So pleased to see hostages being released.

maddyone

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 my father saw things which distressed him too which he never forgo and rarely talked about (and certainly not to me).

He would wonder if we have progressed at all since the Nazis were defeated, by all those brave servicemen and women.

Looks like the second group of hostages have been handed to the Red Cross. Thank goodness for that.

According to a released Palestinian prisoner, a young man:

The hostages were guests of Hamas, living in Heaven. We were in prison, being tortured.

If those are the beliefs, there really is no hope for future peace.

Wonderful news to read that little Emily Hand has been freed. Her father has given interviews about the heartache he's been going through.

Callistemon and LovesBach and others whose parents served during WW2, I sometimes wonder if they had more grit than we do today. There was a job to do, and they got on with it. My dad was 19 years old when he cared for those children and when he was shot in the Reichswald forest in Germany. Having said that I think our armed services are some of the best in the world and I have total respect for them. I feel for the reserves called up in Israel to fight this war, many of them will be 18/19 like my father was, and this war will have a profound effect on them for the rest of their lives. I think the Hamas terrorists are of a different mindset, all terrorists are, they want to kill and hurt and maim.

I’m so happy that further hostages have been released. Only thirteen again I think, but thirteen is better than none. Have some other foreign nationals been released too?
Little Emily, who turned nine years old whilst in captivity, has been released. Thank God for that. I can’t help thinking of my own nine year old granddaughter and grandson, because a little nine year old boy was released too.

maddyone

Callistemon and LovesBach and others whose parents served during WW2, I sometimes wonder if they had more grit than we do today. There was a job to do, and they got on with it. My dad was 19 years old when he cared for those children and when he was shot in the Reichswald forest in Germany. Having said that I think our armed services are some of the best in the world and I have total respect for them. I feel for the reserves called up in Israel to fight this war, many of them will be 18/19 like my father was, and this war will have a profound effect on them for the rest of their lives. I think the Hamas terrorists are of a different mindset, all terrorists are, they want to kill and hurt and maim.

I’m so happy that further hostages have been released. Only thirteen again I think, but thirteen is better than none. Have some other foreign nationals been released too?
Little Emily, who turned nine years old whilst in captivity, has been released. Thank God for that. I can’t help thinking of my own nine year old granddaughter and grandson, because a little nine year old boy was released too.

... many of them will be 18/19 like my father was, and this war will have a profound effect on them for the rest of their lives.

This is awful isn't it. What kind of mental health anguish will they suffer later - and possibly for their whole lives? Eighteen / Nineteen year olds should be embarking on their journey in life with jobs and careers - this must age them, emotionally.

I think the Hamas terrorists are of a different mindset, all terrorists are, they want to kill and hurt and maim.

I think groups like Hamas, Isis - the Taliban, have a totally different view of death.

I read somewhere that, for some, "the peace of God is through his sword". That stuck in my mind. Almost like it's 'salvation'. Deaths among their own are seen as martyrdom.

They do not believe in the sanctity of life. It's hard to comprehend, even more to explain.

Where are the Iranians in this? Why aren’t they being sanctioned because of their support for Hamas ? Why are these Hamas murderers holding the Israelis to ransom? They need to be destroyed, they are medieval torturers with no respect for women or anyone else. They are cheats and liars and we shouldn’t believe a word of what they say.

Callistemon21

According to a released Palestinian prisoner, a young man:

The hostages were guests of Hamas, living in Heaven. We were in prison, being tortured.

If those are the beliefs, there really is no hope for future peace.

Oh dear…

Prisoners in Israeli jails can be held without being charged or convicted. Amnesty has evidenced that prisoners are tortured, treated to humiliating treatment by being stripped and urinated on. They are also being shot and attacked by Jewish settlers who are illegally moving into Palestinian areas in the West Bank.Unfortunately this will colour the opinions of detainees, we just have to hope that there are enough Palestinians and Israeli Jews who want to live in peace.

It freed me of my ignorance, my colonial mindset, and my inhumanity to the Palestinian (and all colonised) people.

I saw Jenin, Nablus, Jabalia camp, Khan Younis - all razed to the ground by Israel.

I saw the checkpoints and the Israeli-only roads. I was shot at by the IOF.

Hundreds of Anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews attended the large rally held in Ottawa, Canada today and showed that they stand with the Palestinian people.

#FreeGazaNow

Released israeli captive smiles and waves fondly to the Palestinian crowd: how will the israeli govt silence her.. jail?

released Israeli captive smiles and waves fondly to the Palestinian crowd

Do you not understand the stress and humiliation and terror that these captives (your word) have been living through Grany?
No, I don’t think you do.
This war will engender hate on both sides.

Grany - no one contributing to the threads on this war wants anything other than peace. Your posts are entirely one sided and inflammatory. Peace won’t be achieved that way.
Your post -
released Israeli captive smiles and waves fondly to the Palestinian crowd: how will the Israeli govt silence her.. jail
Israel is a democratic state. People are free to express their views. It’s the only democratic state in the region.
It shouldn’t need to be said but just in case I get the Zionist slur thrown at me I will confirm I’m horrified by the bombing.

