Israel-Hamas Thread II

[Landon Caeli]

What in particular makes it a superior culture?

I can't tell you.

It would be like trying to explain love, you either recognize it or you don't.

 

[BCP1928]

I can't tell you.

It would be like trying to explain love, you either recognize it or you don't.

That's fine, but if you wanted to make it the basis for public policy proposals you would have to do better than that.

 

[JosephZ]

We ought to remember that the Arabs themselves overwhelmingly voted the perpetrators of destruction into power.

In 2006, Hamas won the "Palestinian" parliamentary elections by an overwhelming majority, securing 56 percent of the seats in parliament.

Hamas only received 44.45% of the vote in 2006, but it gave them a majority of 74 seats in the 132 seat Palestinian Legislative Council at that time. Less than 15% of Gazans alive today voted for Hamas.

 

[rjs330]

Hamas only received 44.45% of the vote in 2006, but it gave them a majority of 74 seats in the 132 seat Palestinian Legislative Council at that time. Less than 15% of Gazans alive today voted for Hamas.

Thats almost 50%. Which gave them the majority. Thus the Palestinians are responsible for them. 2006? Thats less than 20 years ago. Im not buying only 15%.

And they had 20 years to do something about them. Instead they supported them and their war against Israel. They taught their children to hate Israel and learn how to kill them. They celebrated every Isreali death and taught their children to do the same.

 

[rjs330]

Blockading food and aid is not directed at Hamas.

Israel isnt blockading food to the Gazans. As has been reported several humanitarian organizations have tried to deliver and had it stolen. Israel has been working on delivering the food as well since March.

 

[JosephZ]

Thats almost 50%. Which gave them the majority. Thus the Palestinians are responsible for them. 2006? Thats less than 20 years ago. Im not buying only 15%.

The last election in Gaza was held 19 years ago. 70% of the population in Gaza is under the age of 30. This means more than 70% of Palestinians in Gaza today were either not born yet or were too young to vote when the 2006 election was held. When Hamas did win in 2006, it won with just 44% of the vote. This leaves only a tiny percentage (Less than 15% ?) of Palestinians alive today who voted Hamas.

And they had 20 years to do something about them.

Palestinians in Gaza live in an environment where turning against Hamas could pose significant risks to their lives. They allow Hamas to operate in Gaza mostly because they are afraid that if they refuse, they will be its next victims. In the past, when people criticized Hamas or tried to organize rebellion against the group, they were often severely injured or even killed for doing so.

 

[Landon Caeli]

The last election in Gaza was held 19 years ago. 70% of the population in Gaza is under the age of 30. This means more than 70% of Palestinians in Gaza today were either not born yet or were too young to vote when the 2006 election was held. When Hamas did win in 2006, it won with just 44% of the vote. This leaves only a tiny percentage (Less than 15% ?) of Palestinians alive today who voted Hamas.


Palestinians in Gaza live in an environment where turning against Hamas could pose significant risks to their lives. They allow Hamas to operate in Gaza mostly because they are afraid that if they refuse, they will be its next victims. In the past, when people criticized Hamas or tried to organize rebellion against the group, they were often severely injured or even killed for doing so.

I think others are as tired of the excuse making as I am. The protests have simmered down. People are ready to move on. It will be what it will be.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Israel isnt blockading food to the Gazans. As has been reported several humanitarian organizations have tried to deliver and had it stolen. Israel has been working on delivering the food as well since March.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported that famine has been confirmed in the Gaza Governorate, which includes Gaza City, now also the site of a major new Israeli offensive.

“As this Famine is entirely man-made, it can be halted and reversed,” the report said. “The time for debate and hesitation has passed, starvation is present and is rapidly spreading. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that an immediate, at-scale response is needed.”

During nearly two years of war in Gaza, Israel has at times restricted or cut off the entry of aid to the ravaged enclave.

[Israel's] COGAT said that the IPC’s “one-sided approach completely disregards the extensive humanitarian efforts undertaken in Gaza,” adding that the report ignored information provided to its authors by Israel.

Aid groups, the UN and harrowing testimony and images emerging from Gaza have, however, painted a different picture.

US President Donald Trump last month said there is “real starvation” in Gaza, contradicting statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has said that no one is starving in the territory.

