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'Every Hamas member is a dead man,' Netanyahu says as strikes devastate Gaza

95 Comments
By JOSEPH KRAUSS and WAFAA SHURAFA

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As strikes devastate Gaza, Israel forms unity government to oversee war sparked by Hamas attack

People have been noting the atrocities rained down on the Palestinian people for years, you push anyone far enough there will be a reaction.

20 ( +35 / -15 )

Where is the international outcry?

People have run out of tears for the Palestinians since Hamas decided to massacre women and children. There are fighters and traps waiting for the IDF so it makes sense to try to take them out before they go into Gaza on a ground offensive.

-17 ( +12 / -29 )

People have run out of tears for the Palestinians since Hamas decided to massacre women and children. There are fighters and traps waiting for the IDF so it makes sense to try to take them out before they go into Gaza on a ground offensive.

I agree. All this insane and horrific bloodshed, and for what? All of these fighters in Hamas as well as their senior leadership should know that they’re living on borrowed time now because a lot of them won’t see the end of the year.

-13 ( +14 / -27 )

The destruction of Gaza is not the answer.

29 ( +35 / -6 )

People have run out of tears for the Palestinians since Hamas decided to massacre women and children. There are fighters and traps waiting for the IDF so it makes sense to try to take them out before they go into Gaza on a ground offensive.

You're just parroting the lies told by the IDF. There are no "butchered women and beheaded children" in Israel, but there are plenty of them in Gaza.

15 ( +24 / -9 )

Israel six months ago:

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/features/2023/4/9/under-netanyahu-violence-against-christians-is-being-normalised

("Death to Christians")

Israel last week:

https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/world/occupied-east-jerusalem-outrage-over-ultraorthodox-jews-spitting-at-christians/video/db099459c9cd167f30fd5e493abbeed

(hock... spit)

Israel now:

https://twitter.com/Terror_Alarm/status/1710572459173261396

("Ooh please help us Christians")

You're on your own now, Benji.

24 ( +30 / -6 )

halted food, water, fuel and medicine ... to civilians !!!!!!

Open, blatant, in your face hypocrisy.

The EU and USUK ruling classes are insane. Apartheid-cheering, genocide-justifying inhuman, racist monstrosities.

16 ( +25 / -9 )

Israel is going to burn Gaza to the ground to kill all Hamas fighters. Keep in mind that this whole time the billionaire leaders of Hamas are watching the scenes in Gaza from their luxurious villas in Doha Qatar. With bank account estimate: $2-$5 billion. Palestinians have been used by these billionaires and are now going to pay the ultimate price just like the Israelis who have been gunned down did, meanwhile Hamas leadership is making more money and enjoying the life of luxury with blood of innocence on their hands! I just hope they are visited by a black ops team!

5 ( +19 / -14 )

Israel on Sunday halted the entry of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory.

That is a war crime. Plain and simple.

People have been noting the atrocities rained down on the Palestinian people for years, you push anyone far enough there will be a reaction.

Exactly. There has been a blockade on Gaza for almost 20 years. The Hamas slaughter (which was a terrorist act) is deplorable, and Israel has a right to retaliate against the group BUT not by collective punishment, AND the blockade, what Israel was doing before and since, is every bit as deplorable.

5 ( +20 / -15 )

A strange game.

The only winning move is to not play.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

The destruction of Gaza is not the answer.

I think it’s a good solution

-28 ( +10 / -38 )

Where is the international outcry?

https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/israel_palestine_save_kids_21/?copy

Open, blatant, in your face hypocrisy.

There is hypocrisy. It’s everywhere you look.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

bass4funk

The destruction of Gaza is not the answer.

> I think it’s a good solution

You think creating the world's largest humanitarian crisis is the way to go. The death of 2 million Arabs, including women and babies. 60% of the current dead are women and children.

Your answer is just as evil as the Hamas.

28 ( +33 / -5 )

U.S. President Joe Biden called the Hamas attack “the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.”

Biden sounds like an Israeli mouthpiece. Evoking the holocaust at every opportunity whilst overlooking Israel's decades long violation of human rights and international law, illegal appropriation of Palestinian land and systematic ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people.

Such a sad reality that the oppressed so quickly become the oppressor.

19 ( +23 / -4 )

The only winning move is to not play.

Please elaborate on how that is supposed to work.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Israel six months ago:

https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/features/2023/4/9/under-netanyahu-violence-against-christians-is-being-normalised

("Death to Christians")

Yeah, been to Israel before and never seen outright blatant hostility towards Christians other than from the Orthodox Community, they do have a more strange and take a more radical and hostile position towards Christians, but the rest of the Israeli society are not as hateful and are more tolerant especially secular Jews.

You think creating the world's largest humanitarian crisis is the way to go.

So why won’t the other Arab nations and Iran take in some of these refugees since they do support them.

The death of 2 million Arabs, including women and babies. 60% of the current dead are women and children.

Honestly, you think the Israelis at least most of them care given what their elected Hamas have and continue to perpetuate on the Jewish people.

Your answer is just as evil as the Hamas.

