I heaved a sigh of relief that most of Iran's drones and missiles had been brought down without reaching Israel and it seems little damage has been done, but it seems that is not the end of it. So, what do you think is going on? Does Israel need to have a full scale war with Iran and what do you think it would achieve or is this really about keeping Netanyahu's right wing govt on side?
Yes, clear the civilians out by giving due warning then all power to the IDF. Hamas the terrorist organisation needs to be decimated. Negotiation with terrorists is never wise. They cannot be trusted.
Whitewavemark2
I thought that they were going to give the civilians time to move? There are over a million - who are in absolute danger of death and severe harm.
So once the Israelis have successfully trashed the entirety of Gaza and continue as occupiers, are they willing to fund the re-building?
Indeed.
A million? Sources please. The Daily Mail says 100,000. 2 football stadiums.
The Telegraph reports a different number:
“ Israel has been assuring the US, its main ally, that it will not launch the invasion before preparations are made for evacuating Palestinian civilians from Rafah.
In recent weeks, several tent cities were seen popping up in central Gaza to accommodate the displaced people.
It is not clear, however, how Israel is going to accommodate the 1.3 million people currently living in Rafah.
Moving them to their homes in the north is not an option, either, as large swathes of the region have been flattened, with the most basic infrastructure, such as hospitals and water pipes, destroyed.”
Yes, thats the generally accepted figure. Rafah is to the far south of the Gaza Strip so with the north flattened there is nowhere for the 1.3 million to go except tents.
Just caught breaking news
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-68963839
Can there be a ceasefire deal? to save Rafah strikes?
Urmstongran
A million? Sources please. The Daily Mail says 100,000. 2 football stadiums.
The figure of 100000 relates to the first tranche. From the first 8/zones.
In total there are over 1.2m. People in Rafah.
Rafah is going to be completely destroyed.
Netanyahu has zero intention of stopping the war. Not for ideological or any other reason apart from his own self interest.
Hamas had apparently agreed Israel’s terms but Israel backed away.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-68963839
More update, hoping so much a cease fire works out and Rafah is not destroyed.
Its the last city left.
Latest tonight in The Telegraph:
“ Israel’s war cabinet has unanimously decided to go ahead with the planned invasion of Rafah.
The purpose of the operation is to “apply military pressure on Hamas, with the goal of making progress on freeing the hostages and the other war aims,” Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said in a statement.
Hamas’s latest truce offer is “far from Israel’s obligatory demands,” the statement said.
However, the Israeli prime minister’s office said Israel would also send negotiators for talks to try to find a deal that meets Israel’s demands.”
And look at the pictures - riding around on donkeys like something out of ancient Egypt
While next door in Israel it is a hi tech economy
Why? Because the criminals, butchers and demons of Hamas siphon off the cash and live like kings elsewhere.
I hope the IDF turn Rafah into the world’s largest car park.
Go Israel.
"I hope the IDF turn Rafah into the world’s largest car park."
What hatred.
Have you actually watched the plight of ordinary Palestinians right now on the BBC news tonight?
Many have moved several times already, no matter how old, how ill, how vulnerable. The so called humanitarian zones are not safe from sickness, hunger, or war. (or large enough)
They are not members of Hamas.
All the aid agencies are saying the continuing attacks on Rafah will precipitate a humanitarian crisis of unimaginable proportions.
The current government in Israel should hold off until the deal has some chance of negotiation.
Urmstongran
And look at the pictures - riding around on donkeys like something out of ancient Egypt
While next door in Israel it is a hi tech economy
Why? Because the criminals, butchers and demons of Hamas siphon off the cash and live like kings elsewhere.
I hope the IDF turn Rafah into the world’s largest car park.
Go Israel.
I can't believe anybody could be vile enough to write that!
The ignorance about Palestinians says more about the writer than the Palestinians.
Urmstongran
A million? Sources please. The Daily Mail says 100,000. 2 football stadiums.
Bloody hilarious! I can't believe that anybody would believe the Daily Mail in preference to all the official statistics.
Does Israel want full scale war in the Middle East?
Israel wants it’s citizens back ie the hostages.
Israel wants Hamas disabled in Gaza.
Israel wants Hamas to stop sending rockets into Israel on a daily basis.
As far as I can see, that’s what Israel wants.
I think we forget that had Hamas given back the hostages, stopped sending rockets into Israel on a daily basis, and negotiated properly ie given up its arms, some weeks ago, this war would be over already.