“As the occupying power, Israel has unequivocal obligations under international law – including the duty of ensuring food and medical supplies of the population,” Guterres added. “We cannot allow this situation to continue with impunity. No more excuses.”

 

[DaisyDay]

Yes. He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.

Yeah, take that, toddlers!

 

[Benaiah468]

Western heads of state and government have declared that they would recognise a "Palestinian" state, whatever that may mean.

We assume that this will be implemented at the annual UN General Assembly in Sep, regardless of what Israel does. But where are today's prophets who warn these heads of state and government that their threats are actually directed against G-d and His covenant promises and therefore make Him extremely angry

Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, (also known as Edom, a region south of Judea. It represents all the enemies of G-d and His people) and upon the people of my curse, to judgment. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. Isa 34:1-8

From most Western countries, we hear only silence! Israel, however, has courageously rejected these threats openly, and we pray that this will continue.

Anyone who recognises "Palestine" now is sending a clear message to terrorists: massacre people, don't release hostages, and you will be rewarded with a state!

The recent announcements by France, Britain, Canada and Australia have emboldened the Iranian-backed "Palestinian" terrorist organisation Hamas.

Hamas' initial response to the announcements of possible state recognition was:

x.com

The recognition of the State of Palestine with full sovereignty is the fruit of our people's continuous struggle and an expression of respect for the rules of international law.

with the terrorist organisation viewing the statements by the heads of state and government of France, Great Britain, Canada and Australia as a direct consequence of its massacre on 7 Oct 2023.

Instead of putting pressure on Hamas to release the hostages, lay down its arms and relinquish control of the Gaza Strip, Western leaders have sent a message to the terrorist organisation that attacking Israel will lead to the creation of a "Palestinian" state, which will undoubtedly be ruled by Iranian-backed jihadists.

With their approach, European government representatives have not only made any negotiations impossible, but have also indirectly conveyed to Hamas that its attack on southern Israel and the kidnapping of its citizens would be rewarded with statehood.

Hamas leaders can only conclude that their refusal to release the hostages was the right move. As senior Hamas representative Bassem Naim wrote:

x.com

Based on my monitoring of the international scene, what is happening today around the world is not merely a campaign of solidarity — it is a true global revolution in support of Palestinian rights: for freedom and the right to determine our destiny. It surpasses the borders of the great city that is creating miracles and laying the foundation for future glory — Gaza. I do not believe there has ever been a city or cause in human history that has achieved such unanimous and unwavering global support for victory, despite all differences in religion, race, and language, as Gaza and Palestine have.

The road ahead is long, difficult, painful, and costly, but it is honorable and precious. We are moving in the right direction — toward victory and liberation — and the steps are closer than we expect. Our enemy and its allies know this very well.

G-d Almighty will grant us victory, and when He gives, He gives with honor. And in that moment, all who played a role in this glorious epic will be proud — proud of their contribution to the history of our people and our cause.

x.com

In a joint statement issued by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Sai'qa forces, terrorist organizations that do not recognize Israel's right to exist and vehemently reject the so-called two-state solution, it states:

Welcoming any international effort that supports the Palestinian people and their rights, and demanding unconditional recognition of the Palestinian state and the rights of its people as a political entitlement and historical justice.

These terrorist organizations have repeatedly emphasized that they will never lay down their arms or recognize Israel's right to exist. They have also repeatedly vowed to continue their jihad against Israel until it is destroyed. Despite their rejection of the two-state solution, "Palestinian" terrorists are nevertheless willing to accept any land Israel gives them in order to use it as a springboard for the destruction of Israel.

In 2017, Hamas published a policy paper confirming this approach. In it, the terrorist organization made it clear that it would not reject the establishment of a "Palestinian" state in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, but emphasized that this did not mean recognizing Israel's right to exist:

Hamas believes that no part of the land of Palestine shall be compromised or conceded, irrespective of the causes, the circumstances and the pressures and no matter how long the occupation lasts. Hamas rejects any alternative to the full and complete liberation of Palestine, from the river to the sea. However, without compromising its rejection of the Zionist entity and without relinquishing any Palestinian rights, Hamas considers the establishment of a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital along the lines of the 4th of Jun 1967, with the return of the refugees and the displaced to their homes from which they were expelled, to be a formula of national consensus.