No, I’m just honest, I’m just saying what a lot of people are thinking and no, I don’t want to see innocent people killed on either side, but Hamas did this and they are responsible, so whatever happens now and in the future the blame rests with them, Hamas is responsible for what the outcome will be for the Palestinian people.

-18 ( +4 / -22 )

“Every Hamas member is a dead man,” he said in a televised address.

The extermination of jews is in the Hamas charter. Hamas is genocidal. There is no negotiation with them, they have rejected every peace offer and not even responded with counter offers. Reality is reality. The only way is the complete elimination of Hamas, even while they, unfortunately, shield themselves with civilians.

-15 ( +3 / -18 )

Israeli Director Ari Folman on Hamas Attack: “Benjamin Netanyahu Is Responsible for All of This”

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/israeli-director-ari-folman-hamas-174110382.html

It seems like people who do not have any personal gain from Palestinians living in Apartheid realize the true evil in this conflict aka Israeli government at its enablers.

Bernie Sanders says Israel is violating international law with blockade on 'open-air prison' in Gaza

https://www.yahoo.com/news/bernie-sanders-says-israel-violating-154426564.html

Bernie Sanders is also keeping it real by this conflict.

IDF says it won't back up its claim that Hamas decapitated babies in Israel because it is 'disrespectful for the dead'

https://www.yahoo.com/news/idf-says-wont-back-claim-150213726.html

Without evidence, it no different than the less convincing propaganda that their compatriots in Russia use.

16 ( +18 / -2 )

No, I’m just honest, I’m just saying what a lot of people are thinking and no, I don’t want to see innocent people killed on either side, but Hamas did this and they are responsible, so whatever happens now and in the future the blame rests with them, Hamas is responsible for what the outcome will be for the Palestinian people.

The Israelis are responsible for their own actions. The killing of civilians is a crime. Cutting off water, food, and power is a crime.

The 2 million Arabs in Gaza are going nowhere. The borders are closed.

Gaza needs an emergency aid corridor.

23 ( +26 / -3 )

Mr. Bass , collective punishment of death is not the answer ....need less chest beating and more dialogue

A pox on anyone killing the innocent, from either side.

Netanyahu is a disaster.....

21 ( +23 / -2 )

need less chest beating and more dialogue

Sounds nice. But its completely divorced from reality. Hamas doesnt do dialogue. You may have noticed.

-18 ( +2 / -20 )

Netanyahu gains from these deplorable Hamas killings and attacks. He was losing support and was only able to form a minority government with the help of the extreme right wing.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

Israel participated in hammas creation in the 80's to make weak arafat...it doesnt remember another story (hint: Afghanistan)?

Cutting water, electricity etc...in gaza "prison" will just justify even more the attacks.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

The Israelis are responsible for their own actions.

Yeah, well the Israelis will permanently remove that bad cavity for Hamas.

The killing of civilians is a crime. Cutting off water, food, and power is a crime.

Beheading babies, kidnapping and raping innocent women and children decapitating people and smashing the heads in of elderly people and parachuting into a youth event in order to commit as much carnage as you can is also a serious inhumane crime.

The 2 million Arabs in Gaza are going nowhere. The borders are closed.

Good.

Gaza needs an emergency aid corridor.

Again, elections have consequences! The Palestinians voted for Hamas, wanted them to represent them and this is the result. That’s on them.

-21 ( +3 / -24 )

I read today that 50% of residents in Gaza are 15 years old or younger.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

bass4funk

The Israelis are responsible for their own actions.

> Yeah, well the Israelis will permanently remove that bad cavity for Hamas.

That should not include the bombing and shelling of civilians or the destruction of their homes. Also hospitals, schools, and mosques.

The killing of civilians is a crime. Cutting off water, food, and power is a crime.

Beheading babies, kidnapping and raping innocent women and children decapitating people and smashing the heads in of elderly people and parachuting into a youth event in order to commit as much carnage as you can is also a serious inhumane crime.

Just because the Hamas have committed terrible and horrendous murders does not give a free hand to the Israelis to do whatever they want including war crimes.

The 2 million Arabs in Gaza are going nowhere. The borders are closed.

> Good.

You post contradictions.

Gaza needs an emergency aid corridor.

> Again, elections have consequences! The Palestinians voted for Hamas, wanted them to represent them and this is the result. That’s on them.

That is not how humanitarian support works.

You can't blame every Arab for the Hamas. Children don't vote but they are being killed.

18 ( +23 / -5 )

You can't blame every Arab for the Hamas. Children don't vote but they are being killed.

You can't blame every Israeli child or citizen/expats living or visiting Israel. It would be nice for you to call for peace instead of valuing one person's life over another's.

-7 ( +8 / -15 )

There are no "butchered women and beheaded children" in Israel

And you go by the name "Observer"? I didn't parrot anyone's lines and didn't say anything about beheaded children as you can clearly read in my comment. I'm telling you that because of the massacre, most people are going to accept that Israel needs to take Hamas out by carpet bombing parts of Gaza because it's riddled with traps and terrorists.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

That should not include the bombing and shelling of civilians or the destruction of their homes. Also hospitals, schools, and mosques.

