So pleased to see hostages being released.

We went for a walk this afternoon and visited our Anglican Cathedral. Inside one of the small chapels was an area to pray and ask for intermissions. There was a prayer left there for visitors to read and offer. It came from Archbishop Naoum of Jerusalem and said;

God of all justice and peace,

we cry out to you in the midst of the pain and trauma of violence and fear which prevails in the Holy Land.

Be with those who need you in these days of suffering; we pray for people of all faiths- Jews, Muslims and Christians and for all people of the land.

While we pray to you, O Lord, for an end to violence and the establishment of peace, we also call for for you to bring justice and equity to the peoples. Guide us into your kingdom where all people are treated with dignity and honour as your children - for to all of us you are our Heavenly Father.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Who could argue? I lit a candle and reflected on these words. It is heartbreaking that all this is happening, especially at this important time of hope as Christmas approaches.

Amen to that maddyone

Thank you for your reply VW.

Today there is another vote by the UN Security Council for a ceasefire, hopefully the wording will enable the UK to vote for it rather than abstain. I doubt the US will vote for it but there's a slim possibility that it will abstain. Ben Wallace's comment "Israel's killing rage will fuel conflict for 50 years" is spot on and Alicia Kearn's comment that Israel has gone beyond self defence" is reflective of a change in attitude towards Israel's incursion into Gaza. See below.
"A defence chief is among a group of former senior military figures and British diplomats who are calling on the UK government to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
In a letter to the UK's foreign Secretary, they say the UK’s failure to back an immediate ceasefire is "strategically ill-advised and morally indefensible".
The signatories of the letter include the former Chief of the Defence Staff, General Lord David Richards, former UK ambassadors to Arab nations, consul-generals to Jerusalem, and a former director of defence diplomacy at the Ministry of Defence. " BBC website

So after much politicking they have finally voted on a much watered down resolution and it's been carried with the US and Russia abstaining. It's not what I had hoped for but at least it gives a semblance of UN unity and hopefully more aid will start to get through to the Gazans. I'm staying with my lovely in law family over Christmas, daughter has actually got Christmas off this year and I am going to try to avoid the news as it is making me quite depressed. I wish everyone who has been contributing to the thread (and others about Gaza) a peaceful and happy Christmas and my wish for 2024 is for peace for the Palestinians and the Israelis with a settlement that is lasting.

Thanks Foxie. I would like to second that.

Layla Moran, who has already lost her grandfather in Gaza is receiving death threats because she has spoken out about how other members of her family are being treated. So much hatred in the world, and at Christmas time too. So sad.

I just hope that enough food and supplies are allowed into Gaza and its people are given shelter and fed.

In all sincerity, what will the cease fire bring about, in your scenario?

If only we knew the answer to that Namsnanny.
I don’t think the Israelis will stop until the hostages are released/found, and until Hamas are completely disabled at this present time. Hamas have declared they will not stop firing rockets into Israel and don’t want a ceasefire.
Stalemate.

A Jewish friend pointed out that the Israelis will do whatever it takes because they are fighting for their homeland. He said they would triple whatever Hamas did to them. Not good. Neither side look like giving an inch. What really,really annoys me is the news people referring to these Hamas thugs as ‘Hamas officials’ as if they were some sort of approved body. They are not, they are terrorists.

So true maddyone.
I read that Hezbollah are watching how the world and Israel responds, with a view to putting the pressure on Israel, if they look weak.
It seems Israel has no option but to fight it out.
As you said, Hamas have said clearly they won't stop attacking Israel.
It's all so sickening.
Btw, Thank you for copying the prayer up thread.

Nanna8
What really really annoys me .....

Me too, it's a soft form of brainwashing. Say a thing often enough and people begin to believe it.

Hamas may be still bombing Israel but probably with little success given the weapon inbalance of the two sides. Israel has plenty of modern high grade powerful weapons to use in battle and to retaliate and stop bombs before they do any serious damage.
If Hamas were killing Israeli civilians on a daily basis it would be reported on the international media, just as the tens and hundreds of Palestinians civilians dying and injured every day are reported. 20;000 so far with many more seriously injured, and more still dead under the rubble of what was their homes.

I think that’s because the Israelis built safe rooms in their houses silverlining. Sadly Hamas chose to use the millions they’ve been given to build over 300 miles of reinforced tunnels, and even built them under hospitals and nurseries and schools, rather than providing any type of protection for their suffering population.

Unfortunately the safe rooms didn’t protect many of those Israelis caught up in the murdering rampage on 7/10.
But they do protect them from the daily barrage of rockets sent into the cities of Israel.

maddyone

I think that’s because the Israelis built safe rooms in their houses silverlining. Sadly Hamas chose to use the millions they’ve been given to build over 300 miles of reinforced tunnels, and even built them under hospitals and nurseries and schools, rather than providing any type of protection for their suffering population.

Many of the underground rooms were built by the Israelis. Like the one under the Al-shifa hospital. The tunnels were built to bring in essential supplies because Israel restricted essentials needed to the reconstruction of Gaza after their last bombing campaign. The homes that Palestinians were living in until Israel destroyed them again were built from goods brought in through the tunnels.
You can't protect people from a sustained bombing campaign when you have a highly populated area unless you have access to high level technology.
Israel has one of the most sophisticated rocket interception systems in the world. It detects and destroys over 90% of the rockets. Israel receives billions of pounds of military aid from the US every year.
Palestine is one of the poorest countries in the world. Many of its citizens are second and third generation refugees who have once again been forced from their homes. Most of the 20,000 dead are women and children. The 20,000 only counts identified bodies, there are many still unidentified. This is genocide and no amount of trying to pretend Israel is somehow the victim can justify it.
It is likely that many more will die from starvation and disease.

Posted by my Jewish friend.

So true maddyone 😥

maddyone

Posted by my Jewish friend.

Well actually the answer is quite simple. Because terrorism in the Middle East is neither as simple or funded as your Jewish friend seems to think. One of the biggest funders is not Qatar, but in fact Saudi Arabia, and both of those countries are at present seen as essential to keep as friends by the western powers.
But it also implies that the extradition would stop Israeli expansion and terminate the crimes they have committed against the Palestinian people.
You also wonder why any Middle Eastern country should comply with any UN ruling given that Israel has refused to do so for the last 50 years.
Once again blaming the Palestinian people for their sufferings. The destruction and genocide is a choice made by the Israeli government and no one else can be held responsible for it.

Agree maddyone and if the UN would speak out against hamas and what they did, but their silence on it spoke volumes.
Israel need to keep on with the mission in Gaza until hamas free all the hostages, it’s the only bargaining tool to get them back that Israel has.
Why is it reported by hamas that most of the dead in Gaza are women and children? Logically it would be an equal mix of men, but hamas know it plays better to the world to say it’s all women and children. Even with their own dead they play mind games.

Rubbish Glorianny you know full well that hamas are responsible for it.

Children make up 40% of the population so it leaves 60% of which 30% women and 30% men meaning 70% of the population are women and children.

Still leaves plenty of men tho doesn’t it, and their deaths are rarely mentioned.

Oreo

Rubbish Glorianny you know full well that hamas are responsible for it.

We all do, but choose to deflect the responsibility. As my friend said , you have to wonder why.
The UN had no such qualms about placing the responsibility for the war in Ukraine firmly where it belongs, on Russia. And Putin is wanted in The Hague for war crimes.