The trouble with this thread is that there have been 2 long previous ones which had gone into great detail amongst many other things - and the appetite to go through it all again is limited.
*That the Israeli state was and is a refuge for Jewish people and should remain so
*the history of Israel and Palestine, the original borders, the 1967 wars where the then current Israeli regime took over the West Bank and Gaza and started building and farming on the land meaning Palestinians were pushed out more and more since that time.
*taking into account the fact that although Israel was granted statehood in 1948, Palestine was never given that status leaving people without equivalent rights.
*And very importantly to this discussion, an understanding that at different times Israelis have had very different POV within that state, and that Netanyahu does not represent all Israeli POV. some Israeli's think the extent of the war is in order for him to hold power (he faces corruption charges and refuses to call an election)
*That Palestinian peoples are not Hamas.
*Talk about the war being over is only the current episode, there has been a war at least conflict since 1967.
*the extent of the humanitarian crisis in detail and difficulties in getting aid in.
“All the aid agencies are saying the continuing attacks on Rafah will precipitate a humanitarian crisis of unimaginable proportions.”
Nonsense, we have already seen the unimaginable humanitarian slaughter - the holocaust in WW2.
These predictions mean nothing, Hamas has made it clear that they want to kill all Israelis, I suppose that is OK for the “aid agencies”
There is no peace deal possible that leaves Hamas in charge of Gaza security, Israel has got be secure or there will be another war in a few years time
Breakfast news is reporting that the IDF have killed approximately 40 gunmen protecting the network of tunnels on the outskirts of Rafah.
What’s or who in the tunnels are they (Hamas) guarding?
Indeed GG13. The IDF intel know what’s there. Hence this offensive.
The UN is now irrelevant, dominated by Russia and China. The Israelis must finish the job.
Wyllow3 your summing up of the two previous threads are
your opinions not mine.
Netanyahu is a man who loves his country of birth, I can certainly understand that. Yet you keep telling of his trying to
avoid prosecution of some crime, have his cabinet all been accused yet not prosecuted of similar crimes?
I am sure he does love his country, presuming that Israelis that disagree with his regime do too.
Google Netanyahu and corruption charges for info.
I still hope truce talks can continue: good summary on BBC
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-68963839
The deal Hamas has proposed includes the release of hostages.
Meanwhile thousands of Israeli people demonstrate for ceasefire. Short video
apnews.com/video/israel-government-israel-hamas-war-israel-protests-and-demonstrations-benjamin-netanyahu-80fa94064ad4429ebb52531ad3ca12dc - listen to words of those on street.
What next for people of Gaza?
I’ll never understand the lack of compassion and understanding of the plight of ordinary folks caught up in this particular war. And there are millions of them.
Human beings on both sides of this power struggle are suffering and I pray for all who are suffering because of war.
Wyllow3
"I hope the IDF turn Rafah into the world’s largest car park."
What hatred.
Have you actually watched the plight of ordinary Palestinians right now on the BBC news tonight?
Many have moved several times already, no matter how old, how ill, how vulnerable. The so called humanitarian zones are not safe from sickness, hunger, or war. (or large enough)
They are not members of Hamas.
All the aid agencies are saying the continuing attacks on Rafah will precipitate a humanitarian crisis of unimaginable proportions.
The current government in Israel should hold off until the deal has some chance of negotiation.
I agree, I don’t wish to see any further deaths on either side.
Hammas want to destroy Israel and likewise the Israeli govt wish to destroy all of Gaza and every last human there.
One is a terrorist group, one is not, frankly at this moment I cannot see much difference?
Granniesunite
I’ll never understand the lack of compassion and understanding of the plight of ordinary folks caught up in this particular war. And there are millions of them.
Human beings on both sides of this power struggle are suffering and I pray for all who are suffering because of war.
👏👏👏👏👏👏😊
Wyllow3 I have no need to google for accusations against
Netanyahu, I asked if the rest of his cabinet have been accused
also.
Surely, we read often on these threads that Netanyahu is remaining in office to avoid the charges , no one wants a leadership change when thousands of Israelis are allegedly calling for one ?
Israeli tanks seized control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border this morning and closed the crossing to aid deliveries into the besieged territory.
Footage released by the Israeli military showed a tank entering the crossing, which is also vital for evacuations from Gaza, after a night of heavy strikes on the southern Gazan city.
Israel also said that it had closed the Kerem Shalom crossing and that it will only reopen “when the security conditions allow it.”
The Israeli military claimed it seized the crossing after receiving intelligence it was “being used for terrorist purposes.”
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