Ok, then how do you do that since the cowards hide among the civilian populations, so they should just ask them to move and step aside… politely perhaps?

The killing of civilians is a crime. Cutting off water, food, and power is a crime.

Cutting off babies heads, raping and killing elderly and innocent bystanders is a crime as well.

Just because the Hamas have committed terrible and horrendous murders does not give a free hand to the Israelis to do whatever they want including war crimes.

Well, we all have an opinion, I personally disagree, but you disagree with me, so…

Like I said, I don’t have an ounce of sympathy for Hamas or their fighters.

You post contradictions. 

No, I’m very clear.

That is not how humanitarian support works.

I know.

You can't blame every Arab for the Hamas.

I don’t.

Children don't vote but they are being killed.

Nor should they be killed for being Jewish.

-7 ( +10 / -17 )

I’ve long been a proponent of Palestine existence and Israel to descale it’s often brutal methods of taking entire regions… but it’s hard to not see why Israel has this reaction.

Last weeks events were beyond all reasonable expectations even for Hamas imo. Attacking civilians, kidnapping and more. Particularly getting people from various countries caught in the cross fire. Makes sense more people will side with Israel over Palestine this time.

There’s no such thing as a fair war, and it’s literally a game of victims not warriors like we hope. The change in tone to say “evacuate the region if you want to live” says enough.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

bass4funk

That should not include the bombing and shelling of civilians or the destruction of their homes. Also hospitals, schools, and mosques.

> Ok, then how do you do that since the cowards hide among the civilian populations, so they should just ask them to move and step aside… politely perhaps?

That is not entirely accurate. Do you think every Arab home, school, and hospital has Hamas units hiding in them?

The killing of civilians is a crime. Cutting off water, food, and power is a crime.

> Cutting off babies heads, raping and killing elderly and innocent bystanders is a crime as well.

Because one side commits horrendous crimes does not give permission to the side to do the side. The Arabs and Hamas are not a country. Israel is a country tied to international conventions and treaties.

Just because the Hamas have committed terrible and horrendous murders does not give a free hand to the Israelis to do whatever they want including war crimes.

Well, we all have an opinion, I personally disagree, but you disagree with me, so…

I support Israel but I also support the Arab cause to have their state.

Like I said, I don’t have an ounce of sympathy for Hamas or their fighters.

And the innocent Arabs?

You post contradictions. 

> No, I’m very clear.

If you want the Arabs to leave Gaza then you are happy the border crossings are closed. So which is it?

That is not how humanitarian support works.

> I know.

You don't know or care about your comments.

You can't blame every Arab for the Hamas.

> I don’t.

But have posted comments that you do.

Children don't vote but they are being killed.

> Nor should they be killed for being Jewish.

Yes.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

bass4funk

Today 08:24 am JST

Beheading babies, kidnapping and raping innocent women and children decapitating people and smashing the heads in of elderly people and

Right, according to the IDF.

Again, elections have consequences! The Palestinians voted for Hamas, wanted them to represent them and this is the result. That’s on them.

By that logic everything Hama's is doing is on Israel because they keep electing Netanyahu and his ultranationalist, ultraorthodox cronies.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

Nor should they be killed for being Jewish.

Strawman argument! The conflict has never been about being Jewish because Jews have lived along Muslims and other faiths for centuries. It was Jewish Zionist that decided to invade and occupy someone else land like other European settlers in the Americas, Africa, Australia, Asia, and etc.

All resulting in the destruction of the indigenous people because they placed them in forced isolation under military occupation while slowly being pushed into the sea as more of their land is being stolen each year by more European and American converts.

Remember the various news stories that came in the past about Israeli soldiers abusing Palestinians by coincidence under the same current PM. Here is one of the videos of Israeli soldiers breaking Palestinian people arms with rocks from that report. This is the treatment that Palestinians have lived with for decades.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRcuy5jOplg

Let's not also forget Israel (European converts) was also caught temporarily sterilizing Black Jews against there will or without their consent from East Africa (genetically descended form the original tribes).

Israel Forcibly Injected African Immigrants with Birth Control, Report Claims

https://www.forbes.com/sites/eliseknutsen/2013/01/28/israel-foribly-injected-african-immigrant-women-with-birth-control/?sh=445db07d67b8

Both sides have done wrong and both sides have stood by and allowed others representing them do wrong.

There are no innocents in this unfortunate conflict only casualties.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

NOMINATION

You can't blame every Arab for the Hamas. Children don't vote but they are being killed.

> You can't blame every Israeli child or citizen/expats living or visiting Israel. It would be nice for you to call for peace instead of valuing one person's life over another's.

I support Israel and the Arab cause to have their own state. I have posted comments on how deplorable the Hamas have been in their horrendous attacks including killing women and children. I have not supported the Hamas.

A call for peace would be a waste unless there is an Arab solution.

7 ( +13 / -6 )

Imagine an enemy twisted with hatred, that as a Jew your very existence is an abomination, an obscenity, so much so obliteration eradication through holy war is justified as a sacred act on behalf of God and Islam.

