ground and let us know this is what they are doing?

Many thanks, Shelby

I hope you are allowed to see the havoc unleashed by Israel. Yesterday I saw a report on ARY TV of an Israeli officer who mentioned that Israel Army had been preparing for at least a year for this attack. They had built a site within Israel for practicing the invasion.

It is obvious Israel wanted to attach the west bank and has used the media and others to provide misinformation.

I do hope you can show the suffering of the people of west bank .

Thanks

Dave S, Tinley Park.
Who started it? It depends on how far back you go 1948, 1967, Israel wanted a new land after the holocaust, so they kicked the Palestinians out of their homes, forced them to live in refugee camps, now they cut off food, fuel, medical supplies (all as “defensive” moves), then wonder why the Palestinians are upset, but that sort of argument will never lead to peace.
Israel needs to recognize the Palestinian’s right to exist. Until then, there will not be peace.

Anderson,

Take care…this would be a good time for the UN to step in.

Coop,

Good to see you on the battlefield again. Reminds me of the Channel 1 days!!

Douglas

AC, Stay safe over there. We appreciate the info back home. I have been watching you since I was a young boy on “Channel 1″ at school! My prayers are with you!

Dear Anderson: You are the best at what you do, and I hope you stay safe on this journey. I have just 2 points to make:

1. Why doesn’t anyone ask Hamas how many innocent Israeli’s are/were killed by their cowardly suicide bombings? There was no discrimination by Hamas in these cases.

2. If there are civilian casualties in Gaza, it is because they hide behind the skirts of the women and children. That is the same reason they cover their faces while killing, they are cowards till the end!

Be careful and I know you will be fair!!

Neither side is innocent in this unfortunate conflict. Israel needs to open up more access to trade and human services for the Palestinians. Hamas needs to stop being ridiculous with the rockets and other terrorism period.

Anderson, Happy New Year. Why wont they let you get any closer?
Be Safe,

Hope you keep safe. I’d be intersted in the bigger picture in terms of perspective and unbiased reporting. How long have the rockets rained down in Israel, what have other governments done when they were subject to similar threats. I know its easy to report on the suffering that Hamas is bringing on their own people but would like to hear aboutthe suffering they are brigning on the Israelis as well.

Hi Anderson, thanks for going to Israel/Gaza!

It’s outrageous that Israel is inhibiting the (so-called free-) press, by not letting journalists go into Gaza. I thought the Associated Press won their lawsuit against Israel? Looks to me like Israel is very concerned about not letting those horrific images from Gaza reach the eyes of the watching world.

Sucks that you are stuck on a pretty hill top with a prime view of the battle, but hopefully you will be able to get into Gaza soon…and, well, I guess it is nice to know you and your team are somewhat safe on the hill for now.

Anderson,
We are counting on you to help us better understand this conflict so that we can help advocated for a solution that is fair and sustainable. Thanks for the coverage – take good care of yourself while your at it!

Anderson,
Keep your head down! Please explain why Hamas would continue to lob rockets into Israel knowing that the Israelis would keep the border sealed and eventually respond with an invasion. Were they inviting and invasion, hoping that the world would come to their aid?

It seems to me that if you pull the tail of the tiger you better have a plan to deal with its teeth.

Good to see you are ove rthere reporting. However people fail to realize that Israel was provoked by terrorists. Our government would react the same way if our country and people under attack. I feel bad for the people of Gaza who are the real victims. However many knew having Hamas in control would lead to this. Hamas wants this war. No one forget that!!

hi i just want to know 1 thing .where is the human wisdom now ? what we see now is simply a genocide all that hate extremly and loudly expressed by the israelians troops :air sea and ground assault hiting the gaza and it’s clear that israel will not avoid civilians gasualties . the americans and the rest of the western countries just watching and enjoying the show and talking about a possible sease fire . i have only one question who will respect a world rules and who is suposed to protect human lifes . americans and thw western comunity know when and how to cry victims 9/11 and mumbai katrina but the arabic blood seem to be realy inhuman ….. well and you are expecting tolerence and respect from others ?

samir khammar morocco

anderson,
why dont you get the figures of the numbers of southern israelis who
have been sent to hospital – from wounds or shell shock — count also the PTSD victims…then you will see that the numbers of israelis equal
the numbers of palestinean victims of trauma from this ghastly situation.
cant wait for your report tonight.
stay safe….
beth

AC, I am big fan of yours, you are the best. Plz stay safe and look forward to watching your program. I wish you and your crew good luck.

BTW, I got a kick out of the statement “you see blast before you hear them.”. That is 2nd grade Science. Light travels lot faster than sound

Hey anderson,

Be careful over there mate! Stay safe

If Hamas fires rockets into Israel why can’t Israel strike back? As I recall Hamas was the one that fired first killing Israelis. Now the whole world is in uproar again that Israel is defending itself. Yeah only 4 Israelis were killed (so the news reports) but why did Hamas have to start their nonsense again. They know what the result will be. Why don’t they take the high road and try to come to some sort of agreement so that all the civilians being affected can live their lives without this rediculousness.

One thing is for certain this war they have will never end when it does it will be because there arent anymore people to kill on either side, its very sad.

Hi Anderson

I pray that you and your crew stay safe while reporting over there. I am glad to see you back out in the field, keeping us updated on whats going on in Gaza. You are truely my idol. I have the highest respect for your honesty and reporting skills.. I am studying to be a jouranalist and pray that I will be as dedicated as you.

Nikkie ( Texas)

Anderson,

I look forward to your upcoming reports. I hope you and the crew stay as safe as you can while you bring us the news.

Thanks so much!

I hope you are able to do your job, which is to report the facts and nothing else.

The journalist’s bias and views should never be injected into their reporting. It seems that the media forgets that.

The fighting and tragedy rests in the inability of the Palestinian people to accept a Jewish state and their insistence on propping up a militaristic government that fails to provide even the most basic services to its citizenry. Israel should wipe Hamas from Gaza and install order until this happens there will never be peace.

Anderson, I urge you to try to present the Gazans side….and try to show coverage of the hundreds, if not thousands, of Palestinians seeking refuge and ducking missles and gunfire. There have been over 550 Palestinian tragedies and the American public needs to see what is being done. There is a reason why Israel is not allowing media into the area…it’s not for your safety, but to protect their image. They don’t want to be exposed as the militant, ethnic-cleansing giant that they are.

Understand this Hamas and Hesbollah are proxies for other elements that wish to see Israel destroyed. We attacked Iraq with false intelligence and Information as Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11 and yet we went over there and destroyed a country.

Israel is fighging for it’s survival and right to exist and all of us condem them? You need to live in that part of the world like I have to understand what is going on there. These monster hide behind women and children and have no qualms about sending them to their deaths. A country has a right to protect it’s citizens and to exist. Is high time we all stay out of Israel’s business.

A journalist travels through time, as you report live from the Gaza today please stay safe with your colleage Amnapour, Anderson Cooper.

After 50 yrs. of trying to convince the Palestinians to accept peace, only to find them unreceptive, time and again, it is no wonder that Israel has run out of patience.

Please be careful!

Do you think the Israeli nation knew that this was coming or do you think they were as ready as can be?

What went wrong there?

It is great to see you back ”out there in the field” again,Anderson,it is you in your element,I believe…..

but,please,please,be careful,and stay safe..

Take care of yourself.

anne

Hey Anderson,
You do love some war action don’t you. I can’t believe the death of 4 Israelis justifies 500+Palestinians. Regardless of whether Hamas threw rockets or not at Israel, their is no justification for this. Their is ethnic cleansing going on and no one seems to notice.

Anderson watch you all the time…from Calgary Canada.

Reading all the comments it occurred to me, if you slap your neighbor, yes you are guilty. But does that give your neighbor the right to kill you and your family. Don’t get me wrong, I am not taking sides. This killing on both sides needs to stop, someone needs to intervene as soon as possible or the whole middle east will turn to chaos. And if that doesn’t bother you….how long will it take to trickle down to the west.

Anderson my friend, you are the only reliable resource to tell the facts in the middle east. Please stay safe.

Hi Anderson, Having watched the coverage of this conflict, I am left with little hope that there will ever be peace in the region. Is it reasonable to assume that Israel is more concerned with images of destruction of Gaza than your safety.?
See ya’ tonight. Take care.

“Gaza is dying, I imagine the sadness in the face of people without hope.”

