Why kill Dr Marwan Sultan?

Just going to tactically ignore this then are we?

If it’s not about the hostages the only “justification” left is Hamas. Yet international law is clear: civilians, especially children, cannot be deliberately targeted to get at a military group. Starving, bombing, and flattening entire neighbourhoods (even farmland) to pressure/punish Hamas is illegal. Repeated, systematic attacks on civilians are war crimes- and possibly genocide. Targeting Hamas doesn’t magically make mass civilian slaughter lawful.

This. Again, and again, and again!!

If it’s not about the hostages the only “justification” left is Hamas. Yet international law is clear: civilians, especially children, cannot be deliberately targeted to get at a military group. Starving, bombing, and flattening entire neighbourhoods (even farmland) to pressure/punish Hamas is illegal. Repeated, systematic attacks on civilians are war crimes- and possibly genocide. Targeting Hamas doesn’t magically make mass civilian slaughter lawful.

Agree it's not primarily about the remaining hostages.

Personally I think Netanyahu holds out little hope of getting them back alive anyway without conceding his other demands (for Hamas to disarm and leave Gaza).

My guess it that he has privately decided that he can't allow future hostages to be taken and people killed for the sake of the 20 or fewer hostages remaining alive. He can't say this publicly but his actions appear to show it.

We can be sure it’s clearly not about the hostages- Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected offers that would have released them, while continuing airstrikes and expansionist policies. The hostages are being used as a political tool, not a genuine reason for action.

Netanyahu has rejected ceasefire proposals that don't include Hamas disarming and leaving Gaza - as you very well know but always leave out of the sentence when you say that Netanyahu has rejected ceasefire proposals.

So we go round in circles once again because what would be the point of him agreeing a ceasefire proposal that enables Hamas to remain and do another 7/10 on a different date in the future?

Hamas haven't agreed to terms so I've no idea what you mean?

They will, and lots of people will have needlessly died in the meantime.

I honestly dont understand your point, and I'm still waiting for Hamas to f off. As is everyone in Gaza.

This comment hasn’t aged well, has it?

“I hope you’ll be back to admit you’re wrong when Hamas do eventually agree to terms, hand back the hostages, and there is actually a ceasefire.”

Since then, Netanyahu has rejected multiple ceasefire proposals, including a comprehensive deal that would have released all hostages. In July 2025, Hamas offered such a deal, but Netanyahu declined, adding last-minute demands that derailed the negotiations.

Just this month an Israeli airstrike in Doha targeted Hamas officials during ceasefire talks, leading Qatar’s Prime Minister to state that Netanyahu “killed any hope” of releasing hostages.

You are quite literally saying ‘look what you made me do’

Yes it's another of the numerous foundation "myths" about modern Israel created in order to justify their actions.

Good article here:
https://mondediplo.com/1997/12/palestine#:~:text=As%20for%20the%20broadcasts%20by,were%20invented%20for%20pure%20propaganda.

Thank you @Stormwalker seems worth a watch. One thing the director calls out is the myth that Palestinians left their homes of their volition during the Nakba I have heard that lie repeated on here by numerous of the usual posters,

For those who don't want to watch the whole documentary here are a couple of trailers.
This is from their own mouths those who committed the crimes! No amount of twisting and spinning is going to change it. They openly admit and some even boast about what they did. The documentary maker was brave and well done to him and all those from breaking the silence who actually tell the truth and don't try to hide behind propaganda and semantics

Of course there is Hamas in the West Bank!

@Whatsinanamehey I think it’s awful when certain Israelis decide that no one is truly innocent on the “other side” of the war. They are damaged individuals in my opinion, and shouldn’t be serving in the military.

However, I do think you get that on the other side too with some Palestinians (whether Hamas or not) thinking any Israeli person is fair game to kill because they somehow deserve it. Hence some did celebrate the killing & kidnapping of Israeli civilians.

Very messed up thinking on both sides which makes peace still seem so far away.

This is for the posters who despite mounting evidence and testimonies from IDF soldiers, still insist that the IDF are only trying to kill Hamas.

https://news.sky.com/story/israeli-soldier-describes-arbitrary-killing-of-civilians-in-gaza-13393422

I acknowledged it was a complete derail from the theme of the thread and the poster quoted can reflect on my comment or not as she sees fit. I’m just some randomer on the internet, after all.

Its hard to tell whether you are intelligent or well read so I cant comment but its pretty adtonishing that you thought it was approproate to comment on someone else's approach to parenting, on the basis of one comment. A comment that was perfectly legitimate in the circumstances.

Think before you speak and read before you think

Wow! I know this is a complete derail, but that sentence and it’s kid brother “Empty vessels make most noise” are two of the most ghastly parenting strategies I have ever encountered.

We all want to encourage and develop critical thinking, but to see that an otherwise intelligent or well read adult still believes it can be achieved via the sneering pomposity contained in those two sentences leaves me astonished.

Edit to add: notwithstanding that, thanks for the book recommendation.

@chergar
You clearly hit a nerve!
Here’s another author for you- an Israeli historian who may not agree with the narratives of some posting on this board, but give a fairer account from the Palestinian side.

https://amzn.eu/d/2lfqQb8

Here’s a podcast where he’s interviewed:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/473ZZTD9r6zgVOjs9meJfi?si=EzSVzICNSiO8kvkRd1xkKg

I teach my children constantly, Fran Lebowitz’s phrase, “Think before you speak and read before you think.”

Try “Righteous Victims” by Benni Morris

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0glc7yp/the-fifty-years-war-israel-and-the-arabs

This was an informative watch, interviews with key players at the time from both sides, and some original newsreel. Takes the situation up to 1998 for starters.

You seriously expect me to engage with someone whose take on 7 October is 'when it fought back they took offense and declared war'. Watch the testimony of what happened on that day, then come back. The declaration of War was Hamas's.

This board has many narratives and reference links since Oct 23, have a deep dive.

how is it wasting people’s time? If I said oh I know loads about this and then my comment would you then accept what I wrote as true or would you challenge what I have written?
I may have done research and come to this conclusion? If my research is wrong correct what I have said.