The paper was mistakenly interpreted by some in the West as a sign of pragmatism, moderation, and acceptance of the two-state solution on the part of the terrorist organization. This is incorrect. Hamas is pretending to support a "Palestinian" state alongside Israel as part of a campaign to deceive and mislead the world in order to be accepted as a legitimate player in the "Palestinian" arena. In reality, the organization clearly states that such a state should be used for

the full and complete liberation of Palestine, from the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea.

The same document unequivocally states that they will continue their jihad against Israel even after the establishment of a "Palestinian" state:

Resisting the occupation with all means and methods is a legitimate right guaranteed by divine laws and by international norms and laws. At the heart of these lies armed resistance, which is regarded as the strategic choice for protecting the principles and the rights of the Palestinian people.

Eran Lerman, senior research fellow at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, noted

There are no signs of ‘moderation’ here, even though Hamas describes Islam as a religion of the middle way and moderation,...

The document aggressively reiterates the familiar themes of Hamas ideology; Palestine is indivisible in its entirety, and the rights of the Palestinian people are eternal and inalienable. No facts created by the Zionist project may remain.

This is certainly not the right time to talk about a unbiblical two-state solution, as jihadists and terrorists see it as a reward for their atrocities against Israel. It is more important to focus on dismantling and destroying all "Palestinian" terrorist groups and to initiate a process of deradicalisation of the "Palestinians" and their voluntary resettlement in Arab states.

Israel 22,072 km² - Morocco 446,550 km², Algeria 2,382,000 km², Mauritania 1,031,000 km², Tunisia 163,610 km²,
Libya 1,760,000 km², Egypt 1,002,000 km², Sudan 1,886,000 km², Syria 185,180 km², Iraq 438,314 km²,
Jordan 89,342 km², Saudi Arabia 2,150,000 km², Yemen 527,968 km², Somalia 637,657, Kuwait 17,818 km²,
Bahrain 786.8 km², Qatar 11,581 km², United Arab Emirates 83,600 km², Oman 309,500 km²

Under the current circumstances, declarations recognising a "Palestinian" state send the message to "Palestinians" that terrorism and violence are the best way to gain international support for their own state... and everything else.

In the Torah, Moses mentions more than 80 times that Israel must possess the entire land on forever west of the Jordan River, which G-d has promised to them

For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the Lord your G-d giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein. Deu 11:31

That is why we pray persistently to Him that He will fulfil His Word (Jeremiah 1:12) and firmly anchor the truth of His gift of His land to His people Israel in the minds and hearts of the Jews, wherever they may currently live.

May the world's attention on Gaza accelerate the expansion of Israeli sovereignty.

 

[Benaiah468]

More and more voices from Gaza are speaking plainly: Hamas is destroying people's lives. As Israel prepares for a ground offensive, calls for a solution without the terrorist organization are growing louder.

Residents report a daily reality of artillery fire, evacuations, and unaffordable food prices. Behind these complaints lies a bitter realization: as long as Hamas remains in power, there will be no peace, neither for Israel nor for the people of Gaza.

Khaled, a resident of the Gaza Strip, openly describes how almost the entire city lies in ruins. For him, it is clear that Hamas is playing for time. The terrorist organization is only negotiating partial solutions in order to restore its own power.

“That won't happen,”

he says,

“which is why a comprehensive solution is the only way forward. The hostages must be released and the citizens of Gaza need a life free from the terror of Hamas.”

The voices of the population show a clear pattern: Hamas regards civilians as bargaining chips, while Israel openly talks about a ground operation in Gaza. The fear of a complete takeover of the city is great, and the Israeli threats are understood there as a serious option. Residents report that the shelling has been increasing for days, a preparation for what might follow.

Another problem affects everyday life: those who are still able to buy food are paying prices that are being kept artificially high by greedy traders. A sack of flour has become a luxury item, and the black market has become the main source of supply. The humanitarian aid that does reach the area is not distributed fairly to those in need, it is controlled or misused by Hamas. The result is a deep social divide: those who support Hamas or remain silent have a better chance of survival, while critics are disenfranchised, persecuted, or even abused.

Particularly shocking is the report of a journalist who has been critical of Hamas. Masked fighters kidnapped him, tortured him severely, and confiscated his work equipment. He describes broken bones, deep wounds, and the loss of his dignity. This violence is not directed against Israel, but against its own population. It is intended to spread fear and nip any opposition in the bud.