Anderson, please show us the real Gaza, in some way, show us some hope. I read in a newspaper, the following headline: “Gaza, a war everyday.”
But I can not accept that. War can not be considered a everyday thing. We are seeing anyone die: innocent, civil and children. It should be very sorry you experience these things, and hiding the sadness, narrate these stories to viewers.

For us, that we are witnessing in our insurance couch, it is very interesting to see the embedded journalism, which provides a greater proximity to the battlefield.
I am waiting AC360, but with much concern to you and your entire team.

Take care! May God protect you. May God protect all in Gaza!

“How can the killing of 4 Israeli citizens be justified by the killing of over 500 Palestinians. The UN needs to step in and stop this ethnic cleansing.” -Marsha

So, what would have been better? Should the Israelis just kill 4 random Palestinian civilians to make it even? What you do is get rid of the problem. You destroy Hamas, which, unfortunately, is imbedded in Gaza. They are known to set up rocket sites in civilian area. Israel is targeting Hamas, and trying to minimalize civilian casualties, which Hamas doesn’t do. The residents of Gaza have been warned & told to leave before the strikes began; also Hamas doesn’t do that when they launch rockets. Egypt isn’t going to open it’s borders, and a majority of the Arab states aren’t going to do anything since Hamas is an Iranian proxy.

Anderson,

As expected you are in the thick of things. At least we have you there now to get the truth out. Make sure that we know the whole story. Take care and stay safe while reporting. Good journalists are so hard to find these days……

I have a friend with children in Gaza. I hope your reports will make it a little safer there for them. My heart breaks.

To Anthony
Apparently your knowledge in history is poor. Israel is not the one who is holding Gaza hostages in inhumane conditions. It was Hamas. Not only that Egyptians won’t let Gazans out through the southern Gaza/Sinai border either. Also don’t forget that Israel is Gaza’s largest supplier of humanitarian aid. Google and memorize the history.

“We are stuck on a hill overlooking the border, within sight of the battleground, but a world away.”

“impossible to get a sense of how the battle is going.”

Stuck on a Hillside? Impossible to get a sense of how things are going? Might as well come back to the States.

Anderson,

Can you please ask an official from Egypt or Israel ..why the humanitarian aid is not being allowed into Gaza? Thanks and please stay safe!

Thanks for the reportings Anderson.

It is really sad to see this escalating, but it was unavoidable. I really doubt this situation will ever improve as long as there is so much hate.

I am not sure what people expect the Israelis to do though. They waited for over a month and a half while Hamas shelled their civilians. They demanded the attacks stop. They didn’t so now there is no choice but to move in to defend their country.

I always see a lot of outrage and protests directed towards Israel when they retaliate. Where is this anger when Hamas is sending dozens of rockets into Israel on a daily basis? Where is the anger when Hamas hides their rockets in population centers and religious buildings?

The situation in Gaza is utterly shocking. The Israeli writer and commentator Amos OZ once spoke of the need for understanding and compromise with all personal relationships making analogy for the situation with Palestine and his homeland of Israel. That was many years ago and it is a truly tragic beginning to 2009 that the situation is worse than ever with so many dead and injured. The need for discourse is more vital than ever and while it is difficult to be uncritical at the continued bombardment of the Gaza strip as an excuse for Israeli defence, surely we are now at a crossroads where blame from one side or the other will not make for any progress whatsoever. How are these actions a step in the right direction towards a peaceful solution.

To all of you who dare to call this a genocide!

We want nothing more than to live in peace and out of Gaza. Thats why our own people were uprooted 3 years ago! Since then Hamas sent 4000 rockets into our schools and homes!! Where we you then? Where was your cry for humanity?

Why didn’t you ask why the Gazans live in squaler while their leaders use your donated MILLIONS of dollars and Euros to buy weapons to kill our children???

We dropped leaflets, sent text messages and called beforehand in warnings to leave the area. Hamas USES its people and children. They are to blame them for the tragedy for hating our kids more than they love their own!

Dont be blinded by their propganda -think for yourselves.

Anderson,
Hi! It’s great to see your writing this afternoon.
I’ve been following web news reports of the incursion over the weekend–during the time I saw you were traveling to Israel. It seems the battle will continue indefinitely. I pray you remain safe.
I’m looking forward to your reporting and live broadcast tonight.

Anderson,

Why you and most of CNN crew only describe sufferings of Palestinians without mentioning any fatalities of Israel citizens who have been living under rocket attacks for the last 7 or 8 years?

Why no one in CNN mentions that Israel offense started after 90 rockets felt on the heads on Israel population just a few days after peace agreement expired?

Why blame for all those poor Palestinian children is put on the shoulders for IDF and not of those who caused this bloodshed?

Hamas (and palestiian people who supported it) wanted a war? They got it and should enjoy the consequences of it.

Agree with previous poster Dan, Andy. Please report if the numbers of Palastinians are casualties for being unlucky enough to be there, or are actually fighters.

Not taking sides, as killing is killing regardless of numbers.

Love your work, bud!

Some of the comments on this issue drive me crazy. 1. Please let me know what it is Israel could do to stop the terrorist acts from occurring within its borders–and by the way, how many rockets would be launched from Canadian terrorists into the US before we took military action? 2. One of the commenters says that any diplomatic solution must include “Hamas as the elected representative body”. This poster’s use of the term “diplomatic solution” along with the words “Hamas as the elected representative body” reveals a complete lack of understanding of what is going on in Israel.

Why is it that Israel is the only country in the world whose legitimacy is constantly questioned because of what happened in the late 1940s leading to 1948? Why can’t Israel just be allowed to prosper and the rest of the world move on (and tell all others to move on)? I think most objective observors know the reason.

There will never be peace in the Middle East, as long as governments continue to war against each other.

Actually, it is written in the Old Testament that Israel will not know peace.
Sadly.

If 400 missle were to rain down on US territory in a single week from anyone or anywhere there would be no outcry for the aggressors when we iradicated the terrorist organization to the extent that Israel regrettably feel they must. History has proven that Hamas and Hezbollah have always been the ones to end cease fires in the region.

If Mexico started shooting rockets with warheads on them into the US, are we supposed to just sit there and ignore it? Israel has ignored this long enough! This is why people should have to take an IQ test to be allowed to vote!

Anderson,

From the New Years Eve show with Kathy Griffin to the fighting in Gaza – worlds apart. Its seems to me the Israelis’ are using sledge hammer to kill a fly. I don’t think this will ever end – the hatred on both sides runs too deep. What will it take for both (Israel and Palestine) to co exist? Escalating the conflict won’t work – it never has…
Examining where both sides are right and wrong would be helpful..

God’s speed…

Anderson you better come back in one piece! We need you to keep our govt. in check, even if BushCo is out!

As much as I dislike Hamas and how they ruined the livlihoods of their own people for some nonsense ideaology, I think the higher ups of the Isreali military know something about this situation they don’t want the world to see. Don’t let this turn into a second-generation genocide!

Stay safe!!

It always amazes me how Hamas announces that they are not going to extend the cease fire, starts firing rockets in to Israel, and when Israel fires back, people cry genocide. If your neighbor kept shooting bullets in to your home, but rarely hit any of your children (which they are targeting), would you fight back? Also, people claim Israel is commiting genocide against the Palestineans, when we see many pictures of israel firing rubber bullets at palestineans that are throwing grenades at them. Someone should let them know that complete genocide will take a long time with rubber bullets. Its not genocide, and they are doing everything they can to minimize civilian casualties. Also, nobody is killing the Palestenians living and working in Israel, except for Hamas. I wish there were peace in the region, but until Hamas is eliminated, there never will be. Radical anything usually leads to problems for everyone!

