Is there anyone who still thinks that Israel's actions in Gaza are justifiable?

The demonstrations were about more than the hostages. Netanyahu is still up on corruption charges and he is trying - and this is a major issue in Israel now - to take away powers of the judiciary in order to strengthen his position

www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/01/israel-supreme-court-strikes-down-netanyahus-judicial-overhaul-law

"The judicial overhaul project led to months of mass protests that brought Netanyahu’s government under domestic and international pressure. It widened already deep religious, ethnic and class divides in Israel, threw the military into chaos and damaged both its currency – the shekel – and relations with allies. The US president, Joe Biden, at the time was critical of the plans.

Attorney Gil Gan-Mor, who represented 38 human rights organisations in a joint petition challenging the law, welcomed the ruling, saying it had thrown out “an attempt to infringe upon the human rights of every Israeli citizen and thwart judicial oversight of government decisions”.

I think its important to see both Israel and Palestine as having citizens with a wide view of events.

Thank you Urmstongran

“ Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s hard-right national security minister, has warned prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he will withdraw his support if the army does not launch an offensive in Rafah.

“If the Prime Minister decides to end the war without an extensive attack on Rafah in order to defeat Hamas, he will not have a mandate to continue serving as Prime Minister,” Mr Ben-Gvir said on Monday, in his most direct challenge to Mr Netanyahu’s leadership to date.

His comments came as Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister and another of Mr Netanyahu’s hard-Right allies, issued a statement calling on the prime minister to immediately convene a meeting of the security cabinet, accusing him of “harming” Israel’s security interests by bowing to international pressure to withdraw troops.

Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defence minister, yesterday said that Israel was withdrawing troops from the Strip to prepare for an expected offensive in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, where around 1.5 million civilians are currently sheltering.”

Source. The Telegraph today.

Hamas did release hostages when they was a ceasefire. They have a history of taking hostages and releasing them but they always want their pound of flesh ie more Palestinian released than Israeli hostages. This is why I think escalating the violence in the way that Israel has been counter-productive. The hostages have never been the first priority, which is why Israelis are so angry because in the past, getting hostages back (even if they are dead) has been the priority. Hamas can't give the hostages back because if they do, they have nothing to bargain with and even with enemies (of whichever side), there has to be some essence of gain and Israel seems to have firmly closed that door. They've gone for elimination of Hamas and tbh I don't think that is achievable.

Iam64

Why won’t Hamas release hostsges

Yes, why won’t they? And admit to those who have died or disappeared under the rubble. If they did this, and stopped firing rockets into Israel every day, I think the war would end.

The demonstrations going on in Israel are not about ending the war. They are about putting massive pressure on Netanyahu to do more to get the hostages released. I’m unsure what more he could do to be honest, but maybe he could. I really don’t know. What I do think is true is that he won’t agree to a unilateral ceasefire.

Iam64 why haven't Israel released detainees ,some held in Israeli prisons for years ? Why is IDF allowed to arrest small children or shoot small boys throwing STONES at TANKS .This isn't about Oct 7th its about decades of abhorrent treatment of people who were happy living their live in PALESTINE for centuries until we in all our "wisdom" gave a chunk of that land away without firm rules and boundaries.
I have boycotted israeli produce for decades I wish the government would do the same AND stop supplying them with anything including arms

Why won’t Hamas release hostsges

GrannyGravy13

The ITV News is also reporting that negotiations are restarting in Egypt between Israel and Hamas later today.

Don’t hold you breath for agreement in Egypt, Hamas won’t or can’t release the hostages, many have probably died during the fighting in any case, admitting that would be very bad for Hamas.
Israel is likely regrouping for an assault on Rafah nobody is likely to influence them.

It does seem to be in both Hamas' and Netanyahu's interest to keep this war going. Neither Hamas or Netanyahu care how many Palestinians are killed, it keeps Netanyahu in power and out of jail whilst for Hamas it bolsters support for their cause in the Muslim/Arabic nations and they can see Israel losing the support of Western countries. As time goes on it becomes clearer that the overall winner will be Hamas. Their aims are achievable, keep being funded by Iran, have a constant supply of recruits who are prepared to die for the cause because they have nothing else to strive for and ensure that Israel is never truly at peace. Hamas doesn't want a two state solution and peace, neither does Netanyahu and the right wingers in his government, they want expansion. I think Netanyahu has made a serious miscalculation both by allowing Hamas to become stronger so it was a balance to Fatah and then reacting to the 07/10 atrocities with extreme violence. fwiw I listened to an account of a family that was living in one of the Kibbutz that was attacked. It took the IDF 19 hours to reach them, You can reach that kibbutz by train in two hours from Tel Aviv, why were they waiting for so long, where were the IDF? I honestly think Netanyahu has a lot of questions still to answer.