Many residents are now openly calling for

“G-od to curse Hamas.”

Even devout Muslims, who once saw Hamas as a defender, are increasingly recognizing that the organization is only concerned with its own survival. For them, a comprehensive agreement that includes the return of Israeli hostages is the only way out. They pin their hopes on the idea that after Hamas, an administration could emerge that would actually ensure security and a fair distribution of aid supplies.

This view from within exposes the reality: Hamas has not liberated the Gaza Strip, but turned it into a prison. The people are paying the price with poverty, hunger, fear, and oppression. Israel, on the other hand, will not back down on its security interests as long as Hamas exists. This shows that the path to genuine peace cannot be achieved through temporary deals, but only through an end to Hamas' rule.

 

[Benaiah468]

Western heads of state and government have declared that they would recognise a "Palestinian" state, whatever that may mean... The recent announcements by France, Britain, Canada and Australia have emboldened the Iranian-backed "Palestinian" terrorist organisation Hamas.

Australia, of all countries, accuses Israel of "occupation", even though its own state was founded on the expropriation, violence, and disenfranchisement of the Aboriginal people. Those who are so deeply entangled in their colonial heritage should be careful about lecturing others.

Relations between Israel and Australia have reached a noticeable low point in recent weeks. This was triggered by the Australian government's decision to recognize a Palestinian state, thereby deliberately positioning itself against Jerusalem. Israel reacted sharply, tightening visa controls for Australian diplomats and making it clear that double standards would not be accepted.

In the case of Australia, this stance is more than justified. For it is precisely a country that itself was created through brutal colonization that is setting itself up as the moral judge of Israel and acting as if it can preach about indigenous rights. This self-promotion is nothing more than sheer hypocrisy.

When the British landed in Australia in 1788, they summarily declared the land terra nullius, a no man's land. For the Aborigines, who had lived there for thousands of years, this was a death sentence. Within a few decades, entire communities were wiped out by violence, starvation, and displacement. Historians openly refer to this as genocide. Even after the founding of the Commonwealth in 1901, the disenfranchisement continued: the so-called Stolen Generation of children who were systematically torn from their families and forcibly assimilated is a national trauma whose consequences are still visible today, in lower life expectancy, higher poverty and discrimination.

Those who stand on such a foundation should be careful about accusing other states of “occupation.” It is all the more absurd when Canberra denies Israel the right to live in Judea and Samaria, the heartland of Jewish history. While Australia continues to control and expand its colonial outposts such as the Cocos Islands to this day, it points the moral finger at Jews in Hebron or Shilo.

The comparison seems even more grotesque when one recalls Australia's practices in East Timor. For decades, Canberra profited from oil and gas reserves that did not legally belong to it, and it was only massive international pressure that led to a fairer distribution in 2018. It was the behavior of a state that took resources without having any claim to them and that while seeking to lecture Israel on matters of law and morality, of all things.

The most recent example is the humiliation of Israeli MP Simcha Rothman, whose visa was revoked by Australia shortly before his departure. The reason: his political positions were too far to the right. At the same time, consideration is being given to recognizing a "Palestinian" state, a step that rewards terrorism, promotes violence, and weakens any chance of genuine understanding.

Israel, on the other hand, is not a colonial state, but rather the return of a people to their ancestral homeland. Jerusalem, Hebron, Shilo, all these places are part of Jewish history, long before Australia even existed. The return after 1948 was not a settlement project, but rather the rebirth of a nation on its own soil (#40).

So before Australia thinks it can lecture Israel on morality, it should take an honest look at its own open wounds. It should address the consequences of its colonial policy for the Aborigines, talk about returning land, and critically examine its external territorial policy. Only then would it be credible.

Until this happens, Australia has no right to lecture Israel on morality, international law, or alleged "occupation." A state that is itself built on conquest and expropriation should be very careful when delegitimizing the Jewish state. Israel must and should clearly reject this double standard, resolutely, confidently, and with the reminder that its claim to the land is not rooted in colonialism, but in history, religion, and immutable law.

 

[Philip_B]

Australia, of all countries, accuses Israel of "occupation", even though its own state was founded on the expropriation, violence, and disenfranchisement of the Aboriginal people. Those who are so deeply entangled in their colonial heritage should be careful about lecturing others.

