Hamas is the De Facto Government in Gaza

winterwhite, your suggestion of air drops. It has already been tried. There were problems with crates falling into the water, and drownings, and other accidents.
Wasn't there also a plan to build a causeway, and deliver by boat?
Can't remember how 'supportive' the Israelis were at the time.

winterwhite

Hamas may be the only ‘government’ in Gaza but I didn’t think they were negotiating for peace, only pronouncing their terms for the release of the hostages. They are extremists with little or no interest in preserving life.

My naive question is why cannot the UN commission planes to drop food supplies into Gaza? There must be reasons or it would have been done, but are the reasons strong enough?

The RAF was dropping supplies into Gaza last year, along with other countries.
Led by the Jordanian Armed Forces, the international operation saw 9 nations and 14 aircraft drop essential aid.

Aid agencies say it was an inefficient way of delivering food and were against it. The Red Cross said that "Delivering sudden and unsupervised types of food to people who are malnourished or even starving can pose serious risks to life." Surely not as serious as dying of starvation?

As some aid agencies are failing to deliver due to many factors, I find that attitude strange.

Not all agree
"We need to bring food into Gaza any way we can. We should be bringing it by the sea," José Andrés, a chef and founder of World Central Kitchen, which has been sending food to Gaza, told ABC News.

"I don't think we need to be criticising that Jordan, America are doing airdrops. If anything, we should be applauding any initiative that brings food into Gaza."

Israel controls any aid getting into Gaza and denies there is a problem!
During a visit to Israeli troops in Gaza on Wednesday, Israel's President Isaac Herzog insisted his country was providing humanitarian aid "according to international law".

One in five children in Gaza City is malnourished and cases are increasing every day, the UN's Palestinian refugee agency (Unrwa) says.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Unrwa Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini cited a colleague telling him: "People in Gaza are neither dead nor alive, they are walking corpses."

If any aid is getting through, it is not reaching those who are in desperate need.

It isn't true that the British gvernment were not involved in talks with the IRA- Thatcher was involved though it was all very hush hush for a while.

Nelson Mandela was condemned by Thatcher as a terrorist too.

Hammas at some time will have to come to the table, but no one will let them until they have taken away their aim of destroying the Israeli state, and Israel ceases its indiscriminate killing of women and children...

I cannot see that happening but hope I am wrong...

Hamas are terrorists who care nothing for the Palestinians. Israel is committing genocide and guilty of war crimes and cares nothing for the Palestinians; not much to choose between them really is there but our country is supporting Israel.

I don't think Israel have any intention of doing a peace deal with Hamas. They pay lip service to the US to make it look as though they are trying but it's far from their true aims. .

Surely only a fool would believe otherwise AGA.

Caleo

MOnica, I understand your POV. Nobody want to set a precedent for terrorists to be legitimised.

Do you not think that the urgency of the situation in Gaza justifies taking this risk?

No, because it would be totally unproductive and lead to more deaths not fewer. It is like paying money to a black mailer, they just come back for more. Negotiate with Hamas and you are opening Pandora's box, and millions more will be killed in many countries all round the world as terrorist groups and dictators claim the right to negotiaate on the behalf of people they have taken over illegally.

the way to stop is for Hamas and Israel to agree to a ceasefire. Then leaders of both groups should be arraigned before the International War crimes Tribunal at Den Hague.

Negotiating with terrorists is one thing, negotiating with terrorists as the representative government of a country is an entirely different thing.

It would be a waste of time because Hamas will do nothing unless the Israelis match them step by step and the Israelis....... I am sorry I cannot think of a single word to say about the Israeli government that is printable.

And, if a peace deal and getting the hostages home was a priority for the Israeli Government, why then did they spend one of the last days of Parliament, before the recess, allowing the Settlers time in Parliament for that lobbying session, and then do a vote to annex the West Bank?
It should have been the hostage families getting their time and attention. They should have sent proper Negotiators to the peace talks.

Smileless2012

Surely only a fool would believe otherwise AGA.

That’s right, call other people fools who may not agree with your point of view.🤬

Galaxy

Despite all it's faults? I don't know how to respond to this.

Jaw dropping isn’t it?

You disagree with AGAA4 s point Oreo?

Netanyahu and other members of his government were once classed as terrorists.

Hamas is widely considered a terrorist organization by the UK government, as well as by the EU, US, and others — which is why official recognition as a legitimate government is not extended. While it is the de facto authority in Gaza, recognition isn’t just about governance; it also reflects a state’s stance on human rights, use of violence, and willingness to engage in diplomacy under international norms.

The UK government’s position is based on Hamas’s refusal to renounce violence, its stance toward Israel, and its past actions against civilians. Recognition would carry significant political and legal consequences, including undermining existing diplomatic frameworks and peace efforts through the Palestinian Authority, which is internationally recognized.

That said, many argue that lasting peace may require engaging all influential actors in dialogue — but recognition and dialogue are not the same thing. A government may choose to engage without formally legitimizing.

itewavemark2 Fri 25-Jul-25 17:31:42
Netanyahu and other members of his government were once classed as terrorists.

When ? By whom ?

It is simply paying the Danegeld, and once you have paid the Danegeld you never get rid of the Dane.
Hamas have no concern for the people of Gaza, they are simply used as bargaining tools, and should they be invited to the table, they will only seek to negotiate to further their intent to destroy Israel.

While Israel carry on destroying Gaza and it's people.

M0nica

Caleo

MOnica, I understand your POV. Nobody want to set a precedent for terrorists to be legitimised.

Do you not think that the urgency of the situation in Gaza justifies taking this risk?

No, because it would be totally unproductive and lead to more deaths not fewer. It is like paying money to a black mailer, they just come back for more. Negotiate with Hamas and you are opening Pandora's box, and millions more will be killed in many countries all round the world as terrorist groups and dictators claim the right to negotiaate on the behalf of people they have taken over illegally.

the way to stop is for Hamas and Israel to agree to a ceasefire. Then leaders of both groups should be arraigned before the International War crimes Tribunal at Den Hague.

Negotiating with terrorists is one thing, negotiating with terrorists as the representative government of a country is an entirely different thing.

It would be a waste of time because Hamas will do nothing unless the Israelis match them step by step and the Israelis....... I am sorry I cannot think of a single word to say about the Israeli government that is printable.

May another model to describe Israel , is as terrorists stealing an aeroplane on the ground at an airfield and using captive passengers as hostages. The only way to deal with those terrorists is negotiating with them for the lives of as many passengers as can be rescued.

I think the hi-jacking model includes urgency that the blackmailing model lacks.

Killing off the women and children is the time -honoured way to do genocide. Israel's motive is crystal clear.

M0nica

Negotiating with terrorists is one thing, negotiating with terrorists as the representative government of a country is an entirely different thing.

Exactly.

Dickens

M0nica

Negotiating with terrorists is one thing, negotiating with terrorists as the representative government of a country is an entirely different thing.

Exactly.

Well put, M0nica.

At last, Israel is allowing air drops of food into Gaza!!!!!!!!!!!!

Huge demonstration in Tel Aviv against the war in Gaza. Interviews with a few residents.

Maremia

At last, Israel is allowing air drops of food into Gaza!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank goodness!!

Maremia

At last, Israel is allowing air drops of food into Gaza!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a con. Food drops can only be a drop in the ocean compared with taking in adequate supplies of food in by lorry on existing good roads. It will give Israeli forces another chance to take potshots at Palestinians and reduce the population a bit more when they rush to get the food. Who will be on the ground to receive it and make sure it is shared out fairly?

So do nothing?

It's of limited use but better than nothing however the most vulnerable will still not be fed.