So pleased to see hostages being released.

Apologies, I seem to have repeated what other posters have said, but I was interrupted in the middle of typing my post and link.

Most, but not all, posters on here deplore killings on both sides and hope or pray for a solution to the problem.

However, I think that even the best negotiators in the world will be hard pressed to resolve the Israeli Palestinian problems.
We can only hope and pray before more lives are lost.

Just listening to the news and it seems talks are definitely going on now. Cause for hope.

I think everyone on here deplores the killings on both sides.

silverlining48

I think everyone on here deplores the killings on both sides.

I'm not sure that is absolutely true, unfortunately.

This is the thing Oreo isn’t it?
The Israeli hostages were completely innocent of any wrongdoing, but the Palestinians held by Israel were imprisoned for committing a crime.

Sickening to see just how many still support the murderous Hamas.

I deplore any needless loss of life.

I also deplore any terrorist organisation who carry out needless acts of the most extreme violence on innocent civilians and then wonder why their country is invaded and bombed.

Having waved a child off to war on numerous occasions, I feel pain and fear for anyone involved in war.

I’m still feeling sickened by what Mollygo described in her post.
Just totally sickened.

For certain war is shocking for all who get caught up in it and this conflict is no different. For what it's worth, I think the two state system is the only hope of peace in this dilemma . Israel will have to go back to her original border and the Palestinians will have to accept Israel's right to existence. A tall order for both sides, but what else? They certainly cannot continue like this, it's just too dreadful on both sides.

My father fought in WW2, as did many of yours. I’m glad he’s not here to see all this erupting now because it would have upset him so much. He would have been so distressed by all that has happened to the babies and children on both sides. He loved children so much.
He and other soldiers cared for two small children in a house in Belgium during a fierce battle, our soldiers one side of the hill, Germans on the other side. It went on for six days. The children had lost their family when the villagers fled. The soldiers cared for the children in the middle of the battle, washing them, feeding them, making little beds for them, protecting them until they were reunited with their family when the battle ended.
He would have been so distressed to know what has been done to children these last weeks.

Maddyone Some of the IDF soldiers have been allowed to go home for a day or so while the 'truce' holds. They are finding it hard to talk to their families about their experiences - these are young men and women, conscripts not volunteers. I think they would find much in common with your dad.

The Israel and Palestine story is old, complex, and so distressingly violent and hate filled. I read an excellent, reasoned lengthy article by a journalist last week. He put forward the major causes and the historic background to today's horrific situation, and his conclusion was that only a fool would take sides - and it would be difficult to argue with that.

Thank you lixy, if he was alive I also think he would be remembering his experiences. He didn’t speak of these experiences all the time we were children, only when we got well into adulthood. He merely told us that the marks on his shoulder and neck were where he’d been shot in the war.

I’m saddened to see that it seems no more hostages are going to be released yet. Not entirely sure why. I’m so sad for them and their families.

abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/palestinian-militants-kill-2-alleged-informers-israel-mob-105151984

For the record according to the above report, this happened in The West Bank and was committed by the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed offshoot of the secular nationalist Fatah party. Vile behaviour but it explains why people had phones, this is not in Gaza.

That's just it! I too have spent a bit of time reading the history of this part of the world. It is very complex , involving a lot of different parties, going back many centuries. It seems that during the Ottoman rule that things went downhill for Jews, and probably Christians too. Both sides do have a valid point, but having said that,nothing excuses that dreadful massacre and kidnapping, particularly as Hamas were perfectly aware of what Israel's response would be and the awful suffering that would descend upon their own people. That was inevitable. Mollygro, that picture was hideous, my immediate reaction is savages, but a solution has to be found, so positive thinking must be maintained however difficult!! I too am glad that my much loved stepfather, a POW in the Far East hasn't lived to see all this. It would have deeply upset him, particularly the children. My own father was killed,but from what I know, I can guess he would have felt the same.

