Go raibh maith agat 🇮🇪 ❤️

https://unwatch.org/rights-group-exposes-palestinian-torture-ahead-of-first-un-review/

Countries in the UN support lots of things and condemn selectively.

I noticed this post on another thread and it's interesting reply. Strangely the UN countries when talking of treatment of women generally condemned Israel more than those other beaming lights of how not to treat women.

'Libya, Qatar, and Zimbabwe were among members of the UN’s 54-nation Economic and Social Council, a principal organ of the world body, who voted on July 26th to single out Israel as the only country in the world to be rebuked by the council this year for allegedly violating women’s rights.

Well, they're just taking the piss with this.

Especially since Iran's appointment as Chair of that Human Rights group was only a few months after Mahsa Amini was murdered due to wearing her headscarf incorrectly.

The UN is so anti-women that I almost wish the US would just pull out of it, which would almost certainly cause its collapse as I can't see anyone being keen on plugging the gap of US funding.'

You keep saying a ceasefire is not justified. Why then you do the vast majority of people world wide (eg look at polling data in the U.K. and USA)and an overwhelming number of countries in the UN support it? Could they all be in the wrong?

People talk about echo chambers, resulting in anti-Israeli stance on social media- but it must work both ways. There’s nothing nuanced in repeating a ceasefire is not possible. And yes, I know what Hamas representatives have said that they would repeat October 7th. Do you really think the chance of this is going on to be in reduced by just continuing to bomb Gaza and terrorising Palestinians on the West Bank?

It needs proper consistent diplomacy with a fair hand to consider demands of Palestinians.

I think it amazing that Ireland has highlighted the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. Noted Macron done the same too, but trying to walk a diplomatic tight rope with Israeli government.

I have said a number of times that Israel has a lot to answer for but this current crisis was caused by the Hamas atrocities. We can keep rehashing history but the events of October 7th were truly shocking and Hamas knew they would have catastrophic consequences. So yes - I blame Hamas for the current crisis which they deliberately engineered. ( no one can imagine they didn’t anticipate what would happen…)

Yes - fair point. I’m not arguing Israel has nothing to answer for. Im just not sure how a ceasefire is possible when Hamas repeatedly says they will keep attacking Israel and aim to destroy it.

You don't blame Israel at all, no?

I think it’s also worth remembering that Israelis are also having to be very brave and resilient.
The images of Shani Louk - half naked and unconscious in a truck full of cheering Hamas supporters- will never leave me.
The images of the injured Palestinian children are also haunting.
I blame Hamas . They have repeatedly said they will not stop the horrific attacks.

Thank you for this. I think you believe your own narrative and that’s your prerogative.
Reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights organisations are more critical of Hamas
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/05/gaza-palestinians-tortured-summarily-killed-by-hamas-forces-during-2014-conflict/

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jun-27-la-oe-vanesveld-gaza-20100627-story.html

I could copy and paste links all night but no doubt you would find them biased in some way .
Funnily enough I’m not persuaded that Hamas are a benign government by the Instagram posts of an unverified Gazan journalist.
I hope Palestinians find peace and justice and are are finally freed from the tyranny of Hamas and the oppression from Israel.

@Limeandsodaontherocks I don’t think Hamas are the ones who keep breaking the ceasefires - yes they broke the ceasefire this time in a barbaric unforgivable way but Israel never fully committed to it in the first place - they had killed over 200 Palestinians this year alone before any of this happened. We hear about it whenever an Israeli is murdered but the newspapers don’t make a big deal when a Palestinian is as it is just a normal occurrence that happens every week whether or not there is a ceasefire.

This is obviously terrible. I have never argued that Israel’s behaviour is ok.
I just think a ceasefire is not possible while Hamas is still in power and is committed to continuing with atrocities like October 7th and is holding children as hostages.

@Cloie "The Irish army have worked abroad as peace keepers."
They have indeed on UN missions and Israel behaving like it does
Fury at Israeli `excuse' for killing Irish soldier | Independent.ie

and No apology 31 years after death of Sligo soldier in Lebanon | Independent.ie
"was always regarded as a deliberate and unprovoked, attack by the Israelis and this a view has been supported this week by the release of a 19-page memorandum presented to government on January 19th, 1987, entitled Review of Irish Participation in Unifil.
The UN post was hit by three shells and the Sligo solider had died before he could be evacuated to hospital."

There are a number of different views about the Israel/ Palestine conflict in Ireland . And there are different views in Ireland about our own history. We don’t all think alike.
And if you’re calling me a Brit you can bog off

Eg?

The Britsplaining to Irish people on this thread is hilarious 😂

Thanks that was the comparison I was trying to make 🙂

WW2 was a long time ago too but it doesn't stop certain posters on here invoking it.

@Ohlalalalala

I do know my history dates . And a hundred years ago is quite a long time .
Not really. I remember people of my grandparents' generation telling stories of the Black and Tans which they had lived through.