Breaking news, midnight - Peace in the Middle East?

Oreo

It’s no earthly use covering very old ground about the history of the region, it goes round in circles.It’s the here and now that has to be sorted out. Hamas have set things back sadly for the Palestinians.
What consequences they’ve faced since after 7th October 2023.
Many were celebrating wildly after the massacre in Israel with no thought for what may come but I bet many did realise and were fearful.
There will be much infighting now in Gaza.Some sort of law will have to be put in place.

I agree that it's the "here and now" which matters, but it's the history of the region - ancient history - which is the basis of Israel's claim to ownership. You can't have this both ways, however much you try. History matters.

Many were celebrating wildly after the massacre in Israel

How do you know?

Many more were probably packing up a few belongings are trying to get out.

No one would show the many thousands who were not celebrating and who probably represented the majority of the Gazan population. This is why we should always ask ourselves to question the agenda of those who post pictures in any media.

ronib

The West Bank seems to be kicking off too. I hope the hostages and prisoners are exchanged tomorrow. After that, who knows?

Yep, and Mr Netanyahu poked a stick into Hezbollah’s nest the other day too.

Like you, I hope the hostage exchange goes ahead smoothly and relief continues to go into Gaza at speed. I have no sense at all of what may be next on Mr N’s agenda other than keeping himself out of gaol. Oh for a crystal ball… but only if it came equipped with a fully functioning wand full of fairy dust.

Over the decades every time Palestinians have attacked Israel the retaliation has caused 10 times the deaths and more but still they keep fighting. This time nearly 20 deaths for every Israeli death

foxie48

The history of the region is important to our understanding of the present. If it makes people feel uncomfortable, then they will try to ignore it but if they care about the future they will (at least) try to understand it. Closed minds are like closed books, they teach us absolutely nothing of any value.

Absolutely!

So much is still "within living memory". People are still alive now from photos showing them holding the keys of their stolen houses - to show they are still the owners of those houses - though squatters have, in many cases, been squatting there for years by now.

It is astonishing to me - as I would literally burn my house to the ground sooner than see a squatter sitting there in possession of it. I still wouldnt be able to get it back - but at least the squatter wouldnt have it either.

I hope peace will happen, not optimistic though. Those prisoners released going back to a hell hole, so many of their families dead and homes rubble.. We can never understand how they feel.

Where are all those people flooding back to Gaza going to be housed, there is nothing left. No water, no electricity, no buildings, basically nothing. Yes it can be rebuilt what how will they live in the meantime?

Allsorts

I hope peace will happen, not optimistic though. Those prisoners released going back to a hell hole, so many of their families dead and homes rubble.. We can never understand how they feel.

Inter generational trauma.

I'm gobsmacked at them still finding the mental strength to carry on trying regardless. Trekking to and fro umpteen times across Gaza, struggling to find a way to get food and medical care, the constant concern as to whether they will be injured or killed, there are even children that have clearly been conceived and born during the last 2 years (that is a point I don't understand personally - as I would have refused to conceive/husband kept at arms length if need be so that didnt happen)......but they've kept on doing what they can to "have their lives" (which I do understand).

There must be very few indeed of them that have found a home to go back to - the man in tears in a video this morning that his home was still there is very much the exception.

The memories of what has been done to them will take generations to fade - many generations before it goes from "This happened to me", to "This happened to my parents" to "This happened to my grandparents". I guess it will be around 100 years before "direct connection" no longer applies - assuming the war against them isn't started up again by Netanyahu (which is by no means a given - as many of us think he will start up again. He's done so before - he'll do so again. He makes a habit of this).

Meanwhile - most other people on the planet (especially outside Britain, America and Australia) can see clearly what has been happening and some of us in these three countries can see it too and this is horrifying to think we're sharing a planet with people who do things like this. Not to mention those in surrounding countries - who are probably all well aware of Netanyahu's "Greater Israel" project and know that he wants their land too.

David49

Over the decades every time Palestinians have attacked Israel the retaliation has caused 10 times the deaths and more but still they keep fighting. This time nearly 20 deaths for every Israeli death

That hit a chord David. I wonder if the Hamas supporters there feel the murder and kidnap of Israelis two years ago was such a great idea now, given the price they’ve paid?

7 hostages are back in Israel and reunited with their families. Trump has arrived in Gaza saying "the war is over".
A young Israeli man speaking to BBC says the release of hostages is all due to Trump and that Netanyahu wanted the war to continue. He thinks Netanyahu's days are numbered as the people want him out.

Hamas attacks Israel, it's Hamas who have the guns and rockets, more than 50% of Palestinians did not vote for Hamas in 2006 despite being poorly served by the PA. A huge percentage of those eligible to vote now, were not even eligible to vote in 2006. Let's not confuse a terrorist organisation with Palestinians, they are not the same.

foxie48

Hamas attacks Israel, it's Hamas who have the guns and rockets, more than 50% of Palestinians did not vote for Hamas in 2006 despite being poorly served by the PA. A huge percentage of those eligible to vote now, were not even eligible to vote in 2006. Let's not confuse a terrorist organisation with Palestinians, they are not the same.

It’s good to see references to the intergenerational trauma Palestinians face.
Lets not forget that is relevant to Israeli and Jewish people

Many Palestinians including children are being released today. They are being called criminals by Israel but there is a counter argument that because Gaza was occupied they felt they had the right to fight against the Israeli occupation.

Israel has not occupied Gaza since 2005.

Iam64

foxie48

Hamas attacks Israel, it's Hamas who have the guns and rockets, more than 50% of Palestinians did not vote for Hamas in 2006 despite being poorly served by the PA. A huge percentage of those eligible to vote now, were not even eligible to vote in 2006. Let's not confuse a terrorist organisation with Palestinians, they are not the same.

It’s good to see references to the intergenerational trauma Palestinians face.
Lets not forget that is relevant to Israeli and Jewish people

Absolutely.

Palestine is more than Gaza. Palestinians live in Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem. Some live in Israel and some live in areas that are designated to be Palestinian but are occupied by illegal settlers. The picture is very complex, however, wherever Palestinians live they are under the control of Israel and are unable to leave or travel freely. That is the reality of their situation.

And why is there no freedom of movement ?

Gazans cannot leave Gaza because there is not functioning airport and the Israelis control the sea, they also control all of the exits with the exception of Rafah which is controlled by Egypt.
Israel enforces restrictions on the freedom of movement of Palestinians in the West Bank by employing a system of permanent, temporary and random manned checkpoints, the West Bank barrier and by forbidding the usage of roads by Palestinians. courtesey of Wiki
tbh I thought everyone would know this by now!

Since you are so knowledgeable foxie48 please explain WHY.

Under Oslo, an international airport was built but Palestinians chose terrorism so no right to use airspace. In the Wiki ….

I think foxie just explained it ronib. 'Israel enforces restrictions'
Possibly you posted at the same time.

WHY does Israel enforce restrictions? It has to it seems to any logical person.

Ronib This information is freely available and has been discussed in many of the threads related to this dreadful war. You asked me a question and I answered it, there's no need to be unpleasant.