Anderson,
I am glad you are there reporting the situation, maybe the world will get a better view of the whole situation. I don’t know how many people thta watch your show or comment here have ever been to Israel, Gazza, the West Bank or Egypt. I have more then once. What people fail to see is that the people living outside Gaza and the West Bank in other parts of Israel are not just Jews. They are from every faith conceived. They all live in fear day in and day out. until you are sitting at the wailing wall on a friday evening and all of a sudden sirens come out of nowhere and the evacuate the area because someone has found a unclaimed bag that could be a bomb ready to kill hundreds of people then these people can’t comment. I have been there, i have lived this fear. I was 10 feet away from that bag that could have killed me as a 16 yr old american kid going to school. This is how thye all live. So when you feel bad about the people of Gaza, remember they voted in these terrorists of Hamas, and now they have buyers remorse. Hamas will kill their own just as easily as they will kill a jew, christian, buddist, greek orthodox, etc. last thing, remember this Israel is the home of the jews but is not made up of just jews. israel didn’t pick this fight, they are defending their homes. egypt doesn’t even want the people of Gaza, because they know they will be getting the scurge of the earth Hamas along with it. When is the UN and the rest of the world going to wake up and say wait a second, Israel has been getting attacked by one country or extremist group none stop since 1948. What would we do if Canada or Mexico, just started launching missiles over the border, would we defend ourselves and counter attach or jsut wait until the rest of the world says it was okay. Hell, we attached another country half way around the world unprovoked on the thought we might be attached someday. irael gets attached every day. if you kick a dog long enough he will eventually turn around and bite back. And you wouldn’t blame him!!!!!!!!!!!

Anderson,

First of all, you and your crew stay safe…

Will the unbiased Cooper reporting show the real conflict between Israel and Hamas. Get to the truth and find out why the Palestineans are hostage to Hamas and Israel which is secondary to the idealogical campaign happening in the Gaza Strip. Its more than just rockets and bombs going off!

Anderson, I envy you. Half the messages on this board are about you from your fans rather than the war!

After seeing you wrestle with great white sharks recently, I am confident that no matter how dangerous the situation, you will be OK. As for the conflict you are currently covering… how about segment on the ridiculousness of the genocide and holocaust comparisons?

At one point, the definition of genocide changed from being about the murder/cleansing of millions of people (a significant proportion of Jews who were peaceful in Europe) to the death of 500, mostly militants (confirmed as true by all sides!) that celebrate death and promise destruction to…. well, the Jews. Its amazing how things don’t change!

Stay safe, and keep them honest!

I think it’s pretty hypocritical of us to condemn Israel after we illegally invaded the sovereign nation of Iraq, a nation that presented NO national security threat to our country. Does anyone care to check the latest number of Iraqi civilian casualties? So don’t give me this garbage about how inhumane Israel is as it invades Gaza and tries to wipe out Hamas.

Any group that would hide behind civilians is cowardly and beneath contempt. If Israel can destroy them once and for all, so much better for them and the Palestinians.

No people have suffered more than the Jewish people. The state of Israel was founded on the bodies of six million people exterminated in the Holocaust. They know that the world has never given a damn about the Jews. They know about the Warsaw ghetto uprising, in which half-starved Jews held off the mightly Nazi war machine for a month, while the world watched and did nothing. They know that no nation would take in Jews fleeing Nazi Germany. They know that the allies were aware of the concentration camps, but felt that the priority was winning the war.

So don’t lecture the Israelis about what it means to have civilian casualties. No people have ever suffered as much or lost more people.

keep safe anderson cooper. this so reminds me of the american indians trying to protect thier lands so many moons ago. ethnic cleansing? it was attempted way back when but not successful. we are still today a proud nation within many nations. I hope and pray that palestians will at least have land to call their home but of course without all the lives lost and bloodshed on both sides.

Thanks for reporting on the phenomenon that is the speed of sound.

Israel is just as much a terrorist group as hamas.

every year america provides billions of dollars of aid to israel. this money is used to further oppress a people who have lost their freedom, property and dignity. America,s unbridled support causes one billion muslims to hate us. my question is why is there not a single american politician willing to question our unbridles support of israel. Is the pro israel lobby really that strong. Why is America the only country in the world which stands behind Israel no matter what they do
Remember the Liberty

Anderson,
Please give us both sides of the story. We know we can get Fair reporting from you

Thanks

I am glad to see the Israeli’s doing what it takes to get this situation under control and hopefully wipe out hamas once and for all …. Are hamas civilians being targeted?? Probably not, but they (hamas) are targeting Jewish civilians by firing their rockets at schools, markets etc. in Israel. these people do not understand peace … so cut the jews loose and let them reoccupy Gaza, to disengage from there was a mistake to begin with!!!! If the palestinians want to self govern themselves, the first thing they should do is be self sufficient. Israel has to supply them with Fuel, foodetc, they work in ISRAEL …. It shouldnt be up to the jewish state to supply these people with their needs. Dont forget that HAMAS is considered a TERRORIST organization by the USA and also Israel. These people celebrated the events on 9-11 so i for one feel no empathy twords them.

The Hamas leadership talk the talk but when it comes to walking the walk, they are hiding underground. Look at the palestinian border guards who fled the checkpoint with egypt , and by doing so, slowed down the supplies from egypt into gaza.

Hope you keep Safe… you are the best ever… just knew you would be there soon…

Where was the world’s condemnation when HAMAS cotinued to reign down thousands of rockets on Israelis? Where was the world’s concern when HAMAS decided to break the truce? Why does HAMAS hide behind the skirts of women to fire their rockets? How can you justify HAMAS’ position to destroy Israel? Death on either side is tragic. HAMAS is a terrorist organization that uses its people for political gain–regardless of the cost.

Stay safe Anderson and keep them honest.

why don’t they mention the fact they [Israel] have been holding Gaza hostage in inhumane conditions for a long time. Show the other side.
*********************************
gaza has a big border with egypt. how does israel hold them hostage?

when hamas learn to love their children more than war, thats when things will change

Seems to me alot of you forget, Hamas has Targeted Isreal, not the other way around. Now that they are trying to end the bombings they keep taking, everyone is upset. There comes a certain point when enough is enough.
Isreal just wants to mind their one business and live in peace, without threats from terrorists.
Looks like Hammas bit off a bit more than they bargained for.

Stay safe and take good care of yourself

Please clear up the air about Hamas. They won in a democratic election so the people in Gaza must have VOTED for them. They must have been really desperate to vote for Hamas because from what I understand, Gaza’s borders were closed for a LONG time so no Humanitarian aid could get there. Its citizens were dying slowly.

Also the Hamas party built hospitals and schools for these people. Maybe if it neighbors and other countries solved the humanitarian aid problem and provide these people with basic infrastructure then they won’t be soo desperate to vote for a militant party like Hamas.

P.S. I am in NO way supporting Hamas but merely providing a root cause of this problem.

Anderson and crew – stay safe and keep us posted on what is going on. You report so well. Be watching tonight.

Anderson, There must be a better way! Israel has a right to respond to months of bombing from Hamas and Hamas must be stopped. But the innocent people of Gaza are trapped with no way to get out from under Israel’s bombs. They are literally fenced in and this makes me heart sick.

My brother had a pheasant farm in Nebraska. He raised pheasants in huge cages…the cages were so big the birds could fly inside of them. But eventually the pheasants were set free.

This is like allowing hunters to hunt pheasants inside the cage for heaven’s sake! Innocent people of Gaza are trapped in a small area and have no way out of this devastation. In the long run, so many individuals and families will be killed or injured; pain and resentment will grow even deeper, making peace even more unattainable. The international community must figure this out. Staff safe.

every year America provides billions of dollars of aid to israel. this money is used to further oppress a people who have lost their freedom, property and dignity. America,s unbridled support causes one billion muslims to hate us. my question is why is there not a single American politician willing to question our unbridled support of israel. Is the pro israel lobby really that strong. Why is America the only country in the world which stands behind Israel no matter what they do
Remember the Liberty

Anderson – You do a great job as always showing both sides without bias, but it does seem at times Media coverage (as a whole) sides with Isreal. They’re are hunderds of innocent women and children are being killed, similarly to what happened in Lebanon in 2006. It seems quite disproprinate whenever Isreal decides to take miliary action. I am looking forward to AC360 tonight to see the great job you in the field as always. Be safe!

Anderson the first rule of Guerilla warfare is there are no real rules, use caution and let them know your there to tell their side of the story once IDF lets you in.

Hey-Anderson Why don’t you set up your camp in Sderrot or Ashkelon.
Then you can see what it’s like to have missles intermittantly dropped on your camp and Kindergardens for the last three years of which the last six months was during a TRUCE!

I am glad to see you reporting on current events. I look forward to seeing your show. I fully support Israel’s offensive against the Islamic Hamas. I am sick and tired of the world sympathizing these Islamic terrorists when they have no remorse about the lives they have taken. As an Indian I wish India would have been on the offensive instead of waiting for action from US & UK.
Be safe in Israel.

Anderson & Crew

While I appreciate your drive and determination to be where the action is – I implore you to be very careful.