The ITV News is also reporting that negotiations are restarting in Egypt between Israel and Hamas later today.

Vintagewhine - Yes and which world leaders can influence them

Netanyahu says the IDF are regrouping to get ready for the attack on Rafah. I hope it's just posturing but I don't think it is. Netanyahu will not prioritise the return of hostages over continuing the war. It feels like stalemate, Israel won't stop war until hostages are released, Hamas won't release hostages until there is a ceasefire, actually neither want peace!

GrannyGravy13

The breakfast news is showing footage of Palestinians returning to their homes (what is left). I hope this is the beginning of the end of this conflict.

Now we need to see Hamas returning the remaining hostages.

As long as those homes are not in Rafah.

Netanyahu has removed his troops in order to prepare for a major offensive in Rafah, according to reports from Israel.

We shall see, and hope that those reports are incorrect.

The most important issue is food. I see no reports that food on a much larger scale is being sent in. Starvation is increasing.

The breakfast news is showing footage of Palestinians returning to their homes (what is left). I hope this is the beginning of the end of this conflict.

Now we need to see Hamas returning the remaining hostages.

Having killed al the Palestinians? What a dreadful suggestion.

Israel occupies all Palestine ?

There can be no long term peace if Palestinian people have not only no access to food, medical care, and water and homes, but no land to live and work on or build lives and futures in the longer term.

There has also been demonstrations in Tel Aviv and other locations about the governments' plans. this article from the Jewish Chronicle outlines the nature of the demonstrations.
www.thejc.com/news/israel/thousands-protest-in-israeli-cities-to-condemn-netanyahu-for-failing-to-recover-hostages-v2zuwek2

Summerlove Sun 07-Apr-24 23:22:49
Anniebach
No ceasefire without return of hostages
Interesting to see you proudly supporting the murder of innocents

Calm down dear, check the time of my post you are judging,
Ring SKY news, they may confirm it was seconds after a news
report from Jerusalem , I thought it would be of interest,how
wrong am I

Anniebach

No ceasefire without return of hostages

Interesting to see you proudly supporting the murder of innocents

I’m with you on Hamas. Israel is losing the moral war. Too many children have been blown up, their families massacred. Yes the October massacre tells us what Hamas is but there has to be a stop to the bombs, food water and medical supplies must go in

Iam64

Ww2 was a war that had to be fought. What’s happening in Gaza/Isreal has no comparison. I sympathised with the response to the October massacre and hostage taking. It’s gone too far
Children are starving being blown up. Israel needs to stop👍🏻. Support for the allies in we2 was because the Nazis were foul

To Israel Gaza is a war that has to be fought!.

In 1939 Britain had a choice, we could have joined Hitler, life in Europe would have been very different if we had. We take it for granted now but there were plenty of right wing polititians then

To Israel Hamas is foul and the October massacre proved that

Ww2 was a war that had to be fought. What’s happening in Gaza/Isreal has no comparison. I sympathised with the response to the October massacre and hostage taking. It’s gone too far
Children are starving being blown up. Israel needs to stop👍🏻. Support for the allies in we2 was because the Nazis were foul

MayBee70

Katie59

growstuff

I agree with you that Palestinians need to see they're being treated fairly (no more settlements in the West Bank for a start) and a large efficient security force is going to be needed to protect Israel and deter attacks.

Hamas has certainly inflicted the current slaughter on the Palestinians, which is far greater than anything Israel caused over previous decades. If Hamas is allowed to prevail the suffering of civilians will get worse and could get much worse.

The only way to defeat terrorism is to take away the core grievances that have resulted in it. All this war has done has fuel it…which was playing into the hands of Hamas right from the start.

"The only way to defeat terrorism is to take away the core grievances that have resulted in it. All this war has done has fuel it…which was playing into the hands of Hamas right from the start."

The conditions and politics the region are very complicated however Hamas originally had a strong civil wing as well as a military presence and was elected in in parts of Palestine as such.

I agree it's the core grievances that has fuelled what we now see.

Its absolutely vital these are addressed or the situation will never change.

The only way to beat terrorism is to obey all terrorists demands

Katie59

growstuff

I agree with you that Palestinians need to see they're being treated fairly (no more settlements in the West Bank for a start) and a large efficient security force is going to be needed to protect Israel and deter attacks.

Hamas has certainly inflicted the current slaughter on the Palestinians, which is far greater than anything Israel caused over previous decades. If Hamas is allowed to prevail the suffering of civilians will get worse and could get much worse.

The only way to defeat terrorism is to take away the core grievances that have resulted in it. All this war has done has fuel it…which was playing into the hands of Hamas right from the start.