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Conflict in the Middle East

What was the purpose of this level of destruction?

317 replies

Stripes56 · 12/10/2025 22:47

Gazans are returning to their homes and are horrified to see the level of destruction. Their joy mixed with despair.

www.timesofisrael.com/gazans-joy-over-ceasefire-tempered-by-shock-as-they-return-to-destroyed-homes/

We can feel joy that the hostages are returning home, relief that Hamas will be sidelined - but how do we reconcile with the death and destruction that has happened in Gaza?

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Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 20:39

DrPrunesqualer · 13/10/2025 20:19

Well said

A post that’s actually on thread aswell

Oh how pro Israelis can’t face the actual subject matter here

Exactly.. lots of Hamas hiding in the water desalination plants and IVF clinics and churches obviously.

That's the destruction that has levelled Gaza. A whole society has to be rebuilt.

CoastalCalm · 13/10/2025 20:34

This is not a new issue a lot of the destruction was done over last decade - try and find the film ‘born in Gaza’ and you’ll see what they’ve had to deal with

HellsBalls · 13/10/2025 20:31

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 20:22

It was the process of a war, some gazans sadly died because hamas did not even try to protect their own and even hid among them.

Anyway, the last hostages are home gazans will get loads of funding to rebuild and try to live in peace. Although with all those terrorists released it will be a ticking time bomb.

Who is going to rebuild? Is it the Arab league? I can’t imagine any American contractors would be interested, nor European.
China would get the job done though.

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 20:22

anniegun · 13/10/2025 20:08

Because it was the process of genocide. Murdering the palestinian people and making their land uninhabitable

It was the process of a war, some gazans sadly died because hamas did not even try to protect their own and even hid among them.

Anyway, the last hostages are home gazans will get loads of funding to rebuild and try to live in peace. Although with all those terrorists released it will be a ticking time bomb.

DrPrunesqualer · 13/10/2025 20:19

anniegun · 13/10/2025 20:08

Because it was the process of genocide. Murdering the palestinian people and making their land uninhabitable

Well said

A post that’s actually on thread aswell

Oh how pro Israelis can’t face the actual subject matter here

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 20:18

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 19:55

No I don't blame the IDF at all.

I'll leave it there so.

And they are called Palestinians (with a capital letter) not Gazans, that's derogatory.

We are talking about the conflict in gaza, so gazans. Nothng derogatory about it. There are palestinians living in Israel who are not who we are talking about are we.

anniegun · 13/10/2025 20:08

Because it was the process of genocide. Murdering the palestinian people and making their land uninhabitable

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 19:55

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 19:44

No I don't blame the IDF at all. If their targets surround themselves with civilians then sadly there will be civilian fatalities.

Anyway lots of disturbing reports that gazans are now killing each other so that's worrying for anyone tasked with trying to get things rebuilt with some kind of law and order.

No I don't blame the IDF at all.

I'll leave it there so.

And they are called Palestinians (with a capital letter) not Gazans, that's derogatory.

JacknDiane · 13/10/2025 19:50

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 18:57

Nooo if only hamas hadn't slept near the children. Blame hamas.

Do you see Israel taking responsibility for any of this @Gloriia?

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 19:44

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 19:15

Half the blame , Israel take the other half

Glad you agree.

No I don't blame the IDF at all. If their targets surround themselves with civilians then sadly there will be civilian fatalities.

Anyway lots of disturbing reports that gazans are now killing each other so that's worrying for anyone tasked with trying to get things rebuilt with some kind of law and order.

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 19:15

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 19:12

Oh sorry I missed the bit where you said hamas were to blame for hiding among civilians and they were to blame for not protecting their own people. You do agree with me then.

Half the blame , Israel take the other half

Glad you agree.

Xenia · 13/10/2025 19:15

Sometimes you have to try to start with a blank slate even if on either side you feel very wronged. People do it with family conflict all the time and nations sometimes have to do so.