As the world falls apart bit by bit, unbearable loss can happen at a moments notice. The world can not afford to lose you or your fine crew.
Please stay as safe as possible.

Unfortunately; as 2009 begins to unravel I am sure that there will be other wars and crisis’s to report on.

Stay Safe & God Bless!

cam_canada;)

Anderson,
Please indicate what percentage of Gaza deaths were civilians, and what percentage of those was due to Hamas’ positioning of its offices and ammunition storage facilities in mosques and residential areas. Thank you.

Anderson – I’m with the government – stay far enough away to be able to report it – if anything happened to you – or the crew you are with – we who love to hear from you – would be feeling that pain, fear, and anger – that you mentioned.

I’ll be praying for everyone.

Take care of yourself.

Karen

O.K. ‘Coop’ …. I’ll make it short …… God Speed and I am sure we will all pray for your safety.

As I said before. Please try to take an honest look from the Palestinian perspective. The simple formula is:

(Israeli Military Ops killing innocent Palestinian civilians = more hatred for Israelis = More suicide bomber recruits) + Fact that Suicide bombers kill more Israeli’s than Hamas Rockets = Many more Israelis killed by many more suicide bombers than before …….. Get It ?

We keep hearing suggestions that the rockets sent by Hamas are in response to the blockade imposed by Israel. Queen Noor referred to it on Larry King’s show and various reporters have made fleeting reference to a blockade.

If this blockade played a role in initiating the violence, I think it needs to be explored in-depth and reported (in depth) on air. We viewers are missing the key element to this story – what happened to start the current wave of violence?

Please tell me that you are joking about the title of this article. Anyone with a brain knows that light travels faster than sound. What are the pre requisites for a journalism degree again?

I have always enjoyed your unbiased reporting, so please give us a good report tonight. Why isn’t Israel letting world renowned journalists such as yourself into the war zone? Could it be because they don’t want anyone to see the massacres they are conducting as we speak? No one can stop this bloodshed because Israel holds all the cards and will continue to hold them in the future,even after all the war crimes. All we can say is God help the people of Gaza.

Anderson,
Thank you for going over there and I know you’ll tell us what is really going on. Be safe and keep everyone honest.

Anderson,

Nice to see you get the opportunity to be there on the ground. I’m not sure if you can see the images they post on your blog but the towns and pillar of smoke remind me of just about any landscape you might see here in the US.

The questions I’d really like to hear answers to are

I understand the interest for Gaza to have its own police force but when is it EVER appropriate to have Katyusha rockets stored in your closet?

Perhaps I’m mistaken but I thought the agreement was that Israel would pull out of htis territorry if these people could effectively police themselves.

I’m not saying that I side with Israel, but then again I don’t know many Americans who’d be willing to sit idly by while neighboring towns launched missles into their back yards.

Anderson Cooper always reaches the battlefield. I still remember him as being one of the few international journalist/reports to cover the uprising in my homeland Haiti. I watch Cooper all the time. He is one of my favor Journalist.

Jean Jacob Jeudy
Fort Gordon, GA

Don’t you ever get tired of covering wars? Not that they’re not interesting, but for the purposes with which they”re faught under. I think Isreal is well within their rights to be clapping back at Hamas, hell you send rockets toward America its going to be met with diare consequences, I don’t see why people don’t get that. Moreover, I know Hamas is already suspect due to the events of last summer, it sucks war has to happen, but I thank you for getting us all the details possible as they become available.

Anderson, please show us the real Gaza, in some way, show us some hope.

For us, that we are witnessing in our insurance couch, it is very interesting to see the embedded journalism, which provides a greater proximity to the battlefield.
I am waiting AC360, but with much concern to you and your entire team.

Take care! May God protect you. May God protect all in Gaza!

hey Anderson, be careful! you don’t want a stray Hamas rocket to land up your ass! Israel should have crushed Hamas 7 years ago before Iran and Syria re-armed them with missiles paid for with international aid money that never made it to the people of Gaza that need it. you should speak with the thousands of Palestinians that work in Israel and appreciate the fact that they also have religious freedom. Hamas terrorists hide behind women and children to exploit their cause.
This should be the end of Hamas. Perhaps now Abbas will grow some testicles and take charge and get a peace agreement, like Egypt and Jordan has.

Anderson. Report the truth man! To those who see this as a war crime, where were your comments when Hamas was launching 170 missiles a day into Israel. Unguided missiles at that? At last Israel is trying to avoid civilian casualties, Hamas is seeking them. And their cowardice to hide behind the innocent is dumbfounding. You are either a warrior or not and Hamas definitely is not! Stay safe man and give a fair report! No more of this pitiful reporting seen elsewhere. To those of you who wnat an inside look. jpost.com or haaretz.com. Two Israeli newspapers. Al Jazeera is far to pro Hamas.

Good Luck Anderson….

There are a few reasons why Israel is not letting any reporters into Gaza.

First and foremost they don’t want any of you killed.

Second, the media acts as propogandists for the terrorists….time and time again, it appears that it may have caught up with you. There are enough people doctoring photos and such already there.

Anderson, why don’t you cover Sri Lanka about to destroy the Tamil Tigers once and for all. It will be a real victory in the war on terror, just like if Israel is able to destroy Hamas

Well, Mr AC, here is the golden rule: You are saved if you hear them!

Stay well.

Anderson,

I bet your high school science teacher is proud of you……knowing that light travels faster than sound.
I guess that’s why you are a TV journalist.

anderson,

the rockets zip through the air finding a target, blood soaks the streets coming from the bodies that line them, the shrieking screams of those who survived searching for or standing over their loved ones that have perished.

i must ask, what haunts you more, the sight of lives lost in blood soaked streets, or the screams of hearts breaking?

please be safe, and that goes for your crew as well.

Isreal wouldnt let him in because they dont want a reporter as popular as him killed. This war is no fault of Isreal and anyone who thinks it is doesnt have a clue. This is the same old sad story from the terrorist, who start a war, then they go and hide behind their own civilians of woman and children. Its time the people of the Gaza get rid of Hamas themselves.

Seeing pictures of dead children angers me to no end. Both sides should be ashamed of themselves. 3 billion a year in US foreign aid to Israel and over 400 million to Palestinians in 2008. As an American tax payer, I hope my taxes is not funding any of this nonsense.

Anderson!
I hope you will be able to get into the Gaza strip very very soon. The Israelis are hiding all the atrocities and butcheries from the world by preventing foreign correspondents from the battle areas themselves. The world needs to remember that it was Isreal that created Hamas in Gaza in 1988 to counter Arafat and Fatah, and now they cannot close this pandora’s box. The world needs to know that peace is a two-way street and nothing more, nothing less. Be safe, and I look forward to your reporting.

Don’t let the Israel tell you where you can and can’t go… They don’t control that territory, and the world needs to see the real side of the story, the civilians crisis. Besides, if Israel were to EVER kill a member of the press… I’m sure we’d let them know how we felt about it.

If Arab world really cared so much about the welfare of their Palestinians “brothers” – Instead of burning flags and causing more chaos in the world why can’t EGYPT open its borders and provide food, shelter, medicine, and all humanitarian aid to its Arab brothers !??
Why isn’t anyone in the media pointing this out?

Hey Anderson,

Thanks for checking in. Saw you this morning on American Morning with Christiane; can’t wait for tonight.

When I saw you with Christiane, what struck me was the serenity and peace reflected in the scene behind you. The field looked so beautiful in the late afternoon light.

Admittedly it caused me to stop and think about war. No matter when or where, it remains a quandary. Senseless killing to most,; yet for the ones waging it, defense, even revenge, perhaps.

It is hard to justify the taking innocent lives, I would not begin to try.Will time illuminate the right and wrong parties here? That remains to be seen. All that we can pray for it a swift end to the violence and a sense of peace in the region.

Be well, my friend. Thank you for educating us.

Anderson, please show us the real Gaza, in some way, show us some hope.

War can not be considered a everyday thing. We are seeing anyone die: innocent, civil and children. It should be very sorry you experience these things, and hiding the sadness, narrate these stories to viewers.

Take care!
May God protect you.
May God protect all in Gaza!

IDF never targeted civilians is a joke, what about Rachael Corrie 1979-2003 and Tom Hurndall 1981-2004, both were killed by IDF, we will never forget Rachael and Tom.

