To think Hamas have given Israel the excuse they were looking for?

[MistyMooPup]

Not all of Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will obliterate Hamas. But undoubtedly hundred if not thousands of civilians will now be killed.

I’m not sure what Hamas thought the end game if this would be? What have the Iranians convinced them of? This was a sophisticated operation, outside help was given for definite.

I’m not sure it’s possible to rationalise with dehumanised terrorists, neither am I sure what the end game will be, but I just can’t understand what Hamas expected if not a total war/strikes from Israel in retaliation.

Beachcitygirl thank you. Same old antisemitism, nothing more and nothing less.

Why does everyone feel like they have to take a side and agree with one and condemn the other. Forget who has the historical rights to a land, what we have now is generations of civilians affected by two elected organisations, Hammas (the officially elected government of Gaza) and the Israeli government who both think it’s ok to commit war crimes that result in the murder of children. I don’t see how either side can be excused.

And why is it antisemitism to criticise the Israeli government? If i disagree with the Moroccan government does that make me anti Muslim?

Given Mr Netanyahu the excuse I agree.

This is an honest question and I hope I get sensible answers.

Someone else said they abhor both sides of this. It can't be denied that thousands of Palestinians have been killed by Israel. Hamas are terrorists and their actions are deplorable.

But why is nothing short of support for Israel called anti-semitism? Speaking out against the actions of a government isn't condemning a religion? I've seen those that support the land rights of Palestine being called anti-semitic - why is this? Surely it's the politics being criticised, not a religion.

Do you ever question why Eqypt who borders Gaza don't help them?

Where is the wrath from everyone against Egypt WHO SHARE A BORDER WITH GAZA yet don't assist?

Why should Israel supply anything to these terrorists who run Gaza?!

Well I shake my head at your response.

Because those in power will be the last to be affected. There are loads of innocent civilians in Gaza who will be the first to suffer and die.

It's a very easy trap to fall into. That it's just about politics.

The very fact British Jews are now on high alert and Jewish business have had Windows smashed in already with graffiti about Paelstine on a bridge in a known Jewish populated area in London show its really about religious hatred. Nothing to do with Israel. Its about Jews.

Hamas want to wipe every Jew from the earth. They are just starting with Israel. Their aim is global.

And I'm sure many on here remember that poem about 'first They came for the Jews...'
It's apt again now.

The problem I have with these statements (though I agree with the sentiment) is that I can´t "both sides" this.

Israel is far from perfect. I disagree with many of its policies, the settlements etc.
Hamas want to eradicate Israel entirely.

Israeli soldiers do not enter Palestinian homes, go looking for babies and grandparents with the sole intention of murdering them. And filming the murder to put it on facebook.

Hamas has targeted civilians / completely civilian targets, murdered people and raped woman next to their friends corpses. They need not fear any repercussions by their "goverment" or authorities, seeing as this WAS the strategy / the goal.

Hamas has taken civilian hostages - including toddlers and children - and is threatening to murder them.

Israel does not threaten to kill the Palestinian children in Israeli custody.

I suppose that is just how I see it.

Hamas must know they will get trounced and their population too

So why did they do this ? What are they expecting? Who might have promised them hello? Iran? Russia?

Israel took Palestine hostage years ago. That occupation and control has led to horrible conditions, many atrocities, and many deaths. Now Hamas is taking Israeli's hostage, albeit in much smaller numbers and without the power of Israel to do it en masse so it is more barbaric door to door hostage taking.

Both sides are retaliating for wrongs done. What they have in common is neither side really cares about Palestinian civiliansor sees their lives as having much value. Both militia are power hungry.

Palestians can no more save themselves from the rage and control of Israel than the Israeli hostages can from the rage and control of Hamas. Both governments are really only interesting in inflicting pain and suffering.

I feel for the innocent citizens on both sides. They aren't the ones wanting all this death and destruction and war. However in the current context Israel are the HAVEs and Palestinians are the HAVE NOTs. Of course the Palestinians will fight back just like the Israeli hostages did when being captured. Captured people tend to fight for the life and their right to live.

DailyMail reporting Hamas have beheaded babies.
Are the sympathisers still here??

