For people who say I stand with Israel

I believe in Israel's right to exist as an independent sovereign state and for a 2 state solution, with Palestine as an independent sovereign state.

As pps have said, to me 'I stand with Israel' does not mean I support the current Israeli government, but I support the Israeli people, as I support the Palestinian people to also have a state.

You know this is a lie. Several newspapers are now reporting Hamas fired a rocket that split and part of it dropped on the car park next to the hospital. CCN have analysis the satellite images now which shows it was not Israel. Many were injured and some killed but according to medics in that same hospital nowhere near 500 were killed. Why do you believe the propaganda from Hamas? They were the ones reporting 500 dead. No one else corroborates this figure. The medics in the hospital must know the number of fatalities.

Its the two state solution, where both people's get their own nation. Hamas have repeatedly refused to accept the two state solutions which have been offered. Instead they want to total destruction of Israel.
Jews and Palestinians deserve to have a state of their own. Until Hamas accept this there will continue to be conflict.
People who say ' I stand with Israel' suspect support the two state solution and this racist mass murder and rape of the type recently carried out by Hamas is never justifiable.

I see the barbarous racist mass murder (including mass rape and the murder of babies) carried out by Hamas in this context of their refusal to accept Israel as having right to exist and their desire to total destruction of Israel and Israelis.

I also suspect they targeted the peaceful, liberal Israelis in the Kibbutz and peace dance festival deliberately, and with exceptional barbarity, to deliberately destroy any chance of a peaceful resolution to the situation in the ME.

Until Hamas can accept the right of Israel to exist this dreadful conflict will continue.

Yet Hamas was elected into power in 2006. Oh dear.

This is the only long term solution. Split the country down the middle right through Jerusalem as both sides want that. Each person/ family to choose which side they want to live on but one side be called Israel and be ruled by Israelis and the other half be called Palestine and be ruled by Palestinian's. The thing is it's hard to see anyone in their right minds wanting to be ruled by Hamas.

I interpret as standing with the people of Israel

Then if you are in Gaza you should blame Hamas who broke a ceasefire to start a war with Israel by brutally torturing, raping and murdering 1400 people. Put the blame for this situation where it lies, with Hamas. Who even now are continuing to fire rockets into Israel. No food or water apparently, but plenty of rockets. Hamas are responsible for this.

I stand with Israel
What I want for Palestinians -
The deposition of Hamas
The creation of a separate state of Palestine comprising of the West Bank and Gaza. No Jerusalem, just logistically.
For that state to have a democratically
elected government who want to live in peace with their neighbours.
For Palestine to become a self governing self sufficient country in as much as they the infrastructure and systems to produce or import the food/water/medicines etc they need without relying on Israel to do it for them.
For full Palestinian citizenship and equal rights to be granted to Jews currently living in settlements in the West Bank. From the creation of the state of course Palestine will be free to create more Jewish settlements or not, as it sees fit.
For full and equal rights to be granted to all those living in Israel whether they be Jews/Christians/Muslims.

I would never say "I stand with Israel" because that would mean that I stood with the Israeli government. Which I don't.

"From the river (Jordon) to the sea (Mediterranean), Palestine will be free" - Basically means they want to take the entire land of Isreal from the Jewish people and they have no intension of ever having a two state solution. The people of Gaza do not want peace, only destruction and violence.

If you leap straight into “whataboutery” at the first opportunity you will learn nothing.

Both sides have too much to point to and shout “but what about…”. It achieves nothing but a stalemate.

I stand with Israel in its darkest hour as a victim of heinous terrorist acts of unspeakable barabarity. I stand with Israel in that is has a right to exist as a state. I stand by Israel as the home of many Jews that only wish peace.

I also stand up for the right to voice these opinions openly without fear of violence or insult.

Except they didn't. There's verifiable evidence that they didn't. You want to believe they did despite the proven fact that they didn't. It fits the propaganda of Hamas, who are terrorists. You can believe what you want to believe but the truth has been proven on this one.

You obviously know better than American intelligence. Wow. The balance of evidence that's been released points to a misfired Islamic Jihad missile. And that there were nowhere near as many deaths as claimed.
You clearly believe the Hamas propaganda.....

i feel much the same and that's as an Israeli citizen.

It's also I stand with my people in their time of pain too. Funerals, grief, hostages, displacements, fear. It doesn't take away from any palestinian suffering - it's not a zero sum game.

@MrsFinkelstein Isreal most certainly did drop a bomb on that hospital! You clearly believe the isreal propaganda.
Isreal repeatedly break international law. There is no justifiable excuse for that.

I think the difficult thing about this conflict, speaking as someone with no particular affiliation to either side, is that there is no easy answer. It's not like the Russia-Ukraine conflict when it was clear to most people in the UK that Russia was in the wrong. The only thing that's certain here is that innocent people on both sides are suffering.

Interesting thread! Thanks for opening it!

Personally, I would never stay that I "stand with Israel" - I just don't! Or, to be precise, I don't stand and would never stand with the Israeli state, which has oppressive policies - most famously but not only against Palestinians - and as of the most recent, pre-war cabinet version an ultra-far-right government that is so extreme it should make anyone to the left of Nigel Farage shudder in horror.

On the other hand, I have no problem standing with Israelis! In fact, a lot of what I know and how I personally view the conflict is deeply informed by the Israeli (and Palestinian) left. I have every empathy for the deep shock and hurt of those who have lost loved ones in the recent attack. Their grievances are legitimate. Their fears are valid. And I am happy to stand with them.

But personally, I cannot get behind the notion that, in order to do so, I need to also get behind their government committing war crimes against Palestinians! Other, better, much more constructive ideas for how to deal with the situation exist - ask Israeli leftists!

For me (although I haven't actually said 'I stand with Israel' publicly as my job requires me to be apolitical): it means that Israel has the right to exist and protect itself from terrorist attack.

I also believe the Palestinians have a right to a state, and to live free from occupation.

Basically, I support a two-state solution, although another poster said, that isn't looking very likely for some time, if ever.

Also this.

I will also point out that Israel agreed to a negotiated ceasefire in May this year.

Hamas broke that ceasefire on Oct 7th when it crossed the border and killed 1400 Israeli citizens - most women, children and elderly.

Hamas lit the fuse knowing Netanyahu would need no encouragement to fuel the flames.

Innocent Palestinians and Israelis will suffer because of war-mongering, intolerant men.

I agree

If I were a Palestinian now, I would despair at the 4 200 deaths announced today. I would feel powerless. scared, in shock and in utter disbelief that my life is not as valuable as the one of an Israeli.

Yes, that really is what it means.

It is weird that people feel the need to force some dodgy message onto such a simple statement. Freedom is a pretty basic thing for a country to want.

Israel didn't do this.
It was a misfire rocket set off by Palestinian Jihad.
And nowhere near that number died.
You're spouting Hamas propaganda here.

This, completely this.