Hi Anderson,
I wondered last night when we would see you reporting live from this conflict. Amanpour and you keep my best friend, Marie, who lives and works in Germany, and myself, believing that we do have superb and intelligent news people reporting in the US. We must get aid in to Gaza. Does the UN have any power? I don’t even think you have to go into Gaza to realize the death and injury tolls. And, won’t this just inflame the enemies of truth about our world that Obama so desires to bring about. People everywhere want peace. Super small minorities want power. Be careful! I don’t like that Israel doesn’t want you in Gaza, but I sure want you safe! Know your adrenaline is rushing, What a ride!!
FW

How convenient we forget the history. The violence didn’t start by Hamas firing rockets at Israel, it started by Israeli occupying the Palestinian lands. By Israeli indiscriminate killing of men, women and children for too long. By a western conscience which is dead to Palestinian, supporting Israel like it supported South Africa for many many years before it had a change in heart.

The concept of a “proportional response” from Israel is nonsense. Do you think the Palestinians would be happier if Israel fired the same number of rockets into Gaza aimed at civilians? I don’t think so – the casualties would many times higher than what they are now.

To put it another way, if you saw a man breaking into your house and he had a knife, would you look for a knife of the same length so it would be a fair fight? I didn’t think so. You would get a gun if you had one and protect yourself.

Anderson, First of all be safe over there.
Second I am hoping that you will be FEAR and SQUARE. Cause I sick of hearing the one side of the story. Show the world what is really going on in GAZA.
Regards Metehan

Anderson Cooper you are the field reporter god!!!!!!!! Love your show and everything you stand for…please be safe

Anderson, I wasn’t surprise at all when I heard you went to Israel. Can’t wait to see 360 tonite! I LOVE seeing and hearing your point of view of the events going on. Keep safe, Please. I’ll be praying for you and all the people over there.

Good for Israel ! How long were they expected to let Hamas fire rockets at Israeli citizens without doing something? The people on here who complain about Israel should have been complaining about Hamas’ activities. Hamas is a terrorist organization who hides behind women and children. Israel is a country trying to protect their citizens. They have the moral high ground and their invasion into Gaza is not only justified but is past due.

Don, you took the words right out of my mouth, LOL.

I stand with Isreal. Good job, keep up the good work.

Guy’s

How do we know that Hamas is really who started this? It make no sense…We all know that since Hamas won the election 2 years ago every one was looking at removing Hamas from power in Gaza, after 2 years of Blockus that did not work…Now we see an invation..same plan as the Iraqi plan…Get the fact for US

P.S. BTW Anderson. I gebnuinely don’t mean you any harm but It would be nice to see you reporting from the Palestinian side of the fence. Being on the recieving end of Israeli agression might be quite eye opening for everyone. Watching American made weapons and amunition killing hundreds of innocents including women and children might just help put this whole thing in perspective.

Hamas is a terrorist group that has done nothing but bring more misery to the Palestinian people. Since Israel pulled out of Gaza in ‘05(taking kicking and screaming settlers with them) Hamas has run the place to the ground and put their own people in danger. They’ve been launching missile and rocket attacks against Israeli civilians since ‘07. Hamas puts rocket launchers in people’s back yards and invites the media to record the results when Israel retaliates. Forget the UN which already has ‘peacekeepers’ their and forget moral equivalence, Hamas must go.

Anderson & Crew

While I appreciate your drive and determination to be where the action is – I implore you to be very careful.

As the world falls apart bit by bit, unbearable loss can happen at a moments notice. The world can not afford to lose you or your fine crew.
Please stay as safe as possible.

Unfortunately; as 2009 begins to unravel I am sure that there will be other wars and crisis’s to report on.

Stay Safe & God Bless!

cam_canada

Hello Anderson, having read your book, I’m not surprised to see you over in Israel. It’s a sorry situation there, but I know that you and your crew will bring an informed and unbiased view to the rest of us. Please guys, stay safe out there x

Let’s talk about LOVE not WAR!!

Why does all this hate happen in the world? Hate between people and hate between countries. This hate creates war, wars that drag on for years. And when there is no point for war we still create it. We create war to kill innocent people. We create war to destroy buildings and spend more money to clean up. We create war to control, to control countries and people lower than us. So really all war is, is a battle between upper and lower classes. War is an immortal which is hated by all except the devil. War is a crime ensnared by Satan upon mankind. Mankind must fight the raging force of war. Not with strength of arms but strength of heart.

STOP WAR IN GAZA NOW. AND LET’S TALK ABOUT LOVE

Rolly Baballo from Pasig Philippines

Jeff,
You sound like an idiot because you do not check the facts before you open your month. Israel was the one breaking the truce on 11/5/08. Go check the timeline of events.

The concern about not letting reporters into Gaza is touching — but naive. Hamas comes from the school of thought that uses children as human shields. What do you think that they would do with foreign journalists? Have journalists become so self-righteous that they expect the Israelis to not only eliminate the terrorist threat on their doorstep, but also protect foolhardy reporters at the same time?

BTW, one dead terrorist in Gaza means one less terrorist that might be coming over here. Or have folks forgotten what the brothers of Hamas did on September 11, 2001?

I grew up in Lebanon and was “shelled’ on by both sides at play now, over the years. War is horrible and very rarely justified: being under siege with no water, electricity, supplies, with the fear of dying.
I can feel with both sides but to see all those pictures of half burned children, destroyed families and homeless people whose only crime is to be born Palestinian and living in Gaza, is too much.
Violence only brings on Violence, we all learned since soo long ago.
Peace comes with compromises- on both sides-

Anderson and CNN: I hope you will give a real picture of what is going on from BOTH sides- and you wonder why journalists are not allowed in Gaza. Please be the true voice of journalism and accomplish your mission safely.

Doesnt Hamas realize that them launching rockets at Israel legitimizes their actions? Do they think they are the only ones justified in aggression?

I guarantee that regardless of how many people were killed there are few countries that would tolerate what Israel has.

Wow Anderson.. stay safe please.
I hope Israel can kill the terrorists leaders. They are puppets of Iran. Iran/Syria are attacking Israel and using the Palestinians as human sheilds. How can people blame Israel when the thousands of rockets hit their population and they have shown great restraint until now.
I never thought I would be praying to Allah to help Israel be succesful in her mission. Only then can the moderate Palestinians lead a free life and negotiate a state of their own.
Allan be with you Israel Defense Forces! Any other army (except USA)of your streangth would bomb all the populations

Anderson,

Why can’t you get in from the Egypt side of Gaza?

it’s interesting that no one makes an issue of Egypt’s part in this “siege of innocent victims”

While you are in Israel, why don’t you bring us a report from the cities in Israel that have been the target of Hamas’ rockets since Israel pulled out of Gaza?

So I’m watching the coverage last night, and see the videos of the air burst bombs. I was really confused watching the phosphorous and metal slag rain down entire blocks. Anyone not in a hardened shelter either dies a painful death or is severely injured and burned. What the hell are they doing using wide area phosphorous munitions against rocket terrorists (usually one or two individuals firing and fleeing)? These are for organized standing armies. Where are the surgical strikes we’ve funded them so well to have? On the other side, why does the Hamaas continue to shoot rockets at general civilian populations when they know the response will be swift and deadly? I’m very confused….

Hey AC,
Tell the world why Israel does not allow Reporters in GAZA. So no one would see their genocide

“If we had a choice we’d be on the ground in Gaza, but the Israeli government won’t let reporters get any closer.”

The reason they won’t let you in is because they don’t want the media skewing the facts anymore than they already have. The media is right where they belong. On the sidelines looking in. If the U.S. was smart they would have done the same in Iraq and Afganistan.

What was the US response to iraq, which did not fire rockets into our country on a daily basis? What would be our response if Cuba started firing rockets into florida daily? War is ok for us, but not for others? Lets take a look at our own folly before we start pointing at others.

“The UN needs to step in and stop this ethnic cleansing.” -Marsha

Here is the definition of ethnic cleansing: Ethnic cleansing is a euphemism referring to the persecution through imprisonment, expulsion, or killing of members of an ethnic minority by a majority to achieve ethnic homogeneity in majority-controlled territory.

Israel is not doing this. They do not want to destroy the Palestinians, nor do they control the territory of the Gaza strip. If anyone has suffered from ethnic cleansing it is Israel. Remember WWII, or the forcible removal of Israelites from Gaza & the West Bank in 2005? Also, Hamas is the group that has made it a mandate to destroy Israel and Jews. Who’s practicing ethnic cleansing, really?

