Peace in the Middle East

Been watching some of the celebrations in Gaza and the aid lorries rolling in. all we can say is, so far, so good, and hope.

also if this goes well:
"The Palestinian government is scheduled to hold a major meeting this evening to coordinate plans to streamline the recovery and humanitarian efforts in Gaza that are hoped to be implemented under the ceasefire agreement. The following is from a report by Palestinian news agency Wafa which goes into detail about the meeting"

The splits in Netanyahu's regime are worrying, tho, but its up to Israeli voters to make their views known?
It was this concerned me (2 hours ago)

"The far right Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is the head of the Religious Zionist Party, has reportedly called on Israel to occupy the Gaza Strip and install a military government, threatening to overthrow the government if this does not happen.

Israel “must occupy Gaza and create a temporary military government because there is no other way to defeat Hamas,” he was quoted as having told Israel’s Army Radio.
On Thursday, Smotrich’s party said in a statement that its condition for remaining in the government would be a return to fighting at the end of the first phase of the deal, in order to destroy Hamas and bring all the hostages back".

(its all in the guardian newsfeed)
www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/jan/19/israel-gaza-ceasefire-live-news-updates?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with%3Ablock-678ceaec8f08fd7ce2cdcbd1#block-678ceaec8f08fd7ce2cdcbd1

petra

This is a program explainer the situation in Iran.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p00zhrbt

This is interesting but it was made in 2012

wyllow3

Yes, none if it fills me with any great hope. There are so many players, including the incoming Trump administration, who all have their own agendas, and not one of them really marrying up.

Whitewavemark2

I was reading that the new Lebanese President is intent on ridding Lebanon of all militia except the Lebanese army. Where will that leave Hezbollah?

As terrors guerrillas fighting the government in the same way as the Kurds in Turkey

The US will do everything it ca to make sure Lebanon and Syria look west not to Russia or Iran or indeed China.

The three female hostages have been handed over to the Red Cross.

Their cars were surrounded by armed Hamas terrorists chanting and jeering at them.

I cannot begin to imagine what horrors these women have had to endure over the last 400+ days…

GrannyGravy there was a video last year a young girl hostage
had died, her body was driven around Gaza and men ,not in any uniform or face covering stood on the streets cheering and
laughing

Anniebach

GrannyGravy there was a video last year a young girl hostage
had died, her body was driven around Gaza and men ,not in any uniform or face covering stood on the streets cheering and
laughing

I know Anniebach I cannot forget those images.

I don't suppose many people will forget.

How would you like the situation to go forward, so that hopefully nothing like that will ever happen again?

growstuff

I don't suppose many people will forget.

How would you like the situation to go forward, so that hopefully nothing like that will ever happen again?

Honestly I think a two state solution is currently untenable.

I cannot see peace in my lifetime.

The footage coming out of Gaza today shows many 100’s of not 1,000’s of heavily armed Hamas operatives

GrannyGravy13

The footage coming out of Gaza today shows many 100’s of not 1,000’s of heavily armed Hamas operatives

So what? I've no doubt it was done as a PR stunt to show the Israelis that they're not defeated. Neither side wants to lose face. The important issue is that hostages have been released - let's hope they all are. If Hamas wants to jump around with their green headbands and guns so that all the hostages are released, it's a small price to pay.

GrannyGravy13

growstuff

I don't suppose many people will forget.

How would you like the situation to go forward, so that hopefully nothing like that will ever happen again?

Honestly I think a two state solution is currently untenable.

I cannot see peace in my lifetime.

So what happens? If nothing changes, Israelis will continue to feel unsafe and Palestinians will continue to feel persecuted. It's a depressing thought - for all concerned.

I agree with others that a two state solution is not possible now. I don’t think the ceasefire will last past the first stage.
I’m very happy that the three young women have been successfully handed over, but their trauma will be huge, and I think it will take a long time for them to recover.
Perhaps we can still hope for further releases, another four next weekend it is said.

I think one of them is a Brit?

Whitewavemark2

I think one of them is a Brit?

Yes she has dual nationality.

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

The footage coming out of Gaza today shows many 100’s of not 1,000’s of heavily armed Hamas operatives

So what? I've no doubt it was done as a PR stunt to show the Israelis that they're not defeated. Neither side wants to lose face. The important issue is that hostages have been released - let's hope they all are. If Hamas wants to jump around with their green headbands and guns so that all the hostages are released, it's a small price to pay.

It must have been very intimidating for the three young women though, they looked very vulnerable surrounded by hundreds of men with guns.

Peace is up to Palestinians if they want Israel to stay and kill 20 times as many as their own losses carry on, it their choice, nobody is going to rescue them, their allies have been badly hurt, Israel will oblige.

Just how can you deal with an organisation whose entire raison d'etre is to destroy all Jews, other than by killing them all ? So it is an impossible situation, thanks to the persistent anti-Jewish hatred.

Agree FGT , there cannot be peace

Just think; these are the people that Owen Jones (Guardian) goes on marches for every week in London. They would throw him off a building at the first chance.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Just how can you deal with an organisation whose entire raison d'etre is to destroy all Jews, other than by killing them all ? So it is an impossible situation, thanks to the persistent anti-Jewish hatred.

Chilling in the extreme.

Have you no awareness at all as to why and how that so-called 'raison d'etre' came about, and how it grew and grew.

Casdon

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

The footage coming out of Gaza today shows many 100’s of not 1,000’s of heavily armed Hamas operatives

So what? I've no doubt it was done as a PR stunt to show the Israelis that they're not defeated. Neither side wants to lose face. The important issue is that hostages have been released - let's hope they all are. If Hamas wants to jump around with their green headbands and guns so that all the hostages are released, it's a small price to pay.

It must have been very intimidating for the three young women though, they looked very vulnerable surrounded by hundreds of men with guns.

That footage made me weep. Hundreds of militants hiding their faces, jostling the Red Cross people. Those women must have been so scared that the militants might suddenly turn on them at the last minute.
A civilised handover would have been far better propaganda instead of reinforcing many people's views about Hamas.

Do they do civilised

Claremont

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Just how can you deal with an organisation whose entire raison d'etre is to destroy all Jews, other than by killing them all ? So it is an impossible situation, thanks to the persistent anti-Jewish hatred.

Chilling in the extreme.

Have you no awareness at all as to why and how that so-called 'raison d'etre' came about, and how it grew and grew.

So are you saying there is justification for such terrorism? , to destroy all Jewish people whoever an how innocent they are?
🤔

Chilling in the extreme.
Indeed.

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