Israel, Hamas and now Hezbollah

foxie48

I was incredibly moved when I say the brief clip of Yocheved Lifschitz taking the hand of her captor and saying "Shalom" when she was released. What an inspirational woman. She has spent a lifetime working towards peace with her Palestinian neighbours and despite her abduction and what she has been through she still has the humanity to make that gesture of friendship. It gives me a little more faith in the goodness of people, not everyone in this world wants retribution and violence.

I think she may feel quite differently once she has been told exactly what happened to over a thousand people who weren’t taken hostage, when she hears or sees footage of the brutal rapes of girls, torture and murder and mayhem and deaths of babies and toddlers.
She and her husband were pulled out of their house along with others and hustled away over the fields into Gaza and kept in ignorance of events for a fortnight.

16:05Oreo

My thoughts exactly, also perhaps she is worried about her husband held as a hostage and wanted to come over as sympathetic to Hamas hoping they would let him go soon.

foxie, thank you for sharing that, although as I said, I looked for coverage and found none. Maybe it had already been withdrawn when I looked, because it wasn’t there then. Likewise, I watched the early BBC bulletin but didn’t see any coverage, although it many have been shown in the later bulletin. I don’t know as I couldn’t find any coverage by either The Guardian or the BBC, but am glad you say there was coverage.

Well it's possible that Yocheved Lifschitz will wish she had not wished the Hamas terrorist "peace" but actually I doubt it. She and her husband have been committed peace activists all their lives. What I have copied is a Petition in favour of recognition of a Palestine State, which is signed by her husband, who is a journalist. These are not naive old people but they are people with strong beliefs in what is right.
caabu.org/sites/default/files/resources/Israeli%20petition%20to%20European%20Parliament%20in%20favor%20of%20recognition%20of%20a%20Palestinian%20state%20(2).pdf
“We the undersigned citizens of Israel, who wish for it to be a safe and thriving country, are
worried by the continued political stalemate, the occupation, and the settlement activities that
lead to further confrontations with Palestinians and quash any chances for compromise. It is
clear that the prospects for Israel's security and existence depend on the existence of a
Palestinian state alongside Israel. Israel should recognize the state of Palestine and Palestine
should recognize the state of Israel, based on the June 4, 1967 borders. Your initiative for
recognition of the state of Palestine will advance prospects for peace and will encourage
Israelis and Palestinians alike to bring an end to their conflict.”

Oreo, I think you’re right, when that poor elderly lady learns what was done to the other people caught up in that act of terrorism, I think she may feel differently. When she hears of babies beheaded, women and girls raped and defiled, women’s breast cut off, men’s genitals removed, children tied together and burnt to death, and other atrocities, when she hears about that, she may feel very differently.

I think the west have dug themselves in a hole by giving Israel unconditional support because no support should be unconditional.

From WAR ON WANT

The UK must act urgently to end the bombardment and lethal siege on the Gaza Strip, stop fuelling Israel’s war crimes by immediately ending its arms trade with Israel, and work towards a sustainable peace by ending the illegal occupation.

Are you all happy to be complicit in the deaths in Gaza...even of the children and babies?

I was encouraged to learn that the U.K. was flying in aid destined for Gaza, medical supplies, and much more.

GrannyGravy13

I was encouraged to learn that the U.K. was flying in aid destined for Gaza, medical supplies, and much more.

Good, I hope it reaches those who desperately need it, GrannyGravy.

paddyann is the UK such a power that it can say Halt! and the two sides immediately cease hostilities?

Both sides need to agree - Hamas to release the hostages and stop firing rockets into Gaza and the Israeli Government to stop bombing Gaza.

The UN must act to bring this about. Action, not words.

paddyann54 - I do hope you aren’t suggesting every poster here is ‘happy to be complicit in deaths in Gaza…even of the children and babies’
That’s astoundingly offensive - no pos I’ve seen suggests support for the awful situation in Gaza. Stating that Hamas bares some responsibility is no different than expecting people to consider the polarised history and hoping for a diplomatic solution

Iam64

paddyann54 - I do hope you aren’t suggesting every poster here is ‘happy to be complicit in deaths in Gaza…even of the children and babies’
That’s astoundingly offensive - no pos I’ve seen suggests support for the awful situation in Gaza. Stating that Hamas bares some responsibility is no different than expecting people to consider the polarised history and hoping for a diplomatic solution

Yes, I'm afraid that she might.

