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Conflict in the Middle East
Original poster

Gaza has gone dark ... and I am very afraid!

355 replies

HeidiInTheBigCity · 27/10/2023 19:14

Tonight, as Gaza has gone dark, tonight, as Gazan civilians have lost that lifeline that used to be "publishing their cries for help to the Internet, as they were literally dying", tonight, as even that option has ceased to exist!

I STAND WITH CIVILIANS!

Not with Hamas!
NOT with the ultra-far-right Israeli government - out for revenge!

Tonight, I STAND WITH CIVILIANS, as innocent men, women and children are dying, collectively punished, for the crime of having been born in the wrong place, at the wrong time!

Tonight, I STAND WITH CIVILIANS, as the families of Israeli hostages watch helplessly, as their missing loved ones are bombed into oblivion, and their own PM has not even bothered to meet with them! Because, once again, revenge has won! Violence has won! Barbarism has won! Death has won!

Tonight, I stand with my friend, a Palestinian-born [what he does for a living] currently getting drunk at a bar in [not where you'd expect] - because he cannot stand watching anymore! We cried together on the phone - it felt nice to know there was someone else out there - but it also felt supremely disempowered and helpless! Tonight, I stand with men, women, boys, girls ... just people, people who want to live!

Tonight, as I recall how utterly terrified I used to be when I, myself, became an accidental witness to the assault on [Palestinian city], some 20 years ago now! I also recall the good times: I recall standing on the rooftop of the [name] family's home, watching flares in the sky, deliberately pretending they were just very bright stars, kissing, and dancing with my fiancé. Snuggling up to him under the wide open sky, as we ignored the sound of shooting in the background, as we just wanted to ... live a little! ... under circumstances that didn't leave much room for living. For life! Knowing we would learn about names of people we knew and the fact that they had been killed while we had been trying to ... just live a little ... as the following day would break!

Tonight, I stand with civilians, realising that this particular, comparatively "fluffy" version of war - a version, make no mistake, that has left me deeply traumatised for life, bittersweet memories aside! - this is just NOT AN OPTION for Gazans tonight!

Tonight, I CRY FOR CIVILIANS! Especially, but not only, for civilians in Gaza!

We have GOT TO DO better!

Note: yes, I have censored a number of data points - because that is how afraid I am! I am not willing to potentially expose people I consider friends, family even, unnecessarily as I, frankly helplessly, post to the so-called Internet, pleading for their lives or, at the very least: sympathy!

OP posts:
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duchiebun · 27/10/2023 23:35

@RedToothBrush good post.

Heelenahandbasket · 27/10/2023 23:36

mollyfolk · 27/10/2023 23:25

Please explain to me why this person “doesn’t like jews”

indiscriminate bombing of civilians is a war crime. That’s just a fact. NGO’s , human rights organisation's and the UN are all shouting war crime. Who are we to believe? Can you even have a war with an occupied state that doesn’t even have an army? It’s not a war at all, it’s a devastating attack on civilians. And ultimately it will cause more deaths on both sides - anyone who survives will be left with hate in their heart for Israelis. I don’t believe the Israeli government believes in peace or the preservation of life. It believes in some “greater ideology” of the preservation and expansion of a Jewish state and it puts that before the lives of both it’s own citizens and the ordinary citizens of Gaza and the West Bank.

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gaza is not occupied by Israel and has not been occupied since 2006. Hamas has tens of thousands of full time fighters and many more who fight voluntarily and part time (including the at least 1500 who committed the terrorist attack on Israel).

There is no “indiscriminate bombing” of civilians. Nor any deliberate targeting of civilians. We have seen the Israeli military repeatedly warn civilians in advance.

duchiebun · 27/10/2023 23:37

@Reallifelurker but why would they? NI is part of the UK…

SaintMarie · 27/10/2023 23:38

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Alalalalalongalalalalalonglonglilong · 27/10/2023 23:38

@Heelenahandbasket I genuinely fear that this war will breed a whole new generation of antisemitism. Not because people 'hate Jews', but because people are witnessing the Israeli government kill millions of innocents. In time they will be seen as aggressors and despicable humans. Sadly the world is full of narrow minded people who can't distinguish between the act of one government and their race. I fear that history will tell that the Jews were responsible for genocide, and they will become a subject of hate as a result. By defending the Israeli government now you are helping fuel this.

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 27/10/2023 23:38

So what is tonight if not 'indiscriminate bombing' then?

Reallifelurker · 27/10/2023 23:39

gaza is not occupied by Israel and has not been occupied since 2006

The UN classified Gaza as still occupied because of the blockade and the level of control Israel has over it.
Don’t get no wrong. I know there is a reason for it (Hamas) but yeah it’s still occupied.

Igotjelly · 27/10/2023 23:39

Heelenahandbasket · 27/10/2023 23:36

gaza is not occupied by Israel and has not been occupied since 2006. Hamas has tens of thousands of full time fighters and many more who fight voluntarily and part time (including the at least 1500 who committed the terrorist attack on Israel).

There is no “indiscriminate bombing” of civilians. Nor any deliberate targeting of civilians. We have seen the Israeli military repeatedly warn civilians in advance.