Terrorism offers no prohibition, no rules governing the conduct of hostilities, Hamas sunni, Hezbollah shia, both are not governed by any protocols to the Geneva conventions. both hide behind the cloak of a extreme religious fundamentalism that the Palestinian people population can be ruthlessly sacrificed.

Terrorism hides in the shadows, behind human shields, civilian men women and children, in the hope that genuine humanitarians, decent law abiding citizens will lobby for restraint, humanitarian corridors to get aid into Gaza.

The reality is Hamas sunni, Hezbollah shia brand of liquidation of the Jew will never cease.

I am afraid that is the bottom line.

What is left?

Total war - unrestricted in terms of the weapons used, the territory or combatants involved, or the objectives pursued, especially one in which the accepted rules of war are disregarded.

Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, cannot exist in a democratic, human rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status in society.

 *
-4 ( +6 / -10 )

NOMINATION

It would be nice for you to call for peace instead of valuing one person's life over another's.

I couldn't find your comment calling for peace.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

'Every Hamas member is a dead man,' Netanyahu says as strikes devastate Gaza

I bet Nutanyahoo has been dreaming of saying that in public for 30 years.

6 ( +12 / -6 )

a collection of far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties

Are there any ultra / far left parties in Israel?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Hamas, through their indiscriminate targeting of innocent civilians from Israel and abroad, have justified their own destruction. Gaza is too much though. This HAS been a long time coming, and Israel HAVE brought it on themselves through their extreme oppression of the Palestinian people. They need to get Hamas, most of the world would support that, but Gaza is too much.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

itsonlyrocknroll

The people of Israel have no choice.

They have a choice not to commit war crimes and kill civilians.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

It seems we will see the holocaust of Palestine

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Cutting off the heads of babies, children, women and the elderly!

Shocking, cruel and barbaric. Worse than animals.

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

It would be so nice if Hamas could be reasoned with and persuaded to make better choices. Unfortunately the reality is that such a scenario is a sick joke.

Hamas must and will be obliterated.

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

Right, according to the IDF. 

So I should trust Hamas or the BBC to report what’s going on? Yeah, Ok…

By that logic everything Hama's is doing is on Israel because they keep electing Netanyahu and his ultranationalist, ultraorthodox cronies.

Someone needs to keep the Jewish people safe in their homeland from carnage and annihilation, so yes, it makes sense.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

The American CIA and Mossad failed to know ahead of time this terrible massacre was going to happen. What went wrong?

Israelis in a hospital in Tel Aviv screamed at a government minister for its failure and the lack of support 5 days after the start of the Hamas attacks.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

People have been noting the atrocities rained down on the Palestinian people for years, you push anyone far enough there will be a reaction.

The Palestinian governments along with their conspirators have been committing atrocities against an admittedly small number of their own people who actually want peace.

So, any Hamas fighters, and those who give aid and comfort to them must be permanently eliminated, and that is what they will get, snd without mercy.

Sit back and watch.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

So I should trust Hamas or the BBC to report what’s going on

No, trust Netanyahu who literally said that it was a Palestinian who convinced Hitler to implement the holocaust.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Wallace Israel has a choice/right to survive.

When Hamas broke through the border, and the slaughtering began, a chain of events were put into motion that would inevitably lead to hell on earth for Palestinian people/population.

Hamas planning, stealth, surprise was the most toxic poison chalice all will eagerly gulp down.

Such loss of innocent life, in such horrific circumstances will never satisfy the need, demand to exact the harshest retribution.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Hamas took a frightened and confused 4 year old Israeli boy who was confused walking around in Gaza speaking only in Hebrew while they slap him around. So cruel.

What animals!

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Hamas took a frightened and confused 4 year old Israeli boy who was confused walking around in Gaza speaking only in Hebrew while they slap him around. So cruel.

What animals!

Welcome to the West Bank, where such treatment of Palestinian children by the IDF is the norm.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Dont call them animals. Animals are not evil. Hamas is full of evil psychopaths.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

No, trust Netanyahu who literally said that it was a Palestinian who convinced Hitler to implement the holocaust.

A Palestinian leader did ask Hitler to say publicly that Germany wanted the elimination of the Jewish national home in the Palestine territory. So what?

I do trust Netanyahu who literally said Every Hamas member is a dead man.

There's no disagreement here obviously because those scum deserve to meet Allah very soon. No one here is making justifications for murder, right? That would make those people also scum.

I would like to bid a farewell to each Hamas member and their many supporters as Israel takes them out one by one, and destroys whatever infrastructure is used to enable them, piece by piece.

And there will be no war crimes. This is self-defense.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

Reaping what you sowed

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Israel Defense Minister: “we have [regained] control of the area, and we are moving to a full offense. Hamas wanted a change in Gaza, it will change 180 degrees from what it thought. They will regret this moment, Gaza will never return to what it was."

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

A Palestinian leader did ask Hitler to say publicly that Germany wanted the elimination of the Jewish national home in the Palestine territory. So what?