Israel has been under attack by its neighbors for the entire 60 years it has existed. Hamas still wants Israel to disappear. Yet Israel is stronger than ever today, with a strong economy, and an enormously well-educated, productive, vital population that has made contributions to science, medicine, agriculture, etc., and the well-being of the world out of all proportion to its size. Clearly, the attacks on Israel are not working, and it boggles the mind what Israel could have achieved by now if peace had been part of the mix for all these years instead of war. If Hamas would allow, even encourage, the Palestinians to devote some proportion of their own efforts to emulating Israel’s example rather than trying to crush it, everyone could live in peace and the world would be a better place. I am scared for the coming generations who will only know hatred of Israel because of the hatred and terror being generated today by Hamas and other like-minded organizations world-wide. One of the 10 commandments: Love your neighbor as yourself. Israel has always been willing.

I think we are at a point where you ask yourself: will it ever end? A simple answer is no. You can’t win against Hamas; it’s not a nation, it does not have frontiers and it will not die with the death of their leaders. New leaders will surge and everything will start anew.
If we go with no, every attempt of resolving the situation is useless.
We cannot let that happen. But I don’t think war is the right answer; it never is. We should ask ourself why people become terrorists? Just because it’s fun? I don’t think so. Because of their religion? I don’t think so. There have to be more than one factor that lead someone to decide to become a person that harms others. What desperation would lead you to that? How come they see terrorism and suicide as their best and maybe only option? This are questions that I would want to get an answer to.
I’m not in favor of the Hamas, nor in favor of Israel, but for the innocent people of Gaza (and Israel) that are now trapped in a fight they did not ask for or wanted. Please help. Please stop.

“There will never be peace as long as they hate us more than they love their children.”

- Golda Meir, 4th Prime Minister of Israel

Coop,

I hope everyone realizes the danger youre in – stay safe!

Maybe now the world will see what Hamas is – a group of thugs who have taken from the palestinians. Israel has the right to protect themsleves – don’t you think? What would we here in the US do if say, Canada starting raining rockets on our cities? Would we care what the world would say or defend ourselves?

The best

Stevo

Tragedy? Genocide? Ethnic Cleansing? How about this, don’t fire rockets into another country and don’t send suicide bombers into another country and you wont suffer retaliation! Seems simple enough, doesn’t it? I don’t throw rocks at my neighbors windows, and he doesn’t firebomb my house! Wow, what a concept! So stop feeling sorry for terrorists!!!!

Please be careful over there..

Anderson, I watch you on cable from Australia and you sure are an impressive journalist.

I hope you and your team stay safe, and continue to bring news back to us. I am so pleased to see a fair degree of unbias in your reporting. This issue is so complex, but it is important for everyone to understand both sides of the story.

K

Israel had every right to react. Those HAMAS idiots need to stop this rocket nonsense.

It hurts to see young children being injured on both sides.

Israel has a right to fight to defend itself. We have wittnessed them turning their cheeks a thousand times over, enduring constant beratment……this has gone too long. They must stand up and say no more. I also pray for those in Gaza who are the innocents, no child or adult willing to live in peace should have to endure the trauma being placed upon them. I pray God gives you safe places in which to shield yourselves. . God’s will is for peace for ALLl men, anything short of that is not of God.

Be safe Anderson.

Where was the media when thousands of rockets rained down on Israel every day?

How many rockets would America allow to have fired at its civilians no matter how crude before they responded?

Israel gave BACK the gaza strip for peace – Israel is the only country that has actually won a war and then handed back any territory it won – not forgetting that the wars the land was won in were not even initiated by Israel. How much has Israel said time and again it is willing to give up to live in peace with its Arab neighbors – yet every single peace agreement was shot down by the PA.

All Hamas has to do to stop this is to stop firing rockets at Israeli civilians – a tactic that does nothing more than provoke because it induces terror for those who need to hide from them even though most of the time thankfully they miss killing anyone. Israel has the right for its civilians to not live in terror of a missile landing in their living room!!

I don’t know any other country that is forced to “restrain themselves” when their citizens are attacked daily by rockets for months and years. It’s about time Israel defend themselves and do what no one else is doing, taking on Hamas from the source and protecting their own country. Civilian casualties is a part of war. They are at war with Hamas who cares nothing for their own people and hide behind them.

Anderson
Please stay safe and be careful. Don’t be biased and count on one side. Also, don’t let your history go back as much as only a week before the latest conflict. Israel is still an occupier! People have the right to resit occupation according to every international law. However, civilian attacks are still never justified!

People are demonstrating for Israel to stop bombing Gaza. Do we ever hear people coming out against Hamas bombing Israel? And which came first; the bombs being lobbed into Israel (hint: those nutcases in Palestine have been doing it for years) or Israel finally defending its borders and doing something pro-active? Every time I hear someone say something against Israel , I want to slap them silly.

Anderson,

If a picture tells a story you will capture it. That story Anderson is what we in the States. We need to hear what is going on whether it is wrapped in a bow or tied in a knot.

Gaza, Israel, and Palestine are tired and so are its people. Lets put the guns aside and propel our voices.

Stay safe. We all watch AC 360 here in Texas.

Anderson, how come you are not with the IDF reporting from inside the Gaza strip. I have seen reporters from Al Jazeera, BBC inside the strip. Even better, why didn’t I see reports on Israel deliberately targeting Mosques, Universities, The American School, water treatment facilities, wells, ministry buildings, oh yea and peoples homes. Oh yea did I forget to mention that they bombed a hospital, you know the hospitals where doctors are performing surgery without anesthesia or gloves?

You need to take a step back and realize in all of this that Hamas doesn’t even recognize Israel’s right to exist. What incentive do they have, then, to negotiate with Israel or stop bombing them, when their whole mission is to destroy the country? The Palestinians always give lip service to the western idea of “peace in the Middle East,” but they don’t believe it. They just try to extort concession after concession from the Israelis hoping that one day they will just swallow up the whole State of Israel. They don’t believe the Israelis are real people, so it’s easy for them to just nonchalantly launch missiles into Israel not caring what they hit. You can’t judge this by the number of deaths. The Israeli people on the border live in a constant state of alert that a Hamas rocket will fall up on them. Think how you would feel if at any moment, a rocket could fall upon your place of work, your school, house of worship, grocery store, house, restaurant, etc. without any provocation or any justification…then you’ll understand why Israel retaliated.

Anderson,

Don’t forget your mission is to be objective.
Before commenting, always think how would the US retaliate if 1 rocket would be launched from Mexico and land in Austin, Texas. Now multiply that by over 8000 rockets and mortars in the past 8 years launched by Hamas from the Gaza strip to towns in Israel on a daily basis. Usually those incoming were launched from a residential house or a religious Mosque, because they know the merciful Israelis wont destroy that target. Well I guess the merciful Israelis had just about enough and from now every launch site is a LEGIT target for destruction. They the Hamas leaders are masters of deception every time Israel retaliates they cry foul, and the hypocrite UN and the rest of the Anti-Semite Europeans, not to mention the lunatic from Caracas and the FUNNY one from Teheran come out running to their aid. You are a savvy reporter and should not fall into this trap.
My condolences to the families of the dead on both sides and my prayers are for a quick end of the violence for the sake of innocent civilians on both sides.
Keep safe you and your team.

Joba

Make the palastenians quit shooting rockets at Isreal and make them quit sending suiside bombers into Isreal and they might have peace. As long as they keep trying to kill all the Isrealies they are going to Fail and they will have no peace.

If the Israelis didn’t want a couple of toy rockets coming onto their illegal settlements every now and then, perhaps they should have lifted the blockade that stopped even food, water, and medication from reaching the people of Gaza for the past 1.5 years. Perhaps they should have not broken the truce on November 4th if they are a ‘peaceful country’.

A blockade is a declaration of war, and people expected the Palestinians to sit down and shut up about it?

Anderson, having read your book, I’m not surprised you’ve gone to Israel. It’s a terrible situation out there and it doesn’t look as if it’ll be resolved anytime soon. If anyone can give an informed and unbiased view, it’s you, but please look after yourself and your crew x

This all looks horribly familiar. Wasn’t it just yesterday that we heard these rockets and mourned this loss of life? Now here we are again, not even a year later, back on the same hills with new faces taking up the roles in an ancient story. Is there any hope to be found in this region? When the reasons go so deep and both sides are so sure of what is theirs, how do we ever begin to speak of peace?