Relations between Israel and Australia have reached a noticeable low point in recent weeks. This was triggered by the Australian government's decision to recognize a Palestinian state, thereby deliberately positioning itself against Jerusalem. Israel reacted sharply, tightening visa controls for Australian diplomats and making it clear that double standards would not be accepted.

In the case of Australia, this stance is more than justified. For it is precisely a country that itself was created through brutal colonization that is setting itself up as the moral judge of Israel and acting as if it can preach about indigenous rights. This self-promotion is nothing more than sheer hypocrisy.

When the British landed in Australia in 1788, they summarily declared the land terra nullius, a no man's land. For the Aborigines, who had lived there for thousands of years, this was a death sentence. Within a few decades, entire communities were wiped out by violence, starvation, and displacement. Historians openly refer to this as genocide. Even after the founding of the Commonwealth in 1901, the disenfranchisement continued: the so-called Stolen Generation of children who were systematically torn from their families and forcibly assimilated is a national trauma whose consequences are still visible today, in lower life expectancy, higher poverty and discrimination.

Those who stand on such a foundation should be careful about accusing other states of “occupation.” It is all the more absurd when Canberra denies Israel the right to live in Judea and Samaria, the heartland of Jewish history. While Australia continues to control and expand its colonial outposts such as the Cocos Islands to this day, it points the moral finger at Jews in Hebron or Shilo.

The comparison seems even more grotesque when one recalls Australia's practices in East Timor. For decades, Canberra profited from oil and gas reserves that did not legally belong to it, and it was only massive international pressure that led to a fairer distribution in 2018. It was the behavior of a state that took resources without having any claim to them and that while seeking to lecture Israel on matters of law and morality, of all things.

The most recent example is the humiliation of Israeli MP Simcha Rothman, whose visa was revoked by Australia shortly before his departure. The reason: his political positions were too far to the right. At the same time, consideration is being given to recognizing a "Palestinian" state, a step that rewards terrorism, promotes violence, and weakens any chance of genuine understanding.

Israel, on the other hand, is not a colonial state, but rather the return of a people to their ancestral homeland. Jerusalem, Hebron, Shilo, all these places are part of Jewish history, long before Australia even existed. The return after 1948 was not a settlement project, but rather the rebirth of a nation on its own soil (#40).

So before Australia thinks it can lecture Israel on morality, it should take an honest look at its own open wounds. It should address the consequences of its colonial policy for the Aborigines, talk about returning land, and critically examine its external territorial policy. Only then would it be credible.

Until this happens, Australia has no right to lecture Israel on morality, international law, or alleged "occupation." A state that is itself built on conquest and expropriation should be very careful when delegitimizing the Jewish state. Israel must and should clearly reject this double standard, resolutely, confidently, and with the reminder that its claim to the land is not rooted in colonialism, but in history, religion, and immutable law.

Beautifully said, and the notions of Terra Nullius, which underpinned the Cultural Blindness that led to some poor decisions. We have indeed repudiated the notion of Terra Nullius, and we have apologised for the Stolen Generation, and whilst we are certainly not there yet, we are on a road to reconciliation.

Israel now seeks the occupation of land that was never part of its cultural heritage (The Gaza Strip). I am not sure why you describe the revocation of Simcha Rothman's visa as a humiliation. The politically charged environment that brings violence to the streets of Australian Cities on a weekly basis does not need any more incendiary moments. I saw the matter as simply try to calm down the violence.

There are several Semitic Peoples, and several Semitic Languages, and peoples who understand themselves to be children of Abraham.

Golda Meyer argued that there had never been a Palestinian State and there had never been a Palestinian People; they were just Arabs. That seems be the ongoing argument, and I do no think it is a path to peace, unless the foundation of the peace you seek is the annihilation of the Palestinians.

 

[Ellesmere]

How clever of Hamas to have its members dress-up to impersonate desperate mothers and starving children!

The only way to ensure the elimination of Hamas members in Gaza is to destroy all infrastructure and housing to effectively render it uninhabitable for all 2.2 million Palestinians!

History has come full circle - Gaza has become the 21stC version of the "WARSAW GHETTO"and the deaths of almost 60,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children combined with a policy of mass starvation is Netanyahu's version of the "HOLOCAUST!"