Yea, then he had dinner with Hitler and they ate hummus and watched a movie.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Regardless of one's opinion of Hamas, the idea that Israel can destroy the organization is not grounded in any kind of rational expectation. It cannot be accomplished through military action.

Hamas exists in too many places including places Israel has no control over. An example of the futility of thinking military action alone can defeat an organization like Hamas is the western coalition that tried to eliminate IS in Syria and Iraq. 15 nations including 8 NATO members are or were involved in military operations to defeat IS and they did not completely destroy them. They continue to conduct small raids in Syria and have moved into Afghanistan to fight the Taliban whom they consider to be apostates. Hamas operates in the West Bank which Israel has nominal control over (however Israel's failed operation to root out a rebel cell in the Jenin refugee camp is a cautionary experience about the ability of an army to succeed in finding and killing rebels on their home turf in a crowded urban environment) but Hamas also operates in Lebanon in areas protected by Hezbollah that Israel has absolutely no control over along with Yemen where some Hamas fighters honed their skills fighting Saudi and UAE forces alongside IRGC troops.

The root cause of Hamas is the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. This current war is, if anything, making Hamas stronger. The way to weaken Hamas is to offer the Palestinians a viable alternative to collective resistance. Most Palestinians are not in love with Hamas goals of a Sunni theocracy but support them because they seem to be the only viable alternative to being crushed by Israel. A two state solution at a bare minimum and Israel returning to its pre-1967 borders would defang Hamas very quickly.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

The American CIA and Mossad failed to know ahead of time this terrible massacre was going to happen. What went wrong?

Hamas used couriers and face to face meetings. They used internet accounts according to a complicated communications plan but didn't send e-mails. Instead one member would log in to the assigned account, write a message and leave it in draft, then log out. Another member logs in and reads the message, then logs out. Etc. Accounts are changed regularly according to a plan and the number of members with access to a given account is limited. They know enough to stay off cell phones, not use radios or send e-mails, all things Israel and the US can exploit. In short they have excellent Operations Security or OPSEC. Getting inside such an organization is not a simple task. It requires members to become informants, which is a good way to be executed.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

 It was Jewish Zionist that decided to invade and occupy someone else land like other European settlers in the Americas, Africa, Australia, Asia, and etc.

So you think there's no justification for a Jewish state and all Jews in Israel are living on stolen land? You believe the Palestinian people are indigenous and Jewish people aren't? This is one narrative but it doesn't seem to me as if it's a nuanced picture of history and reality. I'm all for nuance. I agree no one is completely right in this history even while Hamas is completely terrorist and completely for the destruction of all Jews in its stated goals. I agree, though, that Israel should be criticized in lots of ways for its treatment of the Palestinian people.

I think your narrative is childish and silly. Most Jews in Israel are from the region. There is no returning to anywhere for them. There is no guarantee of rights for them except in Israel which has been a fact on the ground for more than 70 years. Every country around them tried to destroy and murder them.

Having said that, the increasing move away from a two-state solution and tenable standards of living for Palestinians is a big part of the problem. Netanyahu has been a disaster IMO. I agree with much of the criticism of Israel vis a vis human rights. However, I stand with Israeli people in condemning the horrible terrorism they experienced this week.

Zionism is not racist. Israel is not any less arbitrary than most other countries in the region and in other regions that are legacies of colonialism.

This is not a black and white situation. It's not a good guy/bad guy situation.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

That is not entirely accurate. Do you think every Arab home, school, and hospital has Hamas units hiding in them?

A big portion yes

Because one side commits horrendous crimes does not give permission to the side to do the side. The Arabs and Hamas are not a country. Israel is a country tied to international conventions and treaties.

Well, tell That to the hundreds of Israel lees who have had their family members brutally and horrifically, murdered by these barbaric radical terrorists, as a parent if someone did that to my kids, I would hold back, not for a second

Just because the Hamas have committed terrible and horrendous murders does not give a free hand to the Israelis to do whatever they want including war crimes.

Ok, we have a difference of opinion on that one.

I support Israel but I also support the Arab cause to have their state.

Ok

And the innocent Arabs?

Different story.

If you want the Arabs to leave Gaza then you are happy the border crossings are closed. So which is it?

I just want Hamas stopped, that’s it, destroyed preferably.

You don't know or care about your comments.

I mean what I say.

But have posted comments that you do.

No, I never said, nor implied such a thing, but I do blame Iran and Hamas.

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

 Most Jews in Israel are from the region. There is no returning to anywhere for them. 

Hmmm. OECD data shows Israel has the fourth greatest proportion of its population born in another country.

"Israel is in 4th place in the OECD in terms of the share of immigrants in its population, with the foreign-born accounting for 26% of the total population. 19% of them arrived in the last 5 years compared with 22% on average across OECD countries. "

https://www.oecd.org/migration/integration-indicators-2012/keyindicatorsbycountry/name,218335,en.htm

The majority of immigrants to Israel come from Russia. They are far and away the largest immigrant group

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/total-immigration-to-israel-by-country-of-origin

7 ( +9 / -2 )

All Hamas now have a death sentence.

