This picture of Israeli soldiers smiling for a selfie in front of a destroyed Gaza...

[changefromhr]

I know there are lots of pictures. I try to avoid looking as its just so awful but this one couldn't be avoided.

How sickening that the soldiers can smile and act so happy in front of all that destruction.

This is just another picture, from the thousands, that shows how the Palestinians and their lives and homes are seen as worthless.

Lovepeaceunderstanding

Could you bring yourself to summon a smile standing there, knowing what likely lay beneath you? Given your username, I would hope not.

I find it chilling.

@EasterIssland , I don’t believe it exists. Some mainly Muslim states (quelle suprise) recognise it.

They’re standing on top of a grassy knoll or hill. Maybe actually look at the flipping picture before jumping to your totally incorrect assumption!

That may not be Gaza anyway. Could be Syria or Yemen for all we know. Pic is obviously doctored.

Surrounded by devastation.

Given your last sentences, clearly no point in engaging further, bias can’t be overcome. Goodnight.

Incredible

I've seen pictures of British troops, USA troops and troops from many other countries taking pictures smiling over a victory etc most likely because they have made it alive and proud to be serving their country

OP, why do you think those soldiers are there?

In all wars, the innocent lose out while politicians sit in their hotel's miles again seeking to gain power, and remain in power and prestige.

I'm not fan of Israel's leader but the attack on 7th October needed a response

It can all end right now by the terrorists handing back all of the people they kidnapped putting down their weapons and handing over their leaders.

@MrsSkylerWhite , so difficult for me to answer your question. I have never been actively at war, defending my country. I imagine those who find themselves in that situation have to find a way to cope. This photo is open to interpretation I guess and will be viewed according to the prejudice of the viewer potentially.

Bloody hell, what is wrong with some of you?

So, ummm, what about the UN and the many members who do believe it exists? Are they all just wrong then?

There have been multiple negotiations and boundaries were established. The Gaza Strip and The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are internationally recognised as territories which should have Palestinian sovereignty.

Occupation doesn't make something legally the property of the occupier. Ukraine's Eastern regions are still Ukraine, even though they are occupied by Russian forces. The Occupied Territories should still belong to the Palestinians.

And life under Israeli administration was pretty shit for a lot of Palestinians, so I really hope the world can find a better "best hope" than that.

if you don’t believe it exists then we really don’t have anything else to talk about.

ps not only Muslim countries recognise Palestine. My country recognises it and I’m European

If you could honestly imagine yourself taking a group selfie surrounded by a destroyed society, with a backdrop of buildings turned to rubble, under which lie the dead bodies of innocent civilians including children, while people starve to death nearby, then there is something seriously wrong with your moral compass.

I think they are as bad as each other, it's just that Israel had greater fire power, so greater ability to be destructive. As much as we like to pretend otherwise, human nature seems to be vindictive, cruel and ruthless given the opportunity. Its hard to understand when we live in our safe bubble. Sadly a whole country of mostly innocent people have now been traumatised and displaced.

@Lovepeaceunderstanding , all their lives are valuable. What is happening now in Gaza is horrific but don’t you think Hamas knew that would be the result of their actions? Of course they did, it was what they wanted.

Hamas have said they did not expect Israel to attack in the scale that they have done.

The Palestinian people are just cannon fodder to Hamas, they don’t care about them at all; they have managed to cause a massive worldwide rising of fury among Muslim people (and useful idiots) towards Israel

Are you calling Muslims "useful idiots"?

@EasterIssland , I’m really sorry actually that the repeated offers of a Palestinian State were continually rejected but they were. So it does not exist. I’m not sure it can now because the Jewish people also deserve peace and Hamas have vowed never to allow that. I honestly believe that the best hope for the Palestinians is to live in Israel as Israeli citizens with democracy which they do not now have and cannot hope to have under Hamas rule.

@MrsSkylerWhite , so difficult for me to answer your question. I have never been actively at war, defending my country. I imagine those who find themselves in that situation have to find a way to cope. This photo is open to interpretation I guess and will be viewed according to the prejudice of the viewer potentially.”

Neither have I. My grandfather did though, gassed at the Somme and then a firewarden during the blitz. He woke from nightmares, crying out in terror most nights until he died in his 80’s. I cannot for a single moment imagine him smiling whilst photographs of the rot and devastation around him was recorded.

It is not open to interpretation, unless you are blinded by bias.

Hamas is evil. So is Netanyahu and much of his cabinet. Innocent civilians on both sides are not and their loss should be lamented equally.

🙄

Not our war. Countless other wars going on that nobody gives a shit about. There is too much propaganda to jump on a picture like this as proof of anything.

@MrsSkylerWhite , I’m with you and I do sincerely lament with absolutely equal sadness the loss on both sides of this horrendous conflict.

It might not be your war. If that's the case, please take a moment to appreciate how fortunate you are.

This is an internationally used website in a very interconnected world.

Some people using this forum live in the region. Some of us have friends, family and colleagues in the region. Of those of us who do, some of us have lost loved ones.

It might not be your war, but it's very, very real and important to a lot of us.

It is not open to interpretation, unless you are blinded by bias.

Oh the irony @MrsSkylerWhite! Your bias is extremely clear. Didn’t you say the soldiers were standing atop rubble and dead bodies when they’re clearly not. The selfie taker is also not even pointing the camera towards the rubble behind them but at their group. Rubble seems to be weirdly in grayscale not in colour like where the soldiers are standing.

Do you think if your Grandfather had had a mobile phone he might have taken a picture of himself and his fellow soldiers to send back to the extremely worried folks at home to show they were OK? In WW2, families would have had to wait weeks or months just for a letter from loved ones at the front line let alone be able to see them n a picture. Not really comparable with the tech we have today is it?

Have you seen the soldiers picture ? If not how do you know there is no rubble behind them. Also , They left the rubble as background for other pics
when my grandad was in the civil war had he had a mobile phone I’d have hoped he’d have called my nan from his room to let her know he was Alive. That’s what decent people do.

If it’s not a war why do we care about 7-10? And 911?

@RamblingAroundTheInternet , I wish I’d written that. 🙏🏻

I think it's highly likely that it's "gallows humour", a recognised psychological response to being directly, or indirectly, involved in high-stress, traumatic situations. I was a paramedic for over 20 years and have laughed at situations that have made other people scream, vomit and faint (away from patients and others, obviously). It's a coping mechanism. Judge me if you will, but you wouldn't want my nightmares.

Some of the takes on this thread are genuinely shocking, and disgusting. I had to laugh at one poster using the term so beloved of the pro-Israelis, "useful idiots", when some of these posters find themselves defending a genocide. Useful idiots indeed.

Look at the difference in resolution showing the clarity of the soldiers and then the rubble behind in the picture you just posted @EasterIssland. Even the lighting is different.

At the end of the day people will believe what they want to believe and we know what the large amount of prolific anti-Israel propaganda posters on this board want to believe.