Gaza, I despair.

Meanwhile Haaretz reports:

"Settlers torch Palestinian communities after fire damages West Bank settlement

Over the last two days, Israeli settlers have set fire to agricultural lands, a mosque, homes and vehicles in several West Bank communities, according to Palestinian media, the Israel Police and footage from one the villages. Police said they have opened an investigation into one case, but no suspects have been arrested.

Settlers also attempted to block a tanker delivering water to a community near Nablus, stole its water hose and pepper-sprayed one of the left-wing activists who was present, Palestinian reports said.

In the village of a-Tuwani, a Star of David was spray-painted on a building alongside the Hebrew words "Havat Gilad" – the name of a settler outpost that was damaged on Saturday by a large brush fire that also left two firefighters wounded."

And of great concern, occupation of Gaza

"Netanyahu coalition ministers, lawmakers join march calling to resettle Gaza

Near the Gaza border, the Israel Police and IDF tried to block hundreds of Israelis who gathered for a march calling for the Jewish resettlement of the Strip, the march's organizers said. Despite initially approving the march and declaring its route a closed military zone, the IDF later rescinded it, organizers said, adding that numerous buses were stranded close to the march's original assembly point.

Participants, mostly women and minors, then began bypassing police roadblocks. While police struggled to control the crowd, they later said that the marchers remained about 1 kilometer from the Gaza border. Some 100 demonstrators eventually managed to reach the border.

Several government ministers and coalition lawmakers were expected to join the march, held under the banner of Returning home after 21 years
a reference to the 2005 Israeli pullout from the Strip, in which 21 settlements and thousands of settlers were evacuated.

The march is organised by the Nachala movement, whose leader Daniella Weiss was sanctioned by Canada and the U.K. for her role in supporting and facilitating violence against Palestinians

There are very substantial splits in Israel, and many are very very frightened and press freedom compromised.

BTW, FGT, your Gaza news does not surprise me.

shut a starving, living in. tents, rife with disease population up in what amounts to a large ghetto, funnel in supplies if food without adequate distribution help

is absolutely bound to lead to groups of thugs, local gang leaders and Hamas in this case grabbling control of it

We all know that Hamas is cruel, Fried. It is a proscribed organisation.
It is not another side of the story.
Does the evil of Hamas, to the people of Palestine, mean that is acceptable for the national army of Israel to also commit war crimes?

What does Hamas have to do with the illegal land grab in the West Bank?

Well it could be said that what is happening was deliberate, as it gives those who lead the current regime in Israel an excuse to take over Gaza, and that is Exactly what is being proposed

(see Haaretz article above as to stated intentions for those non Arab Israelis who had previously lived in Gaza but agreed to leave it after the 6 day war, in order to foster peace, now are getting official backing too return from some of the current regime.

In the end not unlike Trumps plan, remember, all - "Gaza by the sea" - its inhabitants either leaving or becoming those who work at the hotels and facilities and clean homes and so on.

and I certainly do not think all Israelis wish this to happen at all

because more and more are refusing to be drafted or be punished for refusing to have genuine concerns about what has happened in Gaza and what is happening in the West Bank.

And here are the movements against:

(googled, AI but comes up with the references and you can also google them ourselves)

Human Rights Organizations:

Groups like B'Tselem and Yesh Din actively document and speak out against military conduct, forced displacement in the West Bank, and the expansion of Israeli settlements.

Activist Coalitions:

Movements like Standing Together organize protests advocating for peace, social justice, and equality, bringing together Jewish and Arab citizens.

Conscientious Objectors (Refuseniks): Networks of young Israelis and reservists, including groups like Mesarvot, refuse to enlist or serve in the military, citing their opposition to the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Hostage Families' Forum: While primarily focused on securing a deal to return the hostages held in Gaza, many members and allied protesters have broadened their demonstrations to demand an end to the fighting and an alternative to the current regime's wartime strategies

Do you think writing to AB Downing Street about stopping arms and spy flights, providing diplomatic will do any good.