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Well the pictures of dead children say otherwise on the indiscriminate bombing….

mollyfolk · 27/10/2023 23:40

duchiebun · 27/10/2023 23:29

Honestly, I grew up in Northern Ireland and to me this seems like the equivalent of Britain bombing catholic areas because the IRA committed atrocities in Britain.

Tbf the British Army killed innocent civilians in NI during the Troubles .

Yes I am completely aware of that. I wouldn’t be defending the British army at all. There are a lot of similarities in the situation.

Reallifelurker · 27/10/2023 23:40

but why would they? NI is part of the UK…

Retaliation for constant terrorist attacks?

duchiebun · 27/10/2023 23:40

@SaintMarie

We just didn't get a Vulcan bomber to demolish downtown Dublin, though.

Why would the UK bomb Dublin because of the IRA?

Parkingt111 · 27/10/2023 23:41

Let's keep it civil or this thread will also get deleted, I'm sure we can disagree but still be civil and put our points forward in a civilised manner

Remember there is a difference between the Israeli government and Israeli citizens

Likewise between Hamas and the Palestinian citizens

Heelenahandbasket · 27/10/2023 23:41

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

None of these things have happened (other than bombing in the south although again there are warnings and many safe areas in the south it remains a war zone). There is absolutely no evidence of Israel deliberately bombing food. They have been providing Gaza with free electricity and some of its water for decades while hamas squandered aid money and spent it attacking Israel.

also none of these things are genocide.

hamas has bombed hospitals in Israel (including ashkelon hospital a few days ago). They also committed a vile attack on civilians and still hold hostages. Their stated aim is to eradicate Israel and its population. Israel must defend itself

Igotjelly · 27/10/2023 23:43

Heelenahandbasket · 27/10/2023 23:41

None of these things have happened (other than bombing in the south although again there are warnings and many safe areas in the south it remains a war zone). There is absolutely no evidence of Israel deliberately bombing food. They have been providing Gaza with free electricity and some of its water for decades while hamas squandered aid money and spent it attacking Israel.

also none of these things are genocide.

hamas has bombed hospitals in Israel (including ashkelon hospital a few days ago). They also committed a vile attack on civilians and still hold hostages. Their stated aim is to eradicate Israel and its population. Israel must defend itself

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@MNHQ its astonishing that posts like these are still standing!

SeeReality · 27/10/2023 23:43

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at poster's request

duchiebun · 27/10/2023 23:43

@Reallifelurker

Retaliation for constant terrorist attacks?

The vast majority of the attacks & deaths happened in NI though not England & of course the IRA were not the only players.

duchiebun · 27/10/2023 23:44

Yes I am completely aware of that. I wouldn’t be defending the British army at all. There are a lot of similarities in the situation.

I disagree. I think the UKs involvement with the war on Terror has far more similarities

SaintMarie · 27/10/2023 23:44

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Reallifelurker · 27/10/2023 23:45

The vast majority of the attacks & deaths happened in NI though not England & of course the IRA were not the only players

So?

Reallifelurker · 27/10/2023 23:46

None of these things have happened

How do you feel about the person upthread who claimed the October 7 attacks never happened? Not to miffed with them I hope since you’re playing the same game.

duchiebun · 27/10/2023 23:48

Remember there is a difference between the Israeli government and Israeli citizens

Yes & Hamas obviously stopped having elections so Palestinians don’t have a choice either.

Heelenahandbasket · 27/10/2023 23:49

Itsaharddlife · 27/10/2023 23:22

Advise?? Haha
They have no where to go? Do you realise how big or shall I say small gaza is?
Telling a population if 1 million to leave within 24 hours, with almost no where to go and then bombing the few that are trying to leave, yes that is a war crime.
Indiscriminately bombing civilians and wiping out wntire families is considered a war crime.
Taking hostages is also a war crime. Hamas took hostages and now Israel has arrested almost 10,000 Palestinians and is currently torturing many of them in administrative detention without access to legal representatives. That is a war crime

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Israel must defend itself against hamas. They will kill every last Israeli if they do not. That’s what they promised and that’s how they act - they have demonstrated conclusively they are not kidding.

The size of Gaza is irrelevant. It doesn’t mean that advising civilians in an enemy territory to move out of the way of fighting is a war crime. It isn’t. Israel doesn’t bear responsibility for the welfare of people in a territory they are at war with.

and israel doesn’t not have any hostages as you well know. Lying doesn’t help

mollyfolk · 27/10/2023 23:50

Igotjelly · 27/10/2023 23:39

Well the pictures of dead children say otherwise on the indiscriminate bombing….

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And yet again the UN, NGOs and human rights organisations disagree with Israel on the “warning citizens in advance” tactics and see them as being insufficient. Even the WHO weighed in on the inability to evacuate hospitals. They also disagree that Gaza is a free state and consider it occupied.

please explain how any of these sentiments translate to “not liking jews.” I find it personally insulting that I can’t criticise the Israeli authorities actions without being accused of anti semitism.

PureBlackVoid · 27/10/2023 23:50

There are some people who, even if they were eye witnesses in Gaza right now, would deny what is happening.

With Gaza cut off from the world, I fear tomorrow we will only hear how the saintly IDF only killed ‘Hamas’, the rest will be a mystery.

PureBlackVoid · 27/10/2023 23:53

and israel doesn’t not have any hostages as you well know. Lying doesn’t help

They do, they just call them ‘prisoners’