Unfortunately however, I don't expect Israel will be all that discriminate, and will end up creating even more ill will by taking out innocents as collateral damage.

Violence begets violence. The cycle continues.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

If not for the unjustifiable support from the US, israel would be defending itself in the Hague for the crimes against humanity and human rights for the atrocities committed against the Palestinian people.

Hamas a byproduct, a group of terrorists led by fundamentalist exploiting despair and hopelessness of the Palestinians who were put in this position by israel and US support. Take away the support and israel will be forced to negotiate a solution.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

The conundrum for Israel is that the more brutal their ground operations in Gaza, the stronger they make Hamas. A lot of those posting here do not seem to realize that. Israel might succeed in killing a lot of Hamas fighters, even kill a few of their leaders, but it won't destroy them.

Right now Hamas basically has Fatah boxed into a corner in the West Bank. Fatah can't applaud Hamas or risk their credibility with their western supporters and it would end their cooperation with the Israeli government. But that very timidity to speak out makes them appear weak and feeble in the eyes of most Palestinians. They are being discredited for doing nothing to make life better for the Palestinians they claim to represent while the Israelis chip away at their land for new settlements while building walls to cordon off Palestinian towns and building roads Palestinians are not permitted to use.

Hamas is seen as taking the fight to Israel and even if they suffer grievous losses they won't cease to exist and in fact will gain considerable political strength that converts into the ability to recruit fighters down the road.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Unfortunately however, I don't expect Israel will be all that discriminate, and will end up creating even more ill will by taking out innocents as collateral damage.

Violence begets violence. The cycle continues.

It is exactly that cycle of violence that strengthens groups like Hamas. The very act of trying to destroy them makes them stronger.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

If not for the unjustifiable support from the US, israel would be defending itself in the Hague for the crimes against humanity and human rights for the atrocities committed against the Palestinian people.

This to me is the saddest part of this mess. Too many evangelical christians in the US fervently believe that a militant and hegemonic Israel has to be at war with its neighbors to create the final war called Armageddon in the christian good book that leads to the second coming of Jesus. That is why evangelicals are so ardent in their support of Israel and willing to overlook any barbarity they commit. As long as Israel starts Armegeddon they think Jesus will come and take them all to heaven.

That sick ideology holds US policymakers hostage. Members of Congress believe this fervently. Their constituents believe it too. It is preached in US churches. And until this terrible ideology is challenged forcefully and openly it will continue to drive US foreign policy.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

Btw, I am not trying to defend Hamas. But even during the Cold War when I was on active duty we read Soviet military literature and acknowledged their holidays. We'de call WWII the Great Patriotic War. We had copies of Morskoy Sbornik in our wardrooms (the Soviet Navy's equivalent of Naval Institute Proceedings). Why? To get into their mind. To understand where your enemy is coming from. Why do they hate you? How do they operate? What drives them? You can't defeat an enemy if you don't understand how they see you and the world you both inhabit.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Also knowing your enemy just might give you some insights into how to avoid a tragic war. Find their off ramp. I

8 ( +10 / -2 )

i have a lot of mixed feelings about this, mainly because I'm feeling quite pro-Israel right now in light of what happened, but can also see that Israel is about to do something extremely rash that is probably going to make me flip flop on that.

Clearly for Israel the gloves are off, and understandably so. When I look at these images coming out of Israel of children murdered in cold blood, my gut reaction is that "Every Hamas member of Hamas is a dead man" is a sentiment I can really get behind. And if I feel that way, having zero connection to Israel or Palestine, I can only imagine how strong that must be in Israel right now.

But I feel that way because I find the killing of children abhorent. And if Israel is going to follow through on that promise, which is politically inevitable now, they are going to have to plow through an urban area with 2 million people living in it, including huge numbers of children who have no place to flee.

So while my feeling right now is "Go Israel, destroy Hamas to the last man", I get the feeling that in a month from now I'll probably find myself re-thinking that and wishing calmer heads had prevailed (even though that is not really possible in a situation like this).

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Give the Palestinians a state,stop stealing their land and dignity and organisations like Hamas will have no oxygen!

14 ( +20 / -6 )

Give the Palestinians a state,stop stealing their land and dignity and organisations like Hamas will have no oxygen!

Exactly!

15 ( +18 / -3 )

Adolf Netanyahu vows to wipe out every Hamas member....men and women.

The targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime.......hello ICC....

The wanton slaughter on both sides is deplorable, but the fascist Israeli government have painted Palestine into a corner....quite literally. Illegal land occupation, blockades, apartheid policies......I do NOT stand with Israel.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Netanyahu gains from these deplorable Hamas killings and attacks. He was losing support and was only able to form a minority government with the help of the extreme right wing.

The American CIA and Mossad failed to know ahead of time this terrible massacre was going to happen. What went wrong?