Plus where do you send money to help the people and children of Palestine.

Your first suggestion is always worth a try, but the second one is more tricky, to do with how would you be sure about who actually gets your donation.
Someone will know.

Sorry Samwan, have just remembered that our Oxfam has a collection for Gaza.
Might be worth your while asking Google for more suggestions.

Just listening to TRiP talking about the World Cup.

The Palestinians, to a person, supported Spain - for obvious reasons.

A chap in Palestine erected a huge screen for the Palestinians to watch and bring some joy.

The Israeli’s killed him.

Maremia

Sorry Samwan, have just remembered that our Oxfam has a collection for Gaza.
Might be worth your while asking Google for more suggestions.

Thank you for your reply.

I have written to Andy Burnham to end arms and sanctions, as has Richard Burgon with many MP supporting.

Just goes on and on WhiteWave.

Well done Samwan. I will try to raise it locally LP wise now the new govt has been formed, my MP is in the cabinet and there is a lot of local LP support here.

Wyllow3

Well done Samwan. I will try to raise it locally LP wise now the new govt has been formed, my MP is in the cabinet and there is a lot of local LP support here.

That's a good idea

Sky News online this morning had a headline about the Government last year discussing a plan to sanction Israel because of the West Bank violence.
Couldn't get into the article, sorry.
But this could be the time to bring that concept to the fore.

If anyone gets Sky online, maybe have a look for the article?

At last West Bank matters are hitting new headlines: settlers actually set fire to a Mosque. Yes - not terrorists, but a Palestinian place of worship. This is appalling.

Read here:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjrv77gl4deo

"Israeli settlers set fire to mosques, cars and farm land in West Bank, Palestinians say"

And many remain silent. 😡

We would not tolerate it in the UK, any attacks on peaceful Mosques or Synagogue or Churches

I can not understand why the people of Israel who suffered so very much during the holocaust can not see how history is repeating itself in Gaza .
Yes they have the right to defend themselves but there has to be a line that should not be crossed & in Gaza that line has been & is still being crossed.

This news from a young brave man Andrey who's an activist in Gaza trying to report whats happening, to stop settlers targeting Palestinians their homes. farms. Imagine he said being at the whims of the IDF in the illegally occupied Palestine.

❗️ Israel is preparing a massive terror campaign in the West Bank.

Checkpoints around Nablus and Ramallah are shut down, movement is heavily restricted, IDF is moving more troops into the region, and settler-terrorists are gathering to launch pogroms.

Thanks to all who are giving updates.

'Plus where do you send money to help the people and children of Palestine.' There are quite a few; I regularly donate to 'Medical Aid for Palestinians' and 'War Child'. Another way to help is to buy Zaytoun products. Excellent quality and directly supports Palestinians.

That is a useful post, thanks, choughdancer.
Will look up Zaytoun products.

Led by Donkeys has been awarded £27, 216 in compensation for an anti genocide banner, removed at a demonstration in 2024, and disposed of by Veolia.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Yes, I want to hear what Burnham, will do. There is pressure within the LP as well as outside. We do need to do more. My MP says it is under consideration along with other foreign policy matters - ie early days

It is hard however to act and keep the balance between different strong views and needs on this one

As regards ourselves charity wise, MSF is still involved. they cannot bring doctors in but are funding Palestinian run clinics.
It is also actively involved in the West Bank.

Here is the relevant donate page with information.
msf.org.uk/article/gaza-huge-influx-aid-urgently-needed-amid-catastrophic-conditions-gaza?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21031519423&gbraid=0AAAAADn6FKeH9Zxv9JBmMOX1vqnnO5VDn&gclid=CjwKCAjwyabTBhBFEiwAM3mNUM7dK161awIRH3jTDKX6CEdwm8hice5vqsCQGpcVrXy-kNxXTC9SlxoC_jgQAvD_BwE