Man made famine - the world should be ashamed

100% agree.

How is the obliteration of Gaza City defensible?

Because 20 live hostages give them as much power over Israel as several million Palestinians.
Israel does care about hostages, Hamas don’t care how many Palestinians die, the more children the better its more propaganda value.

ronib

The BBC online news is that Gaza City will be obliterated if the Israeli hostages are not released.
Why is Hamas refusing to release 20 hostages and presumably 30 corpses? Why?
How is this in any way defensible?

Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and the release of hostages on Monday but Israel haven’t agreed yet.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/18/hamas-gaza-proposed-ceasefire-hostage-release-deal-israel

For you ronib

AGAA4

As individuals there is little we can do and I won't share the guilt of those powerful enough to intervene.
I am distressed by the treatment of the Palestinians and wonder at those who believe Israel is right and have no compassion for the suffering inflicted on the innocents.

It does make me feel guilty, that's really why I get so disturbed about this one. I have been on a protest march, but only once in 2 years & no-one seems to get why we're marching anyhow.

I wasn't interested in News & P when Northern Ireland was on, & although I didn't support our invasion of Iraq (over WMD) it was done & dusted fairly soon & without undeniable atrocities.

I know we're not a party to this combat but Israel is an ally and we have given support, particularly public relations support, faithfully relaying whatever excuses the Israeli spokespeople make up.

And the world is not impotent - with Russia there's no surefire way of stopping Putin, but in Gaza, Trump could stop the atrocities if he gave Netanyahu a threatening enough ultimatum. Israel's strength is borrowed strength, from the US.

Israel doesn't care about the hostages David and an increasing number of Israelis don't think so either.

If those denying any ill-doing by Netanyahu are happy to blame Hamas for all human suffering in Gaza, how do they square this circle in the West Bank, where the IDF has been attacking Palestinians and more illegal settlements have been permitted??
You can’t blame Hamas for this, and it has been going on for decades.

Thanks Babs03 but why on earth would Hamas only agree to return 10 hostages? How crazy is Hamas? Such disrespect for human life.

ronib

Thanks Babs03 but why on earth would Hamas only agree to return 10 hostages? How crazy is Hamas? Such disrespect for human life.

The only way to hold off the bombing and try to extend a ceasefire by releasing hostages in smaller numbers but at regular intervals. If Hamas releases them all Israel will start bombing again immediately.

ronib

Thanks Babs03 but why on earth would Hamas only agree to return 10 hostages? How crazy is Hamas? Such disrespect for human life.

Israel is destroying a nation. The intergenerational trauma of those poor souls who make it out alive will never, ever end.

It's easy to keep the conscience clear by blaming Hamas for everything that's happened while believing that Netanyahu is on his killing spree for the good of Israel.
If he cared about the hostages they would have been back home by now.
There was a deal to release them a while ago and Netanyahu's answer was to bomb Gaza even more.

A growing number of Israelis have been protesting on the streets of Israel because they believe the government don’t care about the lives of the hostages.
And there are increasing numbers calling for an end to the suffering in Gaza.
Seems there are people on this forum who feel they know better than they do.

Babs03

A growing number of Israelis have been protesting on the streets of Israel because they believe the government don’t care about the lives of the hostages.
And there are increasing numbers calling for an end to the suffering in Gaza.
Seems there are people on this forum who feel they know better than they do.

And everyone, watch them, and hear from Israelis right here

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VABWprU184U

and they are across Israel, roads are being shut down by protesters against the current regimes' policies.

Good for them!

Mass protests have gripped Israel, as demonstrators blocked a highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and rallied across the country to demand an end to the Gaza war and the immediate release of hostages

source: ABC news

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at protesters, accusing them of strengthening Hamas, while Israeli President Isaac Herzog labelled opponents of the Israeli government’s military operations in Gaza as ‘hypocrites’.

IDF chief Eyal Zamir visited Israeli forces to inspect progress in preparation to take over Gaza City, as Israel announced it would give tents to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who would be displaced during the expected attack on the city."

Babs03

ronib

Thanks Babs03 but why on earth would Hamas only agree to return 10 hostages? How crazy is Hamas? Such disrespect for human life.

The only way to hold off the bombing and try to extend a ceasefire by releasing hostages in smaller numbers but at regular intervals. If Hamas releases them all Israel will start bombing again immediately.

Have never read as much nonsense on this subject Babs03
Hamas only care about themselves.If they hand over all the hostages, alive and dead then the war would end as there would be no need to do more.Naturally they would have to disarm and blend back into their families which they could easily do.
Some will have already done that, fearful for their own lives, others have already been killed and the rest have dug in hoping to kill a few Israeli soldiers and hoping their propaganda works by other countries putting pressure on Israel.
Getting hostages out alive was never going to be easy.Hamas murdered a lot, probably fairly soon after they were taken especially any children.I was impressed that Israel managed to secure as many hostages back as they have.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202508/medium-7el97n-starvation-weapon-poster-preview-width-1000.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202508/medium-fpiafz-9718-89-red-line-poster-thumbnails2-width-1000.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202508/medium-edt7ok-peace-poster-preview-width-1000.jpg

What can you do? Print out these posters. Out them in your window. share them with people you know for their windows
Put them on your FB or X or equivalent E mail links!

A lot of Israelis want the hostages back at any price and others don’t want their own AC reservists to be in danger, it’s understandable.It isn’t every Israeli citizen protesting tho, not by any means.Most know that what has to be done is for their own future safety.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202508/medium-4d3h9n-9718-89-red-line-poster-thumbnails-1-width-1000.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202508/medium-6rp7o7-9718-89-red-line-poster-thumbnails4-width-1000.jpg

More Oxfam posters

Wyllow3

What can you do? Print out these posters. Out them in your window. share them with people you know for their windows
Put them on your FB or X or equivalent E mail links!

Only if it makes you feel better, as it won’t change a thing.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202508/medium-bme15d-9718-89-red-line-poster-thumbnails2-width-1000.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202508/medium-geo5kl-9718-89-red-line-poster-thumbnails3-width-1000.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202508/medium-8bewk6-starvation-weapon-poster-preview-width-1000.jpg

Another attempt to show the best posters

Isnt that rather defeatist?

Think of the many changes in history only made because people shouted from their rooftops. women didnt get the vote without masses taking part. winning hearts and minds is always part of those changes. Add the email address of your MP to your poster ..put the posters up (chose which one carefully) at last.

some of these posters go straight to the heart, and if anyone is able to go on a demo then they are good posters. You can send the poster reference to people you know do have influence. I've done my best, the strength of feeling is such

We can only make a difference by ‘shouting’ as to what goes on in our own country.The government here can’t change a thing in any other country/ war/ conflict.

There’s going to be a lot to shout about too if the rumours about changes to inheritance tax are true. Taxation on selling a house…. But even if we shout from the rooftops, what difference does it make?

If Hamas surrendered and gave up the hostages then it would save thousands of lives. Don't forget, this was started by them as a terrorist attack. All descent people should condemn terrorism. I know. I have seen five people killed a few feet from me in a terrorist attack - all inocent.

ronib

There’s going to be a lot to shout about too if the rumours about changes to inheritance tax are true. Taxation on selling a house…. But even if we shout from the rooftops, what difference does it make?

To starving children affected by war, none whatsoever. We’re well into a dead cat strategy here.