Does Israel want full scale war in the Middle East?

Despite your justification Monica I believe nothing that comes out of Gaza, apart from the pictures I have seen on the television. Anything else, I take with a pinch of salt because it cannot be verified and is quite probably propaganda. People reporting back could be reporting anything and it is impossible to verify.

The fact that journalists are not allowed into Gaza does not mean that some do not get in. Others have good contacts with people living in Gaza, who are not journalists but do report back to them. Often these are trusted friends and relations.

The mere fact that an administration does not 'allow' ssomething whether reporting overseas or holding anti-government views has never been a bar on people doing just that.

Wyllow3

btw - I dont agree with many Hamas tactics and think the hostages should be returned immediately and no attacks on Israeli innocents.
But our perception of the overall situation partly depends on whether we believe the current regime in Israel has been OK to annex Gaza from the outset - which is how we came to be where we are now.

You don’t agree with many? Which ones do you agree with?

Not without trying

www.article19.org/resources/uk-protect-journalists-and-press-freedom-in-israel-gaza-conflict/

It would appear that both Hamas and the IDF have responsibility in this regard.

If reporters are not allowed in Gaza it is not possible to know the truth

Very carefully!

How do the BBC confirm facts! from Gaza?

btw - I dont agree with many Hamas tactics and think the hostages should be returned immediately and no attacks on Israeli innocents.
But our perception of the overall situation partly depends on whether we believe the current regime in Israel has been OK to annex Gaza from the outset - which is how we came to be where we are now.

The report as a whole concentrates on the situation on the ground and efforts to get aid: concerns about long term peace:

the report also includes what the Israeli government has said and paints an overall picture of events in the region by the UN and concerns from the UK and US and other players in the international community.
The BBC does not take unconfirmed reports as fact: it reports where information has come from: I am satisfied the particular incident has been verified.

I don’t believe much that’s reported about Gaza, especially if it’s reported by the BBC. Hamas only allow reporting that they approve of, which means much is propaganda.

Many choose to believe Hamas

The BBC is reporting information from The Hamas Health Ministry, its Hamas propaganda not an independant report. Maybe there were civilian deaths but Hamas is not going to admit they were using them as human shields are they.

Hamas is Gaza, its a tragedy, caused by Hamas.

to bring the thread back to the O/P topic - The Israeli military is still conducting operations in Gaza

update:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68854896

"On Tuesday, in the middle of Gaza, relatives clutching limp and bloodstained bodies of small boys and girls rushed from al-Maghazi refugee camp to al-Aqsa Martyrs' hospital in nearby Deir al-Balah.
Medics at the hospital said that at least 12 people were killed and some 30 injured by shelling in al-Maghazi.
"They were playing in the street. Why were they struck? They weren't in any position close to Israeli forces," one man told the BBC. Another added: "They were just playing. They were in the market with people coming and going normally."

foxie48

Rondoallaturc

A little naive, Foxie. 123 references in Quran inciting violence against non Muslims. “slay the infidels wherever you find them, lie in wait for them and exercise every strategy of war against them, paradise is promised to whoever cuts off the head of an infidel.” Ample justification for Islamaphobia.?

No and not naive. I am not an Islamic scholar but clearly neither are you. You have taken a translated line out of the Quran, (possibly taken from an article in the Rockford Register Star?) and quoted it out of context. If you don't read Arabic and I don't I am unable to tell you if this is an authentic translation or in deed what the true meaning of this passage is. There are certainly examples in the Bible and the Torah that are open to violent misinterpretation!
"Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind…” Qur’an 5:32
No one ever seems to quote this! There is also a huge misunderstanding with regard to Jihad, it does not mean killing the infidel, it's primary purpose is one of continuing self improvement but perhaps knowing more about Islam is less interesting than finding things to fuel Islamophobia! Extreme Islamic terrorist groups also misuse the Quran to justify the atrocities they commit in the name of Allah.

This is a good post.

Doesn't the bible have similar passages,Didn't CHRISTIANS carry out horrific acts on others over centuries .? ARE ANY OF THESE HOLY BOOKS WORTH GIVING CREDENCE TO?
The FACT is that Israel has been treating the Palestinian people in an abhorrent way for decades and it SHOULD HAVE BEEN STOPPED .It NEEDS to be stopped now!!

Rondoallaturc

A little naive, Foxie. 123 references in Quran inciting violence against non Muslims. “slay the infidels wherever you find them, lie in wait for them and exercise every strategy of war against them, paradise is promised to whoever cuts off the head of an infidel.” Ample justification for Islamaphobia.?