Jaberwok

There were of course Christans in this mix, but there were, and still are other Christian countries where Christians can be assimilated. Unfortunately for Jews this not, and never has been the case. Even after WW2 such as survived more often than not found that they were less than welcome in the countries they had been abducted from particularly in eastern Europe leaving them once again stateless and afraid. The creation of a Jewish state would seem to be the answer, but where abouts was the question? Judea of course, but it doesn't exist anymore! Oh yes it does! and on we go!! No one is right and no one is wrong, but something in the end will have to be agreed upon, as there is no way either side can continue in this way. The massacre was appalling, equally so is the bombing.

No one is right and no one is wrong, but something in the end will have to be agreed upon, as there is no way either side can continue in this way.

Daniel Barenboim said, "either we share what there is to share, or we go on killing each other". And he didn't sound positive when he said it. That was years ago.

I think both sides will continue.

I'm thinking, this Christmas, of all those hostages slain so mercilessly and horrendously by Hamas, and the women and children now being killed every day. There are 'rescue' workers and medics trying to piece together body parts of children to give their parents for burial. I cannot get into the Christmas 'spirit' knowing what has happened to those on the kibbutz, and what is happening - especially to children, now.

I'm an atheist. But, if there were a God - I think he'd be holding his head in his hands and weeping in utter despair.

foxie48

abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/palestinian-militants-kill-2-alleged-informers-israel-mob-105151984

For the record according to the above report, this happened in The West Bank and was committed by the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed offshoot of the secular nationalist Fatah party. Vile behaviour but it explains why people had phones, this is not in Gaza.

Thanks foxie48 that explains it.

The description of one of the murdered young men said they originated from Gaza, I assume that is where the confusion began.

Callistemon21

Apologies, I seem to have repeated what other posters have said, but I was interrupted in the middle of typing my post and link.

Most, but not all, posters on here deplore killings on both sides and hope or pray for a solution to the problem.

However, I think that even the best negotiators in the world will be hard pressed to resolve the Israeli Palestinian problems.
We can only hope and pray before more lives are lost.

I am a Christian, (just) and I think that for the world in general God and his Saints are clearly asleep. 'For all mortal children Mary must weep'. From, How far is it to Bethlehem '.

It’s absolutely vile wherever it happened.

Only they’re not are they?
Israel being taken for mugs by Hamas - this won’t end well.

This is the problem though. There are lots of different active militant terrorist groups in Gaza and The West Bank. Decimate Hamas and another will grow stronger in it's place to fill the vacuum. The hostage release has not taken place today, this is dreadful news and makes me feel quite depressed. There was an article in Politico which confirms what has already been said. The Israeli govt had been told about unusual activity on the Gaza border and chose to ignore it. This is the link should anyone be interested to read it. Politico is not a left wing publication.
www.politico.eu/article/israel-border-troops-women-hamas-warnings-war-october-7-benjamin-netanyahu/

maddyone It is only as I have got older that realisation of what my Father and his brothers, friends, and peers went through has come home to me. Dad was twenty six when he went to fight in North Africa, and thirty one when he finally got home again. Like your Dad, he didn't speak of what he had seen, and had been forced to do, until he was old, not long before he died. It is sickening that this still goes on, and on - mankind never seem to learn that fighting proves only who can hit hardest, and never solves anything for very long.

It looks as if the hostage release may go ahead after all, I have my fingers and toes crossed that it does.

Oooh, I do hope you’re right foxie.
I’m watching Strictly but just popped in here to see what’s going on.
Back later.

It’s good to see so many of us don’t simply take ‘sides’
Jaberwok, thanks for summarising the history. Anyone who studies the history must realise this isn’t a situation where either side can be seen as entirely at fault or entirely free of criticism

foxie48

It looks as if the hostage release may go ahead after all, I have my fingers and toes crossed that it does.

Apparently 39 prisoners are to be released by Israel in exchange for 13 civilians abducted by Hamas