Is escalating the conflict by bombing the Houthis the way to go?

If we are so concerned about the free movement of shipping why hasn't international action been taken to break the blockade Israel has imposed on Gaza for the last 20 years. When ships tried to break the blockade Israeli soldiers boarded them and shot and killed passengers. Wasn't that piracy? casebook.icrc.org/case-study/israel-blockade-gaza-and-flotilla-incident#:~:text=The%20so%2Dcalled%20Gaza%20Freedom,dead%2C%20received%20widespread%20condemnation%20internationally.

M0nica

^The U.K. does not have a very successful recent history of interfering in the Middle East.^

This isn't interfering in the Middle East, it is protecting shipping of all nations in international waters from being attcked by terrorists.

The nearest comparison is the campaign a few years ago to stop the pirates kidnapping ships and sailors off the East African coast.

Protecting the safe passage of shipping in international waters and waters not owned by any particular nation is of paramount importance to the whole world.

Louella12

I do find it interesting how some people seem to believe we can have constructive diplomatic talks with terrorists.

Lovely idea but never going to happen

Ireland?

After the second round of strikes, a Democratic representative from Georgia named Hank Johnson tweeted the following:

“I have what some may consider a dumb idea, but here it is: stop the bombing of Gaza, then the attacks on commercial shipping will end. Why not try that approach?”

In the end, you get peace by pursuing peace. You get it by negotiation, de-escalation, diplomacy and detente.

“I have what some may consider a dumb idea, but here it is: stop the bombing of Gaza, then the attacks on commercial shipping will end. Why not try that approach?”

Then Hamas will regroup and continue firing rockets into Israel as well as commuting other atrocities against its civilians.

Some may consider it a pretty dumb idea.

I have an even dumber idea.

Ask the United Nations to take charge and try to get sides together to negotiate peace.

That's a bit difficult the UN have been passing resolutions about what should happen in the area for decades and Israel has ignored them. How can they take charge when one of the parties refuses to recognise their authority?
From 2004
Further it was reaffirmed that the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination and to sovereignty over their territory.

The General Assembly expressed its determination to contribute to the achievement of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. Also it was expressed that a peace settlement in the Middle East should result in two viable, sovereign and independent States, based on the pre-1967 borders.

The preamble reaffirmed the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, and the need to enable the Palestinian people to exercise sovereignty and to achieve independence in their State, Palestine

I wonder if Russia was to overrun and occupy Ukraine and there was a Ukraine resistance formed which kept attacking Russia would we regard those fighters as terrorists or freedom fighters, trying to regain control of their own country and evict the occupiers?

I've passed resolutions too but no-one takes any notice of me either.

Is the UN no more effective than me, then? If so, what is the point of them and their resolutions? None whatsoever. Just an expensive talking shop.

I wonder if Russia was to overrun and occupy Ukraine and there was a Ukraine resistance formed which kept attacking Russia would we regard those fighters as terrorists or freedom fighters, trying to regain control of their own country and evict the occupiers.

I had no idea Ukrainian terrorists/freedom fighters had spent decades harassing Russia, threatening to wipe them off the face of the earth, supported by other countries willing to fund them in their cause.

You learn something new every day.

Callistemon21

I've passed resolutions too but no-one takes any notice of me either.

Is the UN no more effective than me, then? If so, what is the point of them and their resolutions? None whatsoever. Just an expensive talking shop.

But you wanted them to take charge.
The UN can and does do a difficult and dangerous jobin many places. However it needs cooperation from all parties involved to do it well. In the case of Israel whilst the US refuses to do anything Israel might object to the UN is powerless.

merlotgran

^I wonder if Russia was to overrun and occupy Ukraine and there was a Ukraine resistance formed which kept attacking Russia would we regard those fighters as terrorists or freedom fighters, trying to regain control of their own country and evict the occupiers^.

I had no idea Ukrainian terrorists/freedom fighters had spent decades harassing Russia, threatening to wipe them off the face of the earth, supported by other countries willing to fund them in their cause.

You learn something new every day.

It's a theoretical concept merlogran but I appreciate answering it would be difficult for you since it opens a whole can of worms about territory acquired by force.

Why would it be difficult for merlotgran to answer?

Jonathan Glover, a leading moral philosopher has just released this very relevant book entitled Israelis and Palestinians in which he quotes Orwell on the Spanish Civil War Everybody believes in the atrocities of the enemy and disbelieves in those of his own side without ever examining the evidence.
It highlights our inclination to seek out facts that agree with our pre formed ideas, but the only way forward in negotiating peace is understanding the psychology of humans as well as geopolitics and recognising the others’ humanity.
There is a review in The Guardian by Gabrielle Rifkind, and it looks an interesting read.