No and not naive. I am not an Islamic scholar but clearly neither are you. You have taken a translated line out of the Quran, (possibly taken from an article in the Rockford Register Star?) and quoted it out of context. If you don't read Arabic and I don't I am unable to tell you if this is an authentic translation or in deed what the true meaning of this passage is. There are certainly examples in the Bible and the Torah that are open to violent misinterpretation!
"Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind…” Qur’an 5:32
No one ever seems to quote this! There is also a huge misunderstanding with regard to Jihad, it does not mean killing the infidel, it's primary purpose is one of continuing self improvement but perhaps knowing more about Islam is less interesting than finding things to fuel Islamophobia! Extreme Islamic terrorist groups also misuse the Quran to justify the atrocities they commit in the name of Allah.

The Quran itself is fine it’s the interpretation that is the problem. For instance it says “women should dress modestly”. Fair enough I don’t have a problem with that but some Muslims interpret that as wearing a Burqa

Islam has got to change its ways if it is ever going to acceptable in the wider world, but their aim is for the rest of us to descend to their level

Glorianny

Rondoallaturc

A little naive, Foxie. 123 references in Quran inciting violence against non Muslims. “slay the infidels wherever you find them, lie in wait for them and exercise every strategy of war against them, paradise is promised to whoever cuts off the head of an infidel.” Ample justification for Islamaphobia.?

I suspect this is only permitted when a Jihad has been declared. A religious call to arms by an Imam. Similar I suppose to the military leaders who send out the planes to bomb civilian targets. War has never been the prerogative of one culture.

And jihad seems to be declared a lot by excitable religious fundamentalists unfortunately.Any old excuse in fact.

foxie48

Unfortunately Trump has also been making lots of slip ups recently ie thinking he was in Sioux Falls, South Dakota when he was actually in Sioux City, Ohio, claiming Biden could plunge the world into WW2, saying he was leading Obama in the polls, saying Orban was PM of Turkey not Hungary. Must be tough having your every word poured over. At 75 I often can't remember a name, I can remember lots of other things about them but not the name, thank goodness I'm not running for public office!

That’s why having a choice of two elderly men run for President is a bad move.

Rondoallaturc

A little naive, Foxie. 123 references in Quran inciting violence against non Muslims. “slay the infidels wherever you find them, lie in wait for them and exercise every strategy of war against them, paradise is promised to whoever cuts off the head of an infidel.” Ample justification for Islamaphobia.?

I suspect this is only permitted when a Jihad has been declared. A religious call to arms by an Imam. Similar I suppose to the military leaders who send out the planes to bomb civilian targets. War has never been the prerogative of one culture.

A little naive, Foxie. 123 references in Quran inciting violence against non Muslims. “slay the infidels wherever you find them, lie in wait for them and exercise every strategy of war against them, paradise is promised to whoever cuts off the head of an infidel.” Ample justification for Islamaphobia.?

foxie48

I also find the behaviour of some fundamentalist Islamic states abhorrent, I find the actions of Hamas on 7/10 abhorrent. My main and perhaps only difference from some posters is that I don't think every Palestinian is a member or supporter of Hamas and therefore deserves to be slaughtered or starved or are an acceptable as collateral. I also believe that many Muslims find Hamas abhorrent. Actually, I don't think you believe that either but I think some people do and there have been some posts which IMO are clearly or bordering on being Islamophobic.

And this.

foxie48

I just wish people would distinguish between extreme fundamentalist Muslims and the vast majority of Muslims who are not. The Taliban, Hamas, ISIS etc do not follow the teaching of the Quran or represent most Muslims any more than the Catholic nuns in the Magdalene laundries or the very many priests who were paedophiles represent the Catholic church. Please don't tell me that neither the nuns nor the priests committed the atrocious acts committed by Hamas on 7/10, of course I know that! What has been represented by some posters is a deep hatred of Islam which I find very sad as it is deep hatred on both sides that drives these conflicts. I certainly don't judge Judaism by the actions of extreme right wing Zionists on the West Bank as I know they do not represent the views of most Jews, neither should anyone make sweeping and largely incorrect statements about Islam when they are actually talking about extremist terrorist/fundamentalist groups.

This.

Unfortunately Trump has also been making lots of slip ups recently ie thinking he was in Sioux Falls, South Dakota when he was actually in Sioux City, Ohio, claiming Biden could plunge the world into WW2, saying he was leading Obama in the polls, saying Orban was PM of Turkey not Hungary. Must be tough having your every word poured over. At 75 I often can't remember a name, I can remember lots of other things about them but not the name, thank goodness I'm not running for public office!

GrannyGravy13

Glorianny if you do not think Iran is the axis of evil I think you are reading/watching totally different media sources.

Do you know how many young Iranian women have been blinded, tortured, murdered and imprisoned by the Muslim Fundamental Government, how many gay men have been literally thrown off buildings to their death…

Of course that is terrible.

I don't approve of the Iranian fundamentalist regime. I do understand why Iran has gone down the route it has. Years of US interference in its government preventing the proper development of a democratic system and then the awful situation with the Iran/Iraq war where Saddam Hussein a US puppet was supplied with arms and chemical weapons to use on Iran. Western, and particularly US interference has a lot to answer for in the Middle East.