None of the following is any excuse for the actions of Hamas on 7/11 however, understanding the treatment of Palestinians in their own areas by the Israeli govt and those acting illegally but supported by the IDF has to be a part of any discussion about the relationship between Israel and Palestine. The vile attack and hostage taking on 7/11 did not take place in a vacuum. I thought it interesting that the Pope has described the Israeli war in Gaza as "terrorism" and although now denied it is alleged that he also described it as "genocide". We could keep adding up the number of wrongs on either side and it will never make a right but a willingness to try to understand the situation, I believe, is much better than "taking" sides. Israel has treated the Palestinians shamefully on the West Bank and it should be of no surprise to anyone that this leads to acts of violence and let us be clear about this, the settlers have used violence to annex land illegally, often supported by the IDF and not been brought to justice if they shoot and kill people. Israel describe the women and children that have been released as "criminals" but many of them would not be in jail if they lived in a different country with a fair judiciary. I am just relieved to see hostages and prisoners being released and aid flowing into Gaza as the situation there is an appalling humanitarian crisis.

Why on earth would I be interested in the popes morality on this issue. The behaviour of the catholic church in general is not one I consider in any way moral .

foxie48

None of the following is any excuse for the actions of Hamas on 7/11 however, understanding the treatment of Palestinians in their own areas by the Israeli govt and those acting illegally but supported by the IDF has to be a part of any discussion about the relationship between Israel and Palestine. The vile attack and hostage taking on 7/11 did not take place in a vacuum. I thought it interesting that the Pope has described the Israeli war in Gaza as "terrorism" and although now denied it is alleged that he also described it as "genocide". We could keep adding up the number of wrongs on either side and it will never make a right but a willingness to try to understand the situation, I believe, is much better than "taking" sides. Israel has treated the Palestinians shamefully on the West Bank and it should be of no surprise to anyone that this leads to acts of violence and let us be clear about this, the settlers have used violence to annex land illegally, often supported by the IDF and not been brought to justice if they shoot and kill people. Israel describe the women and children that have been released as "criminals" but many of them would not be in jail if they lived in a different country with a fair judiciary. I am just relieved to see hostages and prisoners being released and aid flowing into Gaza as the situation there is an appalling humanitarian crisis.

Well Said

Galaxy

Why on earth would I be interested in the popes morality on this issue. The behaviour of the catholic church in general is not one I consider in any way moral .

Very true

War is unpleasant whenever and wherever it takes place, and always many innocents are victims. I think it was the depravity of the 7/10 attacks that really caused such huge upset, certainly for me anyway. It was like the depraved behaviour of the Japanese army towards our troops in WW2. However I’ve visited Japan and they totally embrace peace now and are the most lovely people today.

I feel such sorrow at the situation in Israel today and pray for peace, but it needs to be a long lasting peace. It needs to be a real peace, so I think Israel will want to completely disable Hamas.

I hope more hostages will be released today. Maybe the release of the two tiny boys, nine months and four years old.

Galaxy

Why on earth would I be interested in the popes morality on this issue. The behaviour of the catholic church in general is not one I consider in any way moral .

I said "I found it interesting", I have no idea what you find interesting.

Galaxy

Why on earth would I be interested in the popes morality on this issue. The behaviour of the catholic church in general is not one I consider in any way moral .

That's like saying all Palestinians are as bad as Hamas, or all Jewish people are just like the Israeli Government.

No it's in particular reference to some of the teachings and practices of the catholic church as an institution. The Pope being the head of that institution.

If you use the pope as some sort of example of morality people are allowed to challenge that.

GrannyGravy13

Galaxy

Why on earth would I be interested in the popes morality on this issue. The behaviour of the catholic church in general is not one I consider in any way moral .

Very true

Well it will be of interest to the 1.36billion of Catholics in the world. They represent 17.7% of the world's population, 48% are in the Americas, with 28% living in South America. The situation in Gaza is international news not just a little local Middle East problem. Biden is a Catholic, 70 million Americans are Catholic whereas 7.6 million are Jewish. As the US is the greatest supporter of Israel, what the Pope says does matter in American politics.

For those of us who are interested in equality for women, equal treatment for gay people, effective safeguarding for children, the popes morality is of little relevance. I would also say the influence of religion on American politics is not always a good thing.

Galaxy

For those of us who are interested in equality for women, equal treatment for gay people, effective safeguarding for children, the popes morality is of little relevance. I would also say the influence of religion on American politics is not always a good thing.

Might not be a good thing but it is effective and if you are an American president coming up for re-election you can't ignore it.

Ten minutes research reveals there was never any truth in the fake news beheaded babies story, yet it still made the front pages of UK newspapers.

Children are taken from their homes in the middle of the night put in military prisons and abused for throwing stones at their oppressors 1000 still remain in prison

No matter if you dont believe what the Catholic Church are calling genocide it doesn't mean its not happening to Palistinians it Clearly Is.

Finished in 2021 The 40 mile barrier is technologically advanced mixture of a 20ft fence, radar systems and underground sensors.
That Hamas "terrorists" could break through a 20 ft wall without detection is unbelievable.