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Conflict in the Middle East
Original poster

Gaza has gone dark ... and I am very afraid!

355 replies

HeidiInTheBigCity · 27/10/2023 19:14

Tonight, as Gaza has gone dark, tonight, as Gazan civilians have lost that lifeline that used to be "publishing their cries for help to the Internet, as they were literally dying", tonight, as even that option has ceased to exist!

I STAND WITH CIVILIANS!

Not with Hamas!
NOT with the ultra-far-right Israeli government - out for revenge!

Tonight, I STAND WITH CIVILIANS, as innocent men, women and children are dying, collectively punished, for the crime of having been born in the wrong place, at the wrong time!

Tonight, I STAND WITH CIVILIANS, as the families of Israeli hostages watch helplessly, as their missing loved ones are bombed into oblivion, and their own PM has not even bothered to meet with them! Because, once again, revenge has won! Violence has won! Barbarism has won! Death has won!

Tonight, I stand with my friend, a Palestinian-born [what he does for a living] currently getting drunk at a bar in [not where you'd expect] - because he cannot stand watching anymore! We cried together on the phone - it felt nice to know there was someone else out there - but it also felt supremely disempowered and helpless! Tonight, I stand with men, women, boys, girls ... just people, people who want to live!

Tonight, as I recall how utterly terrified I used to be when I, myself, became an accidental witness to the assault on [Palestinian city], some 20 years ago now! I also recall the good times: I recall standing on the rooftop of the [name] family's home, watching flares in the sky, deliberately pretending they were just very bright stars, kissing, and dancing with my fiancé. Snuggling up to him under the wide open sky, as we ignored the sound of shooting in the background, as we just wanted to ... live a little! ... under circumstances that didn't leave much room for living. For life! Knowing we would learn about names of people we knew and the fact that they had been killed while we had been trying to ... just live a little ... as the following day would break!

Tonight, I stand with civilians, realising that this particular, comparatively "fluffy" version of war - a version, make no mistake, that has left me deeply traumatised for life, bittersweet memories aside! - this is just NOT AN OPTION for Gazans tonight!

Tonight, I CRY FOR CIVILIANS! Especially, but not only, for civilians in Gaza!

We have GOT TO DO better!

Note: yes, I have censored a number of data points - because that is how afraid I am! I am not willing to potentially expose people I consider friends, family even, unnecessarily as I, frankly helplessly, post to the so-called Internet, pleading for their lives or, at the very least: sympathy!

OP posts:
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Igotjelly · 27/10/2023 22:30

I think the risk of full out WW3 is pretty unlikely from at the moment, what is more likely (and IMO equally tragic) is that the Middle East is plunged into a new conflict for many decades to come. The Middle East is a beautiful part of the world, massively cultured and populated generally by the most wonderful people.

queenofarles · 27/10/2023 22:29

How do hostages family feel looking at these pictures coming from Gaza? How do they feel about their government refusing to negotiate?
the Israeli and US governments are war criminals and they failed both sides.
something needs to be done, this needs to stop , so many innocent lives are going to get lost.

Meadowfly · 27/10/2023 22:28

It’s horrific. Why are there no voices calling for Hamas to release the hostages and stop firing missiles into Israel? If they hadn’t attacked Israel, or if they had stopped the rockets & released the hostages this wouldn’t be happening. Hamas have betrayed their own people.

Igotjelly · 27/10/2023 22:25

bellac11 · 27/10/2023 22:24

Did I hear recently that Israel has stopped issuing visas for UN officials to get into the country?

So Im not sure how much power the UN has in that respect with Israel

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Yes. This was a direct response to comments from the UN Secretary General.

SaintMarie · 27/10/2023 22:25

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bellac11 · 27/10/2023 22:24

Iamacatslave · 27/10/2023 21:53

And who thinks Israel will listen to the UN?

Did I hear recently that Israel has stopped issuing visas for UN officials to get into the country?

So Im not sure how much power the UN has in that respect with Israel

SaintMarie · 27/10/2023 22:23

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duchiebun · 27/10/2023 22:23

This is nothing about the hostages or anything. It's just all a big lie to destroy Palestine. It's the Iraq war all over again, and worse.

@Dinkydaisy1 are you saying there aren’t any hostages?

duchiebun · 27/10/2023 22:22

The secret fear at the back of my brain, where I’m trying not to look at it, is that Israel will turn to tactical nuclear weapons

err you realise that nuclear weapons have a pretty big range?!

Dinkydaisy1 · 27/10/2023 22:22

Ostryga · 27/10/2023 22:17

They didn’t care about them in the first place. This has all been a huge ruse to wipe out the Palestinian people.

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This is nothing about the hostages or anything. It's just all a big lie to destroy Palestine. It's the Iraq war all over again, and worse.

Igotjelly · 27/10/2023 22:21

sorry that was on the nuclear question.

Igotjelly · 27/10/2023 22:21

I suspect that’s incredibly unlikely given the geographical proximity of Gaza and Israel.

Wanderinghome · 27/10/2023 22:20

It's so sad. The fear that people must be feeling is sickening.

Motorina · 27/10/2023 22:20

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The secret fear at the back of my brain, where I’m trying not to look at it, is that Israel will turn to tactical nuclear weapons in their efforts to eliminate Hamas. I’d be delighted to be wrong but, as you say, this feels bad.

duchiebun · 27/10/2023 22:20

The UK in abstaining is piling pressure on Netanyahu BUT it can't abandon our line on defending against terrorism and the concept of 'the war on terror' because so much of our foreign and domestic policy is entwined with the concept.

@RedToothBrush exactly, so many don’t seem to understand this bit.

SaintMarie · 27/10/2023 22:19

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Original poster
HeidiInTheBigCity · 27/10/2023 22:19

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In a truly dark hour, at a time when I know that - however deliberately drunk or not I can get - I will have a hard time falling asleep tonight, again!

Thank you for just "crossing the Rubicon".

Regardless of how ridiculous this sounds: as a fellow student of Latin / Classics: it's just crazy uplifting - don't ask, I can't even explain it, it just FEELS comforting! - if someone uses your language!

OP posts:
Ostryga · 27/10/2023 22:17

cestlavielife · 27/10/2023 22:04

Is Israel govt sacrificing the hostages?

They didn’t care about them in the first place. This has all been a huge ruse to wipe out the Palestinian people.

Iamacatslave · 27/10/2023 22:16

@RedToothBrush thank you for your post.

Dabralor · 27/10/2023 22:15

It is just horror. All those people, trapped in the dark cut off from help. Its hard not to just to hold on to my children and cry.

Notonthestairs · 27/10/2023 22:14

Very interesting reading Redtoothbrush. Thank you.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 27/10/2023 22:14

cestlavielife · 27/10/2023 22:04

Is Israel govt sacrificing the hostages?

Well, five hours ago the Qatar led negotiations were reported to be ‘going well’.
Jeremy Bowen has literally just now reported that his sources have confirmed that negotiations are now ‘no longer ongoing’.
Make of that what you will.

Dinkydaisy1 · 27/10/2023 22:14

FrippEnos · 27/10/2023 21:16

It will be interesting to see how the pro-Israeli PR teams spin this.
Surely even they must see how wrong this is.

No need to wait to see. Can see it on mumsnet already, in this post crying for humanity, you still have people defending murderers

queenofarles · 27/10/2023 22:12

Is Israel govt sacrificing the hostages? from what I’m seeing, I think they are well behind that stage .

MissyB1 · 27/10/2023 22:08

cestlavielife · 27/10/2023 22:04

Is Israel govt sacrificing the hostages?

That’s what i believe 🙁