There’s more humanity in my neighbour’s dog than in hamas or houthi members.

In any case the Spanish civil war was a wholly different thing.

Glorianny

merlotgran

I wonder if Russia was to overrun and occupy Ukraine and there was a Ukraine resistance formed which kept attacking Russia would we regard those fighters as terrorists or freedom fighters, trying to regain control of their own country and evict the occupiers.

I had no idea Ukrainian terrorists/freedom fighters had spent decades harassing Russia, threatening to wipe them off the face of the earth, supported by other countries willing to fund them in their cause.

You learn something new every day.

It's a theoretical concept merlogran but I appreciate answering it would be difficult for you since it opens a whole can of worms about territory acquired by force.

What patronising guff.

Am sure Merlotgran can answer anything you choose to throw at her.

Not sure a comparison between Ireland and the Middle East is really valid, Maybee70

Apples and oranges.

We got peace in Ireland by pretending that terrorists were not terrorists and then implicitly choosing to ignore the terrorism that continues to this day.

This may work for a backwater country like Ireland, but it is unlikely to work in a tinderbox area like the middle east.

Anyway, the Houthis are merely an utlet for the Iran, that is supplying the weapons. To resolve tis problem negotiations need to to take place with Iran.

At the pro Palestine march in London today they were chanting

Yemen Yemen make us proud turn another ship around

Source Tom Tugendhat on X

I wonder if they are aware of the Houthis systematically abusing women, taking away their rights, beating them along with rape used as a weapon of war?

Louella12

Not sure a comparison between Ireland and the Middle East is really valid, Maybee70

Apples and oranges.

So the IRA weren’t terrorists? Terrorism is usually the result of voices not being heard over a long period. There’s usually a historic political reason behind it. The west has messed about with the Middle East for a long long time. What if eg all the people that moved from Ireland and Scotland to America were suddenly treated very badly. So it was decided that they could all move to Scotland. But the people in Scotland were all told they would have to move to a designated area of England, only to find that they were then not treated as well as the new inhabitants of Scotland or the people in England either. But they had to stay in their designated area.There’s a very good Ken Burns documentary on BBC catchup explaining how America and the UK ignored the Jewish people in the run up to WWII; in Americas case it was because of the depression and they didn’t want any immigrants. Reminds me of what is happening in this country now. We never seem to learn from history.

It's a theoretical concept merlogran but I appreciate answering it would be difficult for you since it opens a whole can of worms about territory acquired by force

I haven’t the time or the inclination to seek out then posts links to various articles to back up any comments which is your usual practice, Gloryanny and discussing annexation would detract from the OP

merlotgran

^It's a theoretical concept merlogran but I appreciate answering it would be difficult for you since it opens a whole can of worms about territory acquired by force^

I haven’t the time or the inclination to seek out then posts links to various articles to back up any comments which is your usual practice, Gloryanny and discussing annexation would detract from the OP

But Palestine was occupied by force merlotgran if you approve of countries taking over other countries and occupying them then once Russia has overcome Ukraine any insurrection must become terrorism surely. Just as Hamas is terrorism in the territories Israel has occupied.

GrannyGravy13

At the pro Palestine march in London today they were chanting

Yemen Yemen make us proud turn another ship around

Source Tom Tugendhat on X

I wonder if they are aware of the Houthis systematically abusing women, taking away their rights, beating them along with rape used as a weapon of war?

They surely are, and probably don't care. Same with the Palestine mob, don't care about the way hamas uses civilians as human shields, their own, to hide and secrete weapons.
I find it strange that these people run away from these countries, to come here, yet support the terrorist armies in said countries.

But Palestine was occupied by force merlotgran if you approve of countries taking over other countries and occupying them then once Russia has overcome Ukraine any insurrection must become terrorism surely. Just as Hamas is terrorism in the territories Israel has occupied

Where have I even so much as hinted at approval?

The Guardian & The El Pais in English & Spanish had published an article today regarding the team work for logistics and security etcetra include:
Australia
Denmark - Merke Shipping
The Netherlands
Of course, The U.K. & The Usa
Spain
France
Bahrain

I believe there could be 1 or 2 more
as well, however, I had read it early this morning.

Saudi Arabia was fighting with the Houthis - Yemen for a very long time. They had been speaking of truce .. Perhaps this is why they have not joined with the above named countries.