I have seen the news of more bodies found in a settlement near the Gaza border. 40 babies, murdered, many beheaded. It’s monstrous.

apparently some Hamas leaders are worried that taking women, children and the elderly as hostages has made them look bad and elicited sympathy. What a hideous, hideous shambles.

It’s interesting you ask ‘why do people need to take sides’ yet only call out the Israeli government for war crimes and killing children.

Hamas have murdered 40 babies, some executed. Discovered today by the Israeli’s.

Maybe you felt the other children and adults killed, raped and kidnapped on Saturday by Hamas weren’t worthy of mention either? These are grave war crimes, yet you don’t mention their crimes at all.

At the end of the day though it is all watching your children be killed. Is there really a good option. Yes watching your child be beheaded or shot would be horrible. So is watching your child's limbs blown off and bleeding to death, or watching them burn alive under rubble you can't free them from or watching them suffocate beside you or watching their bodies writing in pain during a slow painful death after being filled with shrapnel from an explosion.

It is all awful. I think this whole comparison of trying to rank child murders and saying some are better and some are worse really falls short. Both Palestinian and Israeli children and parents feel horror and terror and fear and suffer immensely as they and their children die. Watching your child being killed is going to be a horrific experience no matter how they die.

And the number of parents who have had to live with that terror and horror as they watched their children die horrific deaths at the hands of Israel is far greater than the number of parents who have lived with that terror and horror as they watched their children die horrific deaths at the hands of Hamas

I think it’s absolutely disgusting what Hamas are doing - barbaric.

But…I think I would say that the Israeli treatment of Palestine is worse that just less than perfect. Anyone I have spoken to that has visited Gaza has described horrific treatment of Palestinians by Israel. Raining bombs on a small area where children live, depriving them of human rights and movement is also terrible.

It seems like only really desperate people elect organisations like Hamas because they see that as their only chance of freedom.

And for whoever asked why people don’t call on Egypt to help Gaza as their neighbours, I think that’s because Egypt aren’t the country that are fencing them in and bombing them?

@PumpkinsAndCoconuts

There is no "goodie" in the scenario.

Hamas are evil murdering scum
Some Israeli politicians are evil murdering scum.

People on here care about innocent children from both sides.

It's time to pull together- innocents from both sides are being murdered.

We need cool heads & peace NOW

Terrorist bastards. There is no excuse for this Hamas barbarism, I am truly disgusted.

Is there any way the world community or the UN or neighbouring states or anyone who can provide mass evacuation and sanctuary for the Palestinian population? Surely they cannot just be slaughtered by an impending war. This is all just horrific.

My thoughts, Hamas was looking at severing ties between neighbouring Arab countries and Israel. This seems to have worked with Saudi. I think the mentality is it is better to die fighting then die locked in a cage like an animal. They consider all Israelis as the enemy and legitimate targets. I think the taking of hostages was done to protect their own citizens. I do not agree with violent resistance like what Hamas did as I’m a pacifist but violent resistance is almost universal when it comes to occupation, maltreatment, murder and ethnic cleansing. I cannot see a way out for Palestinians. Non violent resistance has not worked out well for them either. It is obvious that Israel as a state does not work, it should never have been allowed. Young men join Hamas because they have no future.

As I said - I openly condemn the awful actions of Hamas. Obviously.

I have seen the news of more bodies found in a settlement near the Gaza border. 40 babies, murdered, many beheaded. It’s monstrous

Just utterly unbearable.

And I said both sides commit war crimes. Can you reread what I wrote?

The very fact British Jews are now on high alert and Jewish business have had Windows smashed in already with graffiti about Paelstine on a bridge in a known Jewish populated area in London

My sons (secondary) school have emailed all parents today to ask us to speak to our children as a number of Palestinian children in the school have been targeted at school and been subject to abuse. (There aren't many Jewish kids at the school because we live near a big Jewish school).

As far as I can see it is simply hideous all round. I can't find a word strong enough to say how utterly deplorable it all is.

I doubt the HAMAS leadership thought beyond the glorious satisfaction of pulling a trigger. For some, to martyr themselves is an honour, so I doubt they have considered the knock-on effect of civilians.