Anderson you hunk of a man, I look forward to your report on the mess over there. May you and your crew stay out of harm’s way!

Good idea. One should be in Gaza to get Hamas’s position on this attack. Remember you have to be fair and balanced.

Once again, this conflict is about spin, propoganda, and injustice.

The people who are opposing oppression in other parts of the world are called “freedom fighters”, while those opposing Israeli oppression are “terrorists”.

It is clear by the world’s math that 1 Palestinian life is worth far less than the life of an Israeli.

Please provide some equity to this story by portraying the plight of people in Gaza

while you are there, be the voice of the unheard poeple!

If it all about HAMAS, then HAMAS will go away.
But NO RIGHT WILL be LOST as long as there is people demanding it. the group name can change but there is still Human being asking for their basic rights of living and justice. This will never stop until those people gets their rights back.
Wider view of the situation shows that the plan put by God the most high is becoming more clearer and clearer.
and the Children of Israel know that with no doubt, that why they act like a frightened person who would act with no rational at all.

Anderson,
Can you explain how the Israelies expect to enter a highly populated area such as Gaza City without the expectation of being there for a long, long time. Hamas will hide amongst the population. Isaelies will have to fight door to door. Many civilians will die. This will be a never ending guerilla war. Neither side will ever give up.
Peace will have to come from an international peacekeeping force that must form a buffer. Unfortunately, Hamas will still fire the missles over the buffer area. The general Palistinian population will suffer and suffer. What a mess for the people of the Gaza. Strip.
I look forward to your reports. Be safe.

Anderson

The truth be told, Hamas is responsible for the deaths of the Gaza citizens. They have no regard for the lives of the population that elected them. They are idealogues that are bent on the destruction of the State of Israel. They do not care who has to die to achieve their goals. They use their citizens as propaganda tools. They hide their weapons in schools,private homes,mosques,etc. They use their citizens as human shields.

I regret civillian deaths, but Israel is doing everything that they can to avoid this. They are using cell phones to call areas that are being targeted so that people will have a chance to get out. They are using GPS and intelligence gathering methods to select targets. They do not have a beef with the people only Hamas and their infastructure.

Susan
Phoenixville,PA

Good luck Cooper thanks for all the professional and good news always. As for this ridiculous conflict, it has all come down to a simple matter of hatred. The Israelis are making a fool out of themselves by attacking in such way. 700 plus thousands of wounded versus 4 kills… plain hatred among all of you Isreaelis.. what a shame. Hamas does not mean hundreds of innocent people, search a better excuse.

Why not go to the Egypt side of the Gaza border and see if the Egyptians will let you in??? You are not trying to be biased are you?

Every life lost is one too many. But the facts are this, Hammas will not stop till Israel is no more; Hammas has rained down over 6500 missiles onto Israeli civilians in the last decade; Hammas began this war by again starting to rain down missiles onto Israeli civilians; Hammas will not stop unless they are stopped; Hammas will only use cease fires to resupply. Yesterday a Hammas spokesperson stated that there must be a cease fire because the over whelming Israeli response isn’t fair. Today they state that Israel’s acting in defense of its own citizens, which is spun as Israel’s killing Palestinians, is justification for the killing of Israelis. What a load! It rather reminds me of an old American adage: “if you don’t want any, then don’t bring any.” The fact is that Palestinians need to stop being human shields, and Israel needs to eradicate the terrorists called Hammas.

Enough with the “ethnic cleansing” and “disproportionate response” rhetoric. Keep in mind Al-Dura and other misrepresentations by the media. The corrections to those errors are whispered or relegated to the back page. The citizens of Gaza had a choice between thugs and goons. They elected thugs. Israel tried to work diplomatically but thugs don’t have any interest in diplomacy. Hamas welcomed this war. They’d been losing support. What better way to bring people “together” than a conflict? Civilians are always in the line of fire and no one enusures that better than Hamas – to manipulate world sympathy. That is their great success. Why do they not put all their resources toward food and medicine for their citizens instead of buying weapons? Because hatred and war is all they understand.

Hi Anderson,

where is Hamas getting missiles from?

Stay safe,

s.

Israel isn’t trying to censor the media, otherwise the media wouldn’t be in the closed military zone surrounding Gaza. They’re being prevented from entering Gaza so they don’t report on the IDF’s troop movements as they continue their operations. For example, the Mumbai terrorists were watching Indian security forces begin to storm their positions on TV, and were thus prepared.

Doesn’t matter which side you support – it shouldn’t be hard to see why the IDF doesn’t want the media inside Gaza filming their operations. Chances are, Hamas doesn’t have much to gain either, except maybe sympathy.

Stay Safe Anderson…You’re The Best.

Anderson,

I’d like you to ask 25 ordinary Israelies and 25 ordinary Palestinians what compromises need to reached to achieve peace. Clearly their leaders can find, or can’t bring themselves to agree to, a solution. Maybe the people who suffer know the answer.

Keep your head down and come home to the U.S. safe and sound.

Bo Wandell
Seattle, WA

Hi Cooper, I am a faithful follower of CNN. Thats the place to be if you want great coverage. Whatever made me think that you, of all people , would end up in Isreal lol..Thanks so much for getting the news to me, but please but be careful . I am from Newfoundland, Canada and very interested in world news.I feel for Isreal and the Palastenian people who are caught in the middle with no where to go … Thanks to you and all the CNN team who do such great reporting

there is a difference between a terrorist and some one who is trying to defend his land. palestine is still the only place in the world that is not declared as a country, can someone explain why?
if you think hammas is a terrorist group then what do you call a group that has killed so far more than 500 including children and women, and injured 2600 in a matter of few days….
why it is ok to kill arab kids and children…why their lives are so cheap?
i am against all the actions of killing innocent people.,..but i hope people differentiate between fighting for a land vs killing…just compare the death rates, and open ur eyes to the truth…
i hope this gets posted !

Those rockets being fired by Hamas into southern Isreal are aimed at civilians and not the Isreali military. So Isreal should get those terrorists even if all the civilians in Gaza are dead at the end of the day, it does not matter. Those living in glass houses must not throw stones. If the terrorists are firing rockets into civilians in the full glare of their civilian population, Isreal must hunt them down in the presence of those civilians too. it is as simple a that.

Hi Anderson

I know that you will bring a more rounded look at what is happening over in Israel and Gaza and I’m looking forward to seeing it. One of the other commenters made a good point – Hamas wails about the people killed by Israeli weapons but never disclose how many rockets they have fired and how many people in Israel they have been guilty of killing. It is a two way street on casualties and at least Israel is trying to estimate both numbers. One thing I would like to know is the “stated” objectives of both sides – what is it that Hamas and Israel want to do to say that this fighting has accomplished its purpose and can stop? Is there an objective or is it just tit for tat:?

As always, you and your crew be careful and come home safe.

Great work Anderson – splendid battlefront reporting just like Murrow’s boys during the war.

Anderson,

We greatly appreciate your consistently unbiased reporting, and we are counting on you to bring us the latest and most accurate account of the crisis between Hamas and Israel.

Keep your wits about you.

How many rockets have been fired into Israel the last 3 years? How many killed, injured, or left homeless? No one bothers to tell that side of the story.

I read all these comments about genocide of the Palestinians and wonder where these people have been getting information. Hamas was elected by these people. They have since launched thousands of rockets indescriminately into civilian territory. The openly admit to wanting genocide — the extinction of Israel. If the ruling party of Canda launched just ONE rocket into a residence here in the US, what would our reaction be? Even Obama has said he would go to great lengths to stop people shooting rockets at his children.

Coop,

Dude stay SAFE! My family is carefully watching as this develops. We have lost so many great reporters and can’t afford to lose you! Stay safe and THANK YOU!

Anderson,
It was only a matter of time before you ended up back in the field, wasn’t it? Looking forward to the show tonight! Please stay safe dear Anderson and AC360 crew!

It is a shame those hamas leaders are now hiding like rabbits in holes. They should be galant enough to come out of their hiding and put up a good fight instead of sending many of their country men to their early graves, while hiding inside holes with their families.

For those anti-Isreal fanatics, ask yourself this one question.

If hundreds of rockets had been launched into the southern states from say, Mexico City, during 2008, how would you want your government to respond??