 

[essentialsaltes]

Five journalists among 20 killed in Israeli strike on hospital, Gaza officials say​

We have verified several graphic videos showing two Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Gaza, killing a number of journalists.

One video, captured on a livestream by Al Ghad TV, shows several emergency workers responding to the first strike near the top floor of Nasser Hospital, as a number of journalists in the background capture the scene.

A staircase, where journalists often gather to film views across Khan Younis, is visible in the footage. A strike then directly hits the emergency workers and reporters, sending smoke and rubble in the air. At least one body is visible in the aftermath.

Many people are saying that terrorists use a first strike to draw medics and journalists, and you follow it up with a second to kill them.

Today's attack comes two weeks after six journalists, including four from Al Jazeera, were killed in an Israeli targeted attack near al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

The Foreign Press Association has called for an "immediate explanation" from the Israeli military and PM's office following the death of "a group of journalists from several major international news outlets".

There is extensive damage to the main building of Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip, the World Health Organization (WHO) chief says.

In a post on X, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the area hit houses the hospital's emergency department, the inpatient ward and the surgical unit, and that the emergency staircase has been damaged.

He adds that among those injured are "critically ill patients who were already receiving care".

I have just discovered that on Saturday I used some material in a report for BBC Radio 4 taken from the final story that [Reuters cameraman] Hussam filed for Reuters. He captured the funeral of an entire family that was killed by an Israeli air strike on a displacement camp in Khan Younis.

Over 190 journalists have been killed since the start of the Israel-Gaza war, says the Committee to Protect Journalists, with at least 180 of them being Palestinians killed by Israel.

 

[wing2000]

We have verified several graphic videos showing two Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Gaza, killing a number of journalists.

One video, captured on a livestream by Al Ghad TV, shows several emergency workers responding to the first strike near the top floor of Nasser Hospital, as a number of journalists in the background capture the scene.

Unacceptable. Hitting the same target after 1st responders move in is an act of a terrorist nation.

 

[Vanellus]

The dangerous lives of Palestinian journalists in Gaza:

PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions

Gaza’s journalists are talented, professional and dignified. That’s why Israel targets them | Nesrine Malik

What the Israeli government is trying to do with these killings is not just stop the stream of damning reports and footage, but annihilate the very image of Palestinians that these media professionals convey. The credibility, dignity and talent that Gaza’s journalists exhibit to the world in their reports and social media posts has to be extinguished.

But I think Nesrine Malik may be wrong. Israel has the weapons and money to destroy Gaza and either kill, starve or forcibly displace all Palestinians living there. And it has massive western support. So it may well succeed in burying the truth and for some people on this forum that is evidently a good thing.

 

[Benaiah468]

History has come full circle - Gaza has become the 21stC version of the "WARSAW GHETTO"and the deaths of almost 60,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children combined with a policy of mass starvation is Netanyahu's version of the "HOLOCAUST!"

Meanwhile, Holocaust comparisons seem to be socially acceptable again, even in connection with Israel's actions in Gaza, of all places.

Your comparison is not only ignorant of history. It is malicious. Because it insinuates that Israel, the state of Holocaust survivors, the refuge for the Jewish people, is acting today as the Nazis once did. It is a perfidious reversal of all the facts: the state that is defending itself against a murderous terrorist organization is equated with the greatest extermination regime in history.

Such a comparison is not an opinion. It is an accelerant. It relativizes the industrial murder in the gas chambers. It puts targeted military operations, however harsh they may be, on a par with the systematic extermination of an entire people. And it opens the door to a new wave of anti-Semitism, which today no longer reveals itself as such, but disguises itself under the cloak of human rights.

The Gaza Strip is not a walled ghetto, but a territory ruled by Hamas that has repeatedly become a base for terrorism against Israel. Israel withdrew completely in 2005 and received rockets instead of peace.

It is inhumane when a state is forced to destroy underground terrorist systems in the middle of schools and has to justify itself morally while its opponents abuse people as human shields. It is inhumane when a terrorist organisation exploits its own population as a propaganda weapon.

Anyone who draws a comparison between Warsaw Ghetto and Gaza is mocking the dead of Treblinka, Bergen-Belsen and Majdanek. They are insulting the survivors and also insulting those who are risking their lives in the war against Hamas to protect their people.

