Bombing bridges is against the principles of jihad

A major offensive is being conducted against the people of Gaza. A very offensive move.

The rationale behind the attacks is the "kidnapping" of an Israeli soldier. I always thought the term was "prisoner of war." But political language continues to evolve to meet the needs of the dominant.

A few days ago I posted a commentary about the difference between a soldier and a civilian. I stand behind that statement. A soldier is a professional. A civilian is simply trying to live. The seizing of an "enemy combatant" does not warrant an all-out attack upon civilians. There are unsubstantiated reports that an Israeli civilian has also been seized. I'm waiting for further developments.

Muslims practice jihad. The internal jihad of struggling to live our lives in obedience to Allah in spite of the daily stresses of life. And the military jihad of struggling against oppression.

I've studied jihad. I've written about jihad. And I can tell you that jihad does not allow the deliberate destruction of the infrastructure. The bombing of bridges, roads, and schools is not allowed in Islam. If anyone who says he's a Muslim is conducting these sorts of attacks, he is lying.

But Israel is proudly destroying the markers of infrastructure for a people who are already oppressed. One soldier taken as prisoner warrants bombing the livelihood out of an entire people. How can that be?

People say Muslims believe in war, fighting, and killing. But when Muslims fight, we fight by the rules. On the bombing of bridges, the imprisonment of women and children, and the overall destruction of infrastructure, I call foul.

When will the oppressed be heard?