Yes, and apparently Egypt warned Israel that something was about to happen. People are wondering how so many Hamas members were able to cross the barriers and carry out their attack for hours before the Israelis responded. It's as if Netanyahu wanted something terrible to happen so that he can respond harshly, for the purpose of distracting from his legal/political troubles and/or a land grab.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

The majority of immigrants to Israel come from Russia. They are far and away the largest immigrant group…

You’re being tricky. But I was wrong. Checking Wikipedia, it’s half and half.

Approximately 80% of Israeli Jews are born in Israel, 14% are immigrants from Europe and the Americas, and 6% are immigrants from Asia and Africa.[317] Jews from Europe and the former Soviet Union and their descendants born in Israel, including Ashkenazi Jews, constitute approximately 50% of Jewish Israelis. Jews who left or fled Arab and Muslim countries and their descendants, including both Mizrahi and Sephardi Jews,[318] form most of the rest of the Jewish population.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

@bass4funk

Wait a short whileuntil the brutalities that Israel starts to inflict in Gaza become evident and then watch the surrounding countries begin to attack Israel in response and as the US comes to defend Israel;Iran gets attacked.

This will bring Russia and China into the conflict then World War lll starts.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I think your narrative is childish and silly. Most Jews in Israel are from the region. There is no returning to anywhere for them. There is no guarantee of rights for them except in Israel which has been a fact on the ground for more than 70 years. Every country around them tried to destroy and murder them.

Maybe you are not familiar with the history. Maybe because of the method of acquiring that land and creating apartheid on the indigenous people had something to do with that.

In 2020, 78% of the Jewish population were “Sabras” - born in Israel - compared with just a 35% native-born population at Israel’s independence in 1948. Over half of the Jewish population are Israeli-born to at least one parent who was also Israeli-born. Those of European and American ancestry make up about 2.2 million (36%) of the Jewish population in Israel, while Africans fill out another 14.5% and Asians are 11.2%.

Only 35% of the population at the formation were native even though there was no independence but an occupation. The original population of indigenous jews were smaller than 35%. That means a significant portion were people being born right after fleeing from Europe and creating the state, thus, 65% were not indigenous. That 35% also did not outnumber the indigenous people arleady living there.

Vital Statistics: Latest Population Statistics for Israel (September 14, 2023)

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/latest-population-statistics-for-israel

The number is higher now because they have been occupying and oppressing the indigenous people allowing them to reproduce while killing younger indigenous population and creating an environment that increases the mortality rate for all non-Jews..

Do you believe the British pilgrims outnumbered the Native Americans when they first stole Native American territories?

Since the European Americans now outnumber the Native Americans, does that justify all the attrocities they committed?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Christianity, Judaism, Islam all from the Middle East. What Good is your religion?

They became an issue when the first two was hijacked and exploited by Western colonists. The Catholic church was the world's first international conglomerate (global colonization) and the second fled Europe and illegally occupied someone else's territory (Modern Israel) while oppressing the residences, and the third is an abusive symptom of the first two.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The risk of the war spreading was evident Wednesday after the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military position and claimed to have killed and wounded troops.

Can someone remind me what did Israel ever do to Iran?

Other than helping Iran fight against Iraq, why is Iran funding Hamas to murder civilians attending concerts, walking in their neighborhoods, sleeping in their beds?

Is it just the basic antisemitism that Iran espouses, like everyone else here who tries to justify Hamas' actions, or shift to irrelevancies like "But Israel"?

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

When I look at these images coming out of Israel of children murdered in cold blood, my gut reaction is that "Every Hamas member of Hamas is a dead man" is a sentiment I can really get behind.

All Gazans have seen similar images of murdered Palestinian children on a regular basis for several decades...

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Is Israel's response to this surprising? What would you have it do?

Sit back and take it? Open dialogue with Hamas?

Let's not forget what Hamas is. It is a terrorist organization that hides behind the very civilians it should be looking out for. It is just hoping that Israel responds in the way it should. By doing that, they can claim they are the victims of Israel. Judging by many of the comments here, Hamas has succeeded. Israel has sent warnings to the general population of Gaza to evacuate. Hamas tells the population the opposite and that Israel won't attack. Why?

And let's not forget what Hamas had just done. They uploaded a video/images of a grandmother to her Facebook page for all to see. Why?

They also beheaded babies. They burned people alive in their cars. They attacked unarmed civilians at a concert and have kidnapped over 100 people. Why?

And many here think Israel's response is wrong?! What would you have the country do?

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

The Guardian and the Whitehouse are walking back the "beheaded babies" story:

"At Biden’s address to Jewish community leaders in Washington he also said, “I never really thought that I would see and have confirmed pictures of terrorists beheading children.”

*Shortly afterwards, the White House clarified the comments, with a spokesperson telling the Washington Post that neither US officials nor Biden had seen photographs or confirmed such reports independently and that Biden had “based his comments about the alleged atrocities on the claims from Netanyahu’s spokesman,” the Washington Post reports.*

Reports of infants being decapitated by Hamas have been repeated by the Israeli government and defence forces, but have not been verified independently"

Source of dubious ‘beheaded babies’ claim is Israeli settler leader who incited riots to ‘wipe out’ Palestinian village.

https://thegrayzone.com/2023/10/11/beheaded-israeli-babies-settler-wipe-out-palestinian/

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Real Peace Depends on Recognizing Israel’s Right to Exist

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/28/opinion/israel-palestine-peace-process.html

At a news conference recently President Biden made a statement that might have seemed unremarkable: “Let’s get something straight here,” Mr. Biden said. “Until the region says unequivocally, they acknowledge the right of Israel to exist as an independent Jewish state, there will be no peace.”