There is no genocide taking place in Gaza. The population has been growing for decades. And although innocent people are dying at the moment, the figures give no indication that Palestinians are being killed on a scale that amounts to decimation or extermination.

Furthermore, Gaza is not only sealed off by Israel, but also by Egypt. Cairo's role in the suffering in Gaza is generally underreported, but significant.

It is time to move away from these historical comparisons. They demonise and do not point the way to solutions.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Anyone who draws a comparison between Warsaw Ghetto and Gaza is mocking the dead of Treblinka, Bergen-Belsen and Majdanek.

We honor the dead with our resolve to let things like this happen "never again".

 

[Benaiah468]

The only way to ensure the elimination of Hamas members in Gaza is to destroy all infrastructure and housing to effectively render it uninhabitable for all 2.2 million Palestinians!

Objectively speaking, there is hardly any alternative to invading Gaza, because that is where Hamas and its terrorists are based, where their headquarters and infrastructure are located. If you want to deal Hamas a serious blow, you can only do so in the Gaza Strip, not from outside.

Netanyahu has always made it clear that he will not tolerate Hamas remaining in Gaza in any form. Due to Hamas' intransigence, Netanyahu has little choice but to maintain military operations in the Gaza Strip until Israel has achieved its ultimate war aim, namely the complete destruction of the terrorist organisation's military and political infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas is fanatical, it carries out terrorist attacks and incites fanaticism among the population. Those who hate Israel are already teaching their children to hate Israel, so that they grow up hating Israel without having decided to do so themselves: a vicious circle.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to separate the evil leaders of Hamas from the peace-loving people. A large proportion of Gaza's inhabitants support Hamas or sympathise with it.

Gaza City is not only geographically the heart of the reign of terror, it is the symbol of power that Hamas wants to defend at all costs. But the terrorist organization has long since changed. The "army" of Oct 7 has become a weakened guerrilla force, hunted down in tunnels, shattered in command structures, without real support.

While Hamas is showing toughness to the outside world, its interior ministry is appealing to Arab states that Israel must be stopped, otherwise Gaza will face the same fate as Rafah, Khan Yunis, and the northern coastal region.

Hamas's double message is telling: it boasts of resilience to Israel, while portraying itself as a victim to the Arab world. This balancing act betrays weakness. The fact that a regime that just months ago fantasized about a "victory" over Israel is now seeking protection from Arab governments speaks volumes. Hamas knows that Israel's plan to take Gaza City is serious, and this time there is no turning back.

The more Hamas boasts with threats, the clearer it becomes: it is fear that speaks. Fear of inevitable defeat, of reckoning with Israel and of the rejection of its own people, who believe less and less in the ‘resistance’ because it has only brought suffering.

If Hamas remains stubborn and refuses to surrender its weapons, release the hostages and capitulate, Israel will certainly implement its plan to temporarily take over the Gaza Strip. The costs may be high, both in terms of the suffering of the population in the Gaza Strip and in terms of possible military losses by the Israeli armed forces, but Israel is convinced that they are worth the outcome: the liberation of the hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, and the end of Hamas's 18-year tyranny over the "Palestinians" in the Gaza Strip.

In the end, it will not be Hamas that determines what the future of Gaza looks like, but Israel and those "Palestinians" who finally want to live without the rule of terror.

Despite their widely expressed public sympathy for the "Palestinians", Arab states in the Middle East show little willingness to accept them as refugees from the Gaza Strip. Yet resettling the inhabitants in Arab countries in the Middle East could reduce the number of civilian casualties in the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

The attitude of Arab countries towards "Palestinian" refugees contradicts the propagated ideals of support and solidarity.

It seems as if they turn a blind eye and a deaf ear when it comes to actually taking in "Palestinians". The obvious contradiction between words and deeds also extends to other Arab nations such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which often vehemently demand rights for "Palestinians" but in practice do nothing to take in their Muslim brothers and sisters in need.

Nowhere are the "Palestinians" as unwelcome as in the Arab states. And the “Palestinians” who are able to flee want to go anywhere but an Arab country. In the West and in Israel, "Palestinians" have long been citizens, but in the Arab states they remain disenfranchised and stateless, even if they were born there.