To think that the blame lies with Hamas and Israel deserves our support

[measuringmylifeincoffeespoons]

Of course, the deaths of the aid workers recently is a terrible tragedy and it is entirely right that Israel is investigating why it happened and holding members of the IDF responsible.

However, the criticism of Israel seems to miss a fundamentally important point which is that Israel is engaged in military operations in Gaza for one reason only: the barbaric terrorist attacks that were committed by Hamas on 7 October and their continued imprisonment of Israel citizens as hostages.

Of course, the deaths of the aid workers is a tragedy. Every civilian death that occurs in a war is a tragedy. But the reality is that that is what happens in a war, and Hamas is responsible for the fact that there is a war.

The war can be ended, and billions of dollars of aid can be released into Gaza, very simply. Hamas simply needs to lay down its arms and release the Israeli citizens that it has taken hostage and continues to keep imprisoned.

Unless and until Hamas do that, the state of Israel deserves our continuing support in its battle against a brutal terrorist organisation that has kidnapped the innocent civilians of a democratic state.

I think you might get flamed for this, OP!
However, I’d just like to say that it’s not “black and white” and the response from the Israeli state is somewhat understandable, but also somewhat not.
You have to look at the historical everyday experiences of the Palestinian peoples as the State of Israel has been annexing their lands quite brazenly and treating the general population as second-class citizens since the 1940’s.
Unfortunately, when such oppression occurs, sometimes the resentment generated is so great that terrorist organisations get to be in power. Then, when they resort to out and out terrorism, as on 7th October, they use the time-trusted method of hiding behind (or underneath, in their case) the civilians they are supposed to be representing.
Israel is “protecting the diaspora” because they (naturally) remember the Holocaust, but is also creating one of their own against Palestine - it’s all very sad - and complicated.
I’m sure that the rest of the world leaders are trying to reach a conclusion - but we don’t know what is going on behind the scenes, or how unmovable those in charge in Israel, are being…

'Hamas simply needs to lay down it's arms and release the Israeli citizens that it's taken hostage'

Well that really is putting it simply and realistically, isn't going to happen. I actually agree that Israel has every right to retaliate and that they have to address the awful atrocities of 7th October, but how they're doing that is unforgivable.
Netanyahu is a monster and it isn't about the release of the hostages for him, it's about the destruction of Palestine.
I cannot bear to think of the genocide that's being perpetrated on Palestinian children. It's horrific.

I think those hostages are long gone. Not alive anymore

Israel likely know that too

If both sides were not being sold arms, that might go some way to reducing the carnage.

I actually agree that Israel has every right to retaliate

Do the Palestinians also have the right to retaliate for how Israel has treated them for the past 75 years? For stealing their land? For committing genocide?

If retaliation is fair in your eyes, are the Palestinians then allowed to retaliate for the theft of their land? The removal of their rights?

If someone came into your home and forced you and your family to live in the garden shed whilst they took the rest, you'd be okay with that?

Hamas is deplorable, but how anyone can justify Israel's action I don't know.

A very balanced response. I certainly agree that the government of Israel hasn't got everything right. Which government has? But are we really saying (and I know this is not what you are saying) that terrorism is justified against a democratic state? And that a democratic state is not entitled to defend itself when its citizens are attacked?

I don't think that no. But I don't understand war and the history of two places that will never want to be side by side civilly. I'm lucky in that my neighbours don't want me and my family dead.

I think that hugely oversimplifies many years of complex history and attempts at a peace process. My point was that we need to remember that Israel is a sovereign state with a duty and responsibility to protect its citizens against attack

Israel is collectively starving an entire population. This is the global view. Leaving aside the UN - the US, the UK, and Israel’s staunches allies have also said so. This is a war crime. They are not allowing aid in. They indiscriminately bomb civilians, aid workers and media - the death toll is horrendous. What you don’t seem to grasp is that even war has rules. The right to self defence is limited and it is a war crime to withhold food and water from an entire population. Israel is way beyond those red lines and if you cannot see that - and the way global opinion is swinging against them because of it - then you are being deliberately obtuse.

This is not about the hostages. Israel has said that plainly many times, along with actual statements of genocidal intent from serving politicians with no repercussions. This is not a story that began on October 7.

Sovereign state indeed lol.
You go ahead and support a genocide.

I think the fundamental difference is that Israel is an independent sovereign state with a duty to protect its citizens.

Hamas is recognised by the UK, EU and US as a terrorist organisation.

So, no, I don't think that Hamas has a right to "retaliate" by taking innocent civilians hostage.

Your post is abhorrent. There is no justification for genocide.

It isn't black and white.

Are Hamas to blame for starting this current war, yes, absolutely. Were Israel justified in responding, yes, absolutely.

But this? Genocide? 200+ aid workers dead, 10s of thousands of civilians dead?
Absofuckinglutely not. Israel is NOT justified in carrying out war crimes in the name of trying to stop Hamas.

They do not have my support. Nor do Hamas.

My support/love is with the poor people in the middle of this bullshit, and the families who're mourning loved ones lost to it.

No, deplorable as Hamas were on Oct 7th,the genocide of a people is not an appropriate response and history will not look kindly on all of us who are turning a blind eye to that.

I blame the Israeli govt, not Jewish people before I am labellled an anti-semite.

Every civilian death that occurs in a war is a tragedy

33,000 tragedies. How many is too many OP?

I guess you are ok with genocide OP 🙄

Israel are behaving like terrorists themselves- 30k plus killed, most of them women and children. Now starving an entire population.
The Israeli government are a disgrace, I genuinely don’t understand how ANYONE can defend their actions and they are making their country a pariah state and far more unsafe for its own citizens.

So YABU.

Hamas are a terrorist organisation who carried out a terrorist attack, using it as an excuse for genocide of an entire population is immoral.

Palestine deserves our FULL support.

Israel is committing mass murder and its government should be done for war crimes.

Yes, Israel is a sovereign state and bound by international law, which it has flagrantly ignored. Rights come with responsibilities. And I really can’t believe anyone thinks their current actions are making Israel safer in the long run.

Yes it is fair to support isreal. Hammas are terrorists

fundamentally important point which is that Israel is engaged in military operations in Gaza for one reason only: the barbaric terrorist attacks that were committed by Hamas on 7 October

Your fundamental point is simplistic but incorrect and suggests you've only been watching this situation since last October. Israel certainly do not deserve support nor do Hamas.

Nothing that Hamas has done justifies the Israeli attempts at what some consider genocide, especially since over 90% of the Palestinians killed in this conflict are civilians.
That viewpoint, OP, is what gives the Israelis carte blanche to do whatever they want with no censure from other nations, who should as a minimum stop supplying them with weapons.

almost 10,000 dead children were terrorists?