I find it strange that apparently some posters think it is the fault of Palestinians in Gaza that they are being slaughtered by Israel, because of Hamas. But there is little recognition that the policies Israel has pursued for the last 17years have any connection with the recruitment to Hamas and the dreadful slaughter of 7/10. Terrorists ate not born they are created

There will be survivors of this bombardment who will have lost their families and will be radicalised as a result. Why do governments pursue wars which they know will only result in more targeting of civilians? And why do other governments support this? The outcome is obvious.

UN workers have died. Aid workers are going to die. And there seems to be no end to it….

I find it strange that apparently some posters think it is the fault of Palestinians in Gaza that they are being slaughtered by Israel, because of Hamas

How you extrapolate some of your claims from people's posts is a mystery.

It's all shocking, do you really think we watch this and not feel despair, Glorianny?

countingthekids.org/

I just saw it’s been reported that a journalist from Gaza has discovered that his wife and two children have been killed. Other family members have been buried in the rubble. It’s unbelievably sad to see these images.
At least some aid is getting through now.

maddyone

Oreo, I think you’re right, when that poor elderly lady learns what was done to the other people caught up in that act of terrorism, I think she may feel differently. When she hears of babies beheaded, women and girls raped and defiled, women’s breast cut off, men’s genitals removed, children tied together and burnt to death, and other atrocities, when she hears about that, she may feel very differently.

I doubt it. She said "shalom"; she's a peace activist. That means peace and an end to atrocities on both sides. She will be well aware of the history and complexities on both sides.

bmacca

countingthekids.org/

That's pretty chilling! I wonder how many stopped to click on your link?

Callistemon21

^I find it strange that apparently some posters think it is the fault of Palestinians in Gaza that they are being slaughtered by Israel, because of Hamas^

How you extrapolate some of your claims from people's posts is a mystery.

Exactly this. No one is blaming the Palestinian people for the bombardment they’re suffering. Polarising everything gets us nowhere

We've now deleted this post as it misquoted another Gransnetter.

Foxie48 - thank you for taking the time to look, it is chilling. However, there are posters who don’t want to accept the terrible actions of Israel.

Glorianny you are exceptionally adept at taking one paragraph/sentence out of a post which does not give the full context.

I said that the Palestinian electorate voted for Hamas in 2006/7 and haven’t had an election since.

If you vote in a terrorist organisation then it stands to reason that there was a large proportion of the electorate that agree with some if not all of their policies. One of which is to eliminate all Jews from the planet.

There are no doubt many Hamas sympathisers in both Gaza and the West Bank (as there were IRA sympathisers in Ireland during the troubles and no doubt still a few today)

I have repeatedly posted that I feel empathy and sorrow for the innocent Palestinians, they will be the major casualties in this war. Hamas and its growing army of supporters will either be hiding in the vast tunnel networks or hiding amongst innocent women and children.

bmacca

Foxie48 - thank you for taking the time to look, it is chilling. However, there are posters who don’t want to accept the terrible actions of Israel.

I accept that there will be casualties in Gaza.

I accept that the actions of Hamas on 7/10 were inhuman as is their vow to eradicate all Jews.

I acknowledge that Hamas has been continuously shelling Israel for many many years.

I accept that Israel has the right to defend its country and people.

I acknowledge that Jews worldwide are now subject to intimidation and feel afraid, posters of the missing and hostages were removed from walls in London by people sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.

Glorianny

Iam64

Callistemon21

I find it strange that apparently some posters think it is the fault of Palestinians in Gaza that they are being slaughtered by Israel, because of Hamas

How you extrapolate some of your claims from people's posts is a mystery.

Exactly this. No one is blaming the Palestinian people for the bombardment they’re suffering. Polarising everything gets us nowhere

Sorry but some people have blamed the Palestinian people

Hamas caused this, they are butchers and cowards, they are using innocent lives as human shields, they fire their rockets and hide in and from schools, mosques and hospitals.
I sympathise with innocent Palestinians, I sympathise with Israeli’s.
The good and innocent Palestinians should rise up to assist Israel to destroy the Hamas terrorists.

I would suggest not aligning themselves with a terrorist organisation whose sole intention is to kill every Jew on the planet would be a starting point.
GrannyGravy13

Hamas need to be wiped out, if they hide amongst Palestinian civilians and foreign national hostages it is Hamas which has the blood of innocents on their hands.
tickingbird

Those are a few quotes from earlier in the thread. There will be more.

I'll reiterate

How you extrapolate some of your claims from people's posts is a mystery.

Posters are blaming Hamas, not innocent Palestinians.