 “We still need a two-state solution. It is the only answer.”

Maybe Palestinians, Israel alone can within a UN sponsored legislative framework create two state solution

Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran will never accept any notion that the Jew has a right to exist.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

That is why we are witnessing such a horrific scale of destruction, loss of innocent life.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

All Gazans have seen similar images of murdered Palestinian children on a regular basis for several decades...

They absolutely have and its every bit as outrageous and tragic when a Palestinian kid gets killed by the Israelis.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

People (mostly liberals) are blaming Israel for the siege of Gaza.

But it's not just Israel, it's also Egypt, a fellow Arab nation that blockades Gaza.

Hamas has the same ideology as that of Muslim Brotherhood, a movement outlawed in Egypt and so Egypt believes its justified in enforcing the blockade of Gaza.

But the liberals will focus their criticism and selective outrage on Israel, a democracy while ignoring Egypt and its military government.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )



That means a significant portion were people being born right after fleeing from Europe…

I’m willing to read a link about which population of Jews came when (the logic you give is wrong though the statement of fact may be correct or not) but I don’t think it changes the fact that five million Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews do not have an obvious place to live if they are packed onto trains and boats tomorrow. Hamas’ idea is to do away with all of Israelis, which is a mindset that has probably existed since the beginning.

The number is higher now because they have been occupying and oppressing the indigenous people allowing them to reproduce while killing younger indigenous population and creating an environment that increases the mortality rate for all non-Jews..

From what I can see from Wikipedia, infant mortality has decreased and population has increased in the “state of Palestine.” But that does not excuse the disgustingly poor living conditions under which the Palestinians live. You might know better than I about the distinctions between Gaza, Gotland Heights, etc. You’re right that I’m no expert on this issue. Maybe you are but you don’t seem so.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Thuban

halted food, water, fuel and medicine ... to civilians !!!!!!

Open, blatant, in your face hypocrisy.

The same hypocrisy that Hamas is (and has been) using of hiding behind said civilians. One-sided vision a bit?

Also, do you notice the irony that it is Israel, and not Egypt, that is supplying this supposed "open air prison" with food, water, fuel, and medicine? So they are supposed to support the same government that is at war with them?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

AnotherExpertToday  11:31 am JST

They also beheaded babies. They burned people alive in their cars. They attacked unarmed civilians at a concert and have kidnapped over 100 people.

The source of that shocking information is ...... ?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

From watching the relentless Israeli indiscriminate bombing in Gaza, many people around the world will be asking the question, "Who is Netanyahu fighting? Hamas? Or the civilian population of Gaza? If it walks like a war crime...

1 ( +4 / -3 )

AnotherExpertToday  11:31 am JST

Is Israel's response to this surprising? What would you have it do?

Sit back and take it? Open dialogue with Hamas?

Let's not forget what Hamas is. It is a terrorist organization that hides behind the very civilians it should be looking out for. It is just hoping that Israel responds in the way it should. By doing that, they can claim they are the victims of Israel. Judging by many of the comments here, Hamas has succeeded. Israel has sent warnings to the general population of Gaza to evacuate. Hamas tells the population the opposite and that Israel won't attack. Why?

And let's not forget what Hamas had just done. They uploaded a video/images of a grandmother to her Facebook page for all to see. Why?

They also beheaded babies. They burned people alive in their cars. They attacked unarmed civilians at a concert and have kidnapped over 100 people. Why?

And many here think Israel's response is wrong?! What would you have the country do?

Declare a moratorium on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Freeze any Israeli construction and relocation to the area. Open the area to Palestinian communities.

Control Israeli settlers who often act beyond the law with impunity. The law applies to everyone even them.

Take control of and grant Israeli citizenship to everyone in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem. This would include all the benefits and privileges granted to Jews as Israeli citizens.

Use international pressure to convince neighboring Arab countries like Egypt to open their border and accept Palestinian refugees as Egyptian citizens.

Many Palestinians don't support the activities of Hamas or Hezbollah. Yes it's a crazy idea to grant Israeli citizenship to Palestinians in those areas and there would probably be continuing conflict but gradually if Palestinians see that they can lead stable lives with jobs and income for their families, many would turn away from the extremists. What's the alternative? Much of the same that has been going on forever. Never ending fighting, death, and destruction. 20% of the Israeli population are Arabs living in Israel peacefully. There is precedence. You can't continue considering these areas as 'territories'. There will never be peace. If Arab nations can't control and don't like the idea of these territories being part of Israel, then do something to help in a positive way instead of funding Hamas and Hezbollah. And the last point, all Arab nations must recognize Israel as a sovereign state. A big part of the problem are Arab nations.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

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