If the people of Gaza will not abandon Hamas then Israel will need to ensure it protects its people from Hamas

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 19:12

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 19:08

Ah but I did blame Hamas for being there.

I also blamed Israel for dropping the big massive bombs knowing there were women and children and innocent civilians sleeping there also.

Oh sorry I missed the bit where you said hamas were to blame for hiding among civilians and they were to blame for not protecting their own people. You do agree with me then.

EasyTouch · 13/10/2025 19:09

SameOldHill · 12/10/2025 23:53

The level of destruction is due to nearly all buildings having boobie trap bombs planted inside by Hamas.

Unprovable, likely untrue but still no excuse.

Suppose it were true. Bombing was never the answer. Negotiations have always been the only way. Hostages in return for political prisoners held without trial. In return for statehood. Which is what the Palestinians should have been given a long while ago.

If it were Israelis being held in those booby trapped buildings you would be singing a different tune.

If your concern for Gazans was real and not just a stick to beat Israel with, you would have completed your thoughts into asking why Hamas booby trapped much of Gaza and used the homes of Gazans and Gazans themselves as shields.
Then you would have been forced to ask yourself would Israel ever use Israelis and their homes and amenities carte blanche as a means to shield the IDF whilst giving no priority to the protection of Israelis?

And if Hamas had managed to have kidnapped enough Israelis and adjacents for all those flattened, previously booby trapped buildings to have contained any, it would have been a far , far bigger war that would have ensued with no thought to recognition of a Palestinian state being put on any table that needs either aid, reciprocal trade and geopolitical favours from any Western entity.
That would be most of the world, including even Ireland and Spain.

That fantasy is the only way that so many Israelis could have been in so many booby trapped buildings, because Israel values Israeli lives far more than Hamas does Gazans and would never put her population in that position whilst living in Qatar or tunnels.

Hence the disproportionate numbers exchanged in hostage/ prisoner swaps.

Hamas wants people to put in the firing line as cannon fodder. Israel wants Israelis to be able to live a life.

Hamas and Gazans are far more intertwined than you would like to think. That is the reality.

The only debate is how much is due to force, coercion or volunteerism.

Bawling "Israel" in order to not confront inconvenient truths which would require a higher threshold of action and inquiry as to being considered "Pro Palestinian" is something that took many have seemingly burdened themselves with and need others to shoulder that same burden , too.
Nope, not falling for the Okey Doke.

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 19:08

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 19:03

We can't agree that hamas have put their very own civilians at risk and haven't protected them?

Ah but I did blame Hamas for being there.

I also blamed Israel for dropping the big massive bombs knowing there were women and children and innocent civilians sleeping there also.

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 19:05

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 19:02

'They spent 20 years with permits restrictions and blockades on the entire population. They were never waiting for the next act.'

They spent 20yrs with a shit load of funding and they blew it all on weapons and tunnels. You know there is also a border with Egypt yes? The reason folk have to be strict with hamas is if you let them in they kill people. Jews mainly but as we are seeing now each other too. You must have heard their anthem from the river to the sea?

Ah a degree in history so you're an expert on conflicts in the ME? Riiight.

So we won't agree to disagree then on the bombing ?
Shame

Ps I never said I was on expert on ME conflict that's the second time you haven't read the post properly today.

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 19:03

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 19:00

Let's agree to disagre then we will blame Hamas for sleeping there and Israel for dropping the massive bombs.

We can't agree that hamas have put their very own civilians at risk and haven't protected them?

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 19:02

'They spent 20 years with permits restrictions and blockades on the entire population. They were never waiting for the next act.'

They spent 20yrs with a shit load of funding and they blew it all on weapons and tunnels. You know there is also a border with Egypt yes? The reason folk have to be strict with hamas is if you let them in they kill people. Jews mainly but as we are seeing now each other too. You must have heard their anthem from the river to the sea?

Ah a degree in history so you're an expert on conflicts in the ME? Riiight.

