How is the current conflict affecting you?

[TheGruffalochild]

This thread is intended to be a safe space to talk about how you are impacted by the current conflict. May be wishful thinking- but it isn’t supposed to be a place to take sides, place blame, or use inflammatory language. Nor is my intention to fill a thread with links to historical information and YouTube videos arguing either side.
Im just starting this thread because I’m feeling my mental health deteriorate from seeing and reading about so many scenes of violence on the news/social media. Of course all victims on both sides have suffered something unimaginable and I can’t even imagine how their pain compares to my discomfort. But I’d like to exchange on how every day people are affected and have a space for mumsnetters to support one another.
I know some have posted they’re waking in the night thinking about the events. I’m experiencing something similar - there is some broken scaffolding outside my home that rattles when it’s windy. The other night I initially woke with visions of someone firing at my house then realized it was just clanking bits of metal.

Please don’t take this the wrong way. I know how privileged I am to be safe in my home with all my loved ones around me. I know I could turn off the news - it will happen with or without me watching live updates. I’m so irrelevant in all of this. Yet at the same time I feel obliged not to look away from such massive and meaningless loss of life.

Apparently, it wasn't dramatic enough for the Israeli propaganda machine, which deliberately and repeatedly spread the lie about the 40 beheaded babies in the press. Do you read the link I shared?

The truth matters.

The only appropriate action now is to call for a ceasefire

It's very distressing. I've cried watching the news. A complete feeling of helplessness

Doesn’t affect us directly but of course we have every sympathy for everyone caught up in this horror. I am worried about escalation, other nations being drawn in.

@royalwatchewr i’m asking you on a human level - does it matter how they were killed? Innocent babies have been mutilated, tortured and butchered in ways your worst nightmare couldn’t imagine. But you want to talk politics? This thread is about how distressing the state of the world is right now.

I wouldn't be. We have no power and he's merely repeating what Biden / Blinken is saying. Those refusing to condemn what is happening in Gaza have only slightly changed their position for fear of how they're going to appear when / if the situation deteriorates further.

Did you read the link I posted?

How can there ever be peace if the more powerful side in a convict is allowed to spread lies and propaganda - unchallenged?

As said, the Israeli state's behaviour and manipulation reminds me of narcissists I have known and I find it triggering

I think the situation is horrific and I've basically not been able to stop reading or listening to the news.

In all honesty, I don't think Israel has the right to destroy Palestinians under the guise of defending themselves and the failures of western governments to say this earlier on will prove to be a mistake.

I think this terrorist attack and subsequent war feels different to things like 9/11 and 7/7 because of the speed of the counter-attack and we are now seeing attacks on Gaza everyday. There is so much going on, you can lose sight of the initial attacks and just see the bombings and death happening everyday. (I speak as a non Jewish person who has no links to Israel or the families affected by it).

I saw a video of someone throwing red paint on a Jewish school. I just can't understand this sort of behaviour. Why would someone want to do that to a school? It just seems like such a pointless spiteful thing to do.

But then we hear there is also lots of anti-Muslim abuse too. I cannot see how this will ever end.

I hope beyond hope that we see no escalation into other countries.

I am also ashamed by our 'leaders'.

I think it's a good idea, OP, to have a thread where different experiences are listened to and heard without argument. Might be helpful if politicians did the same thing.

This thread isn’t about what the bbc thinks. This is how I feel. The loss of anyone is awful but the loss of children is another level.

Fresh start.

My comment was in response to someone concerned about terrorism in this country.
Justifiable concern I think. So I believe it's important we all use the right words.

I still have no idea what your on about. I don’t think the bbc has any bearing on the threat level.

Yes I would add to the voices saying let’s not make this another debate/argument or perhaps bun fight about the conflict, it will only result in the thread being shut down, and I think it’s helpful to have somewhere to talk about ways we can help things not get overwhelming.

Stating the obvious, but doom scrolling or constantly checking the news isn’t helpful. I know these are desperate times but there’s only so much endlessly going over things can achieve. Try to find time to get lost in something else, anything that can bring a smile or a laugh or appreciate just how awesome human beings can be.

Me and ds (11) had a couple of lovely walks last weekend, we talked about the conflict, and although I have my opinions, I don’t want to give him a black and white narrative either. I found talking to my son about things without judgement made me pull back a bit from my own thoughts. We exchanged small talk with strangers about completely random things, it’s things like that that make me realise we’re all human.

And try to stay away from polarised arguments or bun fights, they rarely achieve much. Anyway, just a few of my thoughts. Peace and love to all x

@Lonelycrab I agree with all you say. I also think we can take comfort in our communities, and look after each other. Show solidarity with our Jewish, Muslim, Christian communities and empathise with their grief. I think compassion for each other is the only way out of this terrible situation.

Such a shame that this thread, the aim of which was clear in the OP, has been taken over by a small number of people who are intent on squabbling with each other. Can they not start their own thread for debate purposes, or add to the many that already exist? Polite request….

Agree. And they will not convince anyone by ignoring others and highjacking a conversation.
Actually, it pushes people further away.

Absolutely distraught and depressed. I cannot watch the news and am staying away from Mumsnet.

This 100%. Shout it from the rooftops.

Surely it’s irrelevant ones race or political views brutally attacking other people (children / teens / elderly) is just plain wrong and evil.

Exactly @HeyLovee, well said.

And could people - @royalwatchewr and @Gruntsandgroans - stop posting articles from Al Jazeera of all places?!

Al Jazeera Qatari state-run media, not unlike Russian state-media. In 2010, a WikiLeaks article confirmed that the Qatari government manipulates Al Jazeera’s coverage of events. Not only that, but Al Jazeera is virulently antisemitic. And even more alarming is that the same government that controls Al Jazeera’s coverage is also the very same government that is Hamas’ largest donor.

Its aimed at credulous westerners and tries to dupe them into thinking its progressive news outlet. This is completely absurd and blatant propaganda. The Qatari regime is severely repressive of human rights, scoring 25/100 in the Freedom House scale. To this day, Qatar holds migrant workers in slave-like conditions. This “progressive” branding is merely a way for Qatari interests to influence international public opinion.

So don’t

Sure there are other threads for us to debate who we feel is right or wrong. In fact the posters that are derailing op thread are already on those from what I can see by usernames.

Just saying but carrying on🙌

Unfortunately, I'm of an age where I've watched the endless fights between the two factions on more than a few occasions.

They will never compromise, so when this fracas is over, another one will start before long.

As for what is propaganda or not, the first casualty of any war or conflict is the truth.🙁

@OneHurtSpaggettio what is the purpose of your post, other than to stir up more division and hatred? Viewing parties for carpet bombing and generalising Jewish people as not caring about plight of Palestinians. Disgusting. I will report your post. Well done on the tokenism of your Jewish friend though.
just for the record, every Jewish person I know, myself included are heartbroken about what is happening to the people of Gaza right now. War is atrocious full stop.