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

[HeidiInTheBigCity]

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!

Unimaginable horror is happening in Gaza right now, I wish there was something, anything we could do to stop this savagery.

It feels utterly hopeless, and what will be left in the morning? I don't think I can remember a time when we've been given a window into war via social media in this way. Yet, this absence of Comms coming out of Gaza is probably one of the most ominous and disturbing elements so far. Praying for the innocent civilians of Gaza and Israel.

Please don't bring his name on a thread for people worried about innocent civilians. He is part of the problem not the solution. Him and his "friends" Hamas. Bringing his name here or anywhere people are asking for peace just wrong.

Sorry but that has to be said. If you don't understand why start a thread and find out. This isn't the place to discuss it.

@MrsTerryPratchett, nah, you go ahead and speak for me - you've understood my intentions quite perfectly!

A space to mourn, feel speechless, helpless, horrified!

A space for our shared humanity! And for as all to prove we can do better!

Because we MUST if we are to stand any hope - any at all - of this needless killing and dying to ever come to an end!

There will be a day that is for "reckoning". As a humanitarian above all, I want it to be quiet, non-violent and "too boring for the headlines" in a courtroom at the ICC. But that is years away (and, anyway, Israel doesn't subscribe to the ICC, Palestine isn't even a unanimously recognised state - it will be largely symbolic, but it will matter!)

But, tonight: can we just make it for those of us who want to stand in solidarity with, to grieve for, to cry for ... people for whom this will all come too late, and who have done NOTHING to deserve it?!

I will struggle to get any sleep tonight, can’t imagine what we will wake up to hear tomorrow morning.
Those poor poor people, they are in hell on earth 😢

@Trulywonderful Kier Starmer, Rishi and Suella are brilliant choices for compassion and brining in peace aren't they???

Where did I say that?

I said don't bring a friend of Hamas and for that matter otger known terrorists and evil regimes on a thread were people are worried about civilians in Gaza. It is frankly disrespectful

Aga conversation for its own thread not here

Me too, don't understand much at all. It's unimaginable yet it's real. I actually can't believe what I'm hearing and watching. There can be no justification ever for this.

For all those who are struggling, having a hard time, re-living trauma that never should have occurred, or currently being traumatised because you are sitting in front of the TV, unable to switch off, powerless to stop any of it:

I've been listening to this a lot recently! It helps me find sleep at night, sometimes!

Pls excuse the "this seems to be posting the ad - not the actual video".

What I actually posted was "The Green Fields of France" by the Fureys. One of the saddest, most beautiful anti-war songs I know, and a personal favourite!

@lokimoki sadly Corbyn is anti-Semitic through and through.

The civilians on both sides have suffered for decades and are just pawns in a political game and hatred.

It reminds me of things Ive read about biblical atrocities and medieval catastrophes

From both sides

I’m another one who does not understand the whole history of this conflict but I am horrified at what is unfolding and this is a chilling update. How can the rest of the world stand by and let this happen?

I really wander where the voices are here for Yemen and Ukraine or if it is Israel that people are really against. I’m not a Jew but I’m appalled by it all but not least by the people who seem to want to take to our streets to hold hands with with medieval despotic order who would see human rights set back by decades.

Vote for an immediate truce has come in right now

That is some tiny shred of good news in the horrors, will Israel listen though?? It’s non binding so I doubt it. I wonder how uk voted…

The civilians on both sides have suffered for decades and are just pawns in a political game and hatred.
This is the horrifying part.
It highlights how many world leaders view their populations as expendable.

It seems like average people of this planet are considered disposable to those walking the corridors of power.

I know let’s have some whataboutery!! 🙄🙄🙄 that will make everything Israel is doing tonight ok won’t it?!

You just can't believe that people would really care that 1000s of people, 1000s of children have been killed, that people would care about 1million people being displaced in a few weeks because their homes are now rubble, that people would care thay a country would purposefully withold food, water and aid from the 2+million people they have been opressing for decades without there being an ulterior motive? I think that says more about you tbh.

It will be interesting to see how the pro-Israeli PR teams spin this.
Surely even they must see how wrong this is.

😔

Good that they've voted for a cease fire. Shame they rejected the Canadian amendment. This is only going to increase the hostility of the Israeli government towards the UN.

https://apnews.com/article/un-resolution-vote-israel-hamas-gaza-truce-7eec00b0e28ef2036636b166b48ca030

Thank God it passed, let’s see what difference if any it makes.

UK abstained. Terrible.

Totally agree with this!

Why would UK abstain??