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 19:01

TicklishMauveSquid · 13/10/2025 18:59

Why is it not the responsibility of the government voted in by Palestinians in a free election and supported by a bigger majority during the war, to protect their citizens?

Palestinians have a right to determination. you would say, and it’s dehumanising to suggest that as educated adults they are not responsible for their own choices, which included celebrations of Oct 7th, partaking in the atrocities, and holding hostages captive in their homes.

Why is the responsibility of their ‘enemy’ to protect them, and their children who they damned to ongoing conflict and suffering, by doing so?

And when did that election happen.

And what majority did Hamas win by?

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 19:00

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 18:57

Nooo if only hamas hadn't slept near the children. Blame hamas.

Let's agree to disagre then we will blame Hamas for sleeping there and Israel for dropping the massive bombs.

TicklishMauveSquid · 13/10/2025 18:59

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 18:51

No that it's victim blaming it is.

If only those children had not slept in those tent near the alleged Hamas fighters.

Why is it not the responsibility of the government voted in by Palestinians in a free election and supported by a bigger majority during the war, to protect their citizens?

Palestinians have a right to determination. you would say, and it’s dehumanising to suggest that as educated adults they are not responsible for their own choices, which included celebrations of Oct 7th, partaking in the atrocities, and holding hostages captive in their homes.

Why is the responsibility of their ‘enemy’ to protect them, and their children who they damned to ongoing conflict and suffering, by doing so?

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 18:57

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 18:51

No that it's victim blaming it is.

If only those children had not slept in those tent near the alleged Hamas fighters.

Nooo if only hamas hadn't slept near the children. Blame hamas.

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 18:55

WestwardHo1 · 13/10/2025 18:43

Does the technology exist which enables only Hamas fighters to be picked off when they have surrounded themselves with women and children? Genuine question.

Perhaps my first sentence was a touch hyperbolic. However I'm still asking what you think Israel should have done when they know there's a death cult clamouring for their annihilation and the death of every Jew in the world just a few short miles away, and they're building ever deeper, ever more extensive tunnels. Does Israel just sit and wait for Hamas's next act?

Quite obviously I'm not applauding the destruction of Gaza and death of civilians. Because I'm human. But I want to know how people imagine they would have felt if they were an Israeli citizen.

(Back in the 90s at school, we did an "empathy" module as part of our history studies, which actually did use the ongoing conflict as the teaching tool. It was seen as an important skill to practise. I really think history should be a compulsory subject.)

Horrific things happen in wars. We'll see if Hamas want to stop the fighting and killing and destruction in the coming days and weeks.

Perhaps my first sentence was a touch hyperbolic

No evidence so.

Does Israel just sit and wait for Hamas's next act?

They spent 20 years with permits restrictions and blockades on the entire population. They were never waiting for the next act.

I have a degree in history, I also agree it should be a compulsory subject so we can see that doing the same things and expecting different results is madness.

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 18:51

Gloriia · 13/10/2025 18:47

What that it's all laughable? I disagree.

No that it's victim blaming it is.

If only those children had not slept in those tent near the alleged Hamas fighters.

Martymcfly24 · 13/10/2025 18:49

HellsBalls · 13/10/2025 18:46

@Martymcfly24 ’Don't stop 500lb bombs on tents with sleeping children.’

Maybe you should look up a video of a 500lb bomb going off. It’s a tad overkill for a tent.
You may as well check out carpet bombing as well, before that accusation resurfaces.

Sorry you are right it was a beachfront cafe they used that bomb on not a tent.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/02/israeli-military-bomb-fragments-gaza-al-baqa-cafe

Plenty killed in the tents though too.

Israeli military used 500lb bomb in strike on Gaza cafe, fragments reveal

Exclusive: Experts say use of heavy munition in Monday’s strike that killed dozens may constitute a war crime

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/02/israeli-military-bomb-fragments-gaza-al-baqa-cafe

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