Anderson–I am glad your boots are on the ground in Israel. I know you will cut through the rhetoric and spin and report both sides. We are planning on traveling to Israel in March and we were sure to buy travel insurance for that trip! I hope we will be able to go as it will mean that peace, however dodgy, would have been restored. Stay safe.

Ethnic cleansing??!! Where are the Jews of Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, Syria, North Africa? Where was the world outcry when they were cleansed from these countries? Where was the world outcry when the missiles rained down on Sderot?

First it was the Jews, now they come for the Christians of the Middle East.

Anderson,

Thank you, Nick Robertson and all the rest of the crew for being there and giving us the news from where the action is. I am looking forward to your objective and detailed reports from there. But make sure to stay safe, I hope Israel allows you to go into Gaza only after it is safe to do so.

It would be nice to hear about the connection between this war and biblical predictions about the conflict. I always hear how this conflict is biblical in scope. I wonder if you could investigate and comment on how the Ezekial 37, 38 and 39 Bible proficies relate to current events. Stay safe.

Good Luck Anderson….

First and foremost they don’t want any of you killed.

Yes this is true. Plus I’m sure they don’t want to be blamed for it. I also do not want to see any reporters killed – especially 2 of CNN’s best. However, my view is based entirely on emotion and not any free speech or journalism norms or expectations.

If Israel would have wait, all those Moslem would have killed each other. Hams was intentionally looking forward to this war, in order justify their lack of leadership. I feel sorry for all people. Hope it ends soon which I doubt.

Great reporting as always. Whether you agree or not I hope you are able to articulate that Hamas’ official raison détre is the destruction of Israel and they are financed by Syria and Iran. In order to maintain this funding they are expected to keep fighting and avoid peace.
Would anyone else in the world be so tolerant as Israel living beside a neighbiour that wants tio destroy and lobs 4000 rockets. Israel left Gaza and kept certain restrcitions on the area as part of a weaning process and were hoping that the Palestinians would act responsibly. The big question is why is Isreal held to a different standard than anyone else on the planet. Could it be that Muslims allow themseles to kill each other but not by Jews. This is a religious war that is getting fiercer each year and the world should wake up to it before its too late. Regardless I feel for all innocents.

Does the world not realize what is going on here ??? You have Hamas which is a terrorist group , lunging missles on a daily basis into another country . That country which is israel has EVERY right to defend itself , and it should . These Animals put there own people in harms way and ISRAEL have no choice but to act in these ways . Did the world forget the 6 million jews that were SLAUGHTERED by the Nazi’s in WORLD WAR 2 . The Jews have 1 country they call home in the entire world , and that country must be and it WILL be protected at all costS no matter what . LONG LIVE ISRAEL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anderson, please show us the real Gaza, in some way, show us some hope.

Take care!
May God protect you.
May God protect all in Gaza!

Oh Anderson, Anderson

How much do you love war zones. Let me count the ways.

This is for Jeff. AMAN brother. This war is no fault of Israel. Look at everyone of the facts. Just look at “A Clean Break”. It gives a detailed explanation of what is happening over there. HAMAS is going down and the Palestinians are right in the middle of it, unfortunately. It is there own faults for letting those terrorists run and operate in there country. I have absolutely no sympathy for stupid and dumb minded people, I have no sympathy at all. I do hope that the Israelies crush HAMAS and every other terrorist organisation over there.

Good luck Anderson. Please be sure and show both sides of this conflict. I know there is tremendous pain on both sides. To those who focus solely on numbers and object to the disproportionate casualties – think about this: the 9/11 attacks only killed a few thousand Americans. Does that mean that the US is justified in only killing an equal number of Al Qaeda? Our 20th century idea of warfare has changed, and terrorist groups like Hamas have changed the rules. Urban warfare is a very ugly thing, but they store/fire rockets in and near mosques, apartments, schools, etc. There is no perfect way to fight this war, but it’s clear that Israel makes every effort to minimize civilian deaths while Hamas makes every effort to maximize them.

Andy… This is a far cry from Times Square New Years Eve! Glad to see you back in the field doing what you do best (although as an anchor, as we all know, you’re no slouch).

There is evil on both sides here: Hamas for launching the rockets and placing themselves in and amongst civilian populations, exploiting the suffering for propoganda purposes. By the same token I belive Israel’s response is woefully disprportionate.

Stay safe. Give us the truth and come back (you and your crew) intact!

MVE

@Jeff, Israel will not allow reporters into Gaza because they do not want the humanitarian crisis they’ve created by halting aid at the Egyptian border reported on around the world. Clear and simple. Kind of hard for Israel to sell this war as defending their citizens if the world is seeing pictures of Palestinian children being shot and starved.

Yes, I completely agree, Hamas is a terrorist faction which must be stopped. But, Israel must remember that they are a part of the United Nations and must allow aid into Gaza. This all needs to end now!

Hi as long US will support Israel war machine, peace will be imposible. There is no way to have peace. Is time for UN or other nation to deal with the peace process, for over 30 years US did this with not other results than war.
Thanks

After seeing the terrify children in the hospital at Gaza, I am wondering, not about the Israel is killing or injuring kids, it is about the militants holding children up in front of themselves to shield themselves.

It doesn’t look like that both sides sitting down and talking to civilian exchanges in culture and group thinks to find a way to stop the insanity.

Take care and stay safe, Anderson

Hey Anderson

I was afraid you’d end up over ther eventually. I don’t always agree with the Israeli government, but if they are keeping you far away from the danger zone then I’m all for it.

So many presidents and other world leaders have tried solving the problems of the Middle East, I hope our president-elect and all others involved will finally find a way to improve things. Is there any common ground that will lead to a cease fire and maybe someday to a real and lasting peace? I heard Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is ovef there. I hope he can make some progress.

God bless you and keep you and your crew safe, and especially the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.

Be careful and come home soon.

Hey Anderson,
i’m sorry but this inhumane retaliation is unjust no matter who started. If Israelis want to defend themselves, do so justly. Don’t go about demolishing a building to get one culprit. I pray for an end to the massacre of Palestinians.

Mr. Cooper,
Hamas has been launching rockets into Israel for quite a long time now and has recently increased those activities. If Hamas truly cared about the Palestinian people, why do you think they would locate their operations in the midst of women and children? Those are cowardly acts that only a terrorist organization continues to promote in order to fullfill their extreme political agenda. Hamas will never live peacefully alongside their enemies but want total genocide of the Israeli people.

Much of the analysis of the current crisis in the middle east focuses on the immediate cause of the problem with complete disregard to the fundamental cause of this long-standing animosity. While I abhor terrorism in any of its forms, I believe a serious analysis of the conflict should answer why Hamas is there in the first place?. And the answer is simple: Israel is occupying their country . No justice , no peace.

Anderson -

Some of the best news is broken by reporters brave enough to do what it takes to get where the action is.

There are enough news channels using the Israeli government’s “don’t go there” edict as a valid reason to stay out of the action. You have more resources than most – use them!

Christian and Anderson

Be Safe… this is not your war…. be safe

I know that Israel is doing the bombing, and I don’t support it. But, there is a Gaza border with Egypt. Why isn’t more pressure being put on the Egyptians to let humanitarian aid in through that border, and why is it that you think you can only be denied entry into Gaza by Israel? Last time I checked Egypt is a sovereign nation…?

Why Israel prevent press from entering Gaza?
to keep the human crises done by its soldiers hidden!!

Hey Anderson,

Nice to see you over there covering this, but what happened to you in the last 8 years? After all, Hamas has been shelling innocent Israeli citizens, how is it you didn’t bother to go over there then?

How is it that you didn’t bother to report about the 3 month old Israeli baby who was recently injured courtesy of a Hamas rocket attack?

Care to look into the post traumatic syndrome the Israeli’s living in Southern Israel are dealing with and suffering through, because of 8 years of Hamas’ shelling their towns and villages?

I’ve seen this one sided journalism before, it was during the Holocaust and nobody wanted to do anything about it or report about it in a truthful, factual manner.

Why won’t the Israeli’s let you and the other journalists into Gaza? Well gee wiz, there’s a war going on! Haven’t you heard?

Hello Anderson
Nice to see you in the reporting field once agian .This is terible fighting and innocent lives are being lost.I hope you will stay safe .You are one of the bravest reporters out there aside from your collegues out there with you .Please take care and come home soon .
Michelle D.