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.

"But that is what happens in a war" - you keep repeating this as if it makes it all ok. It doesn't. This is not what happens in every war. And it is not what should happen in any war.

Israel accidentally killed 3 hostages who had been kidnapped yes. Sadly Hamas use tactics like waving white flags to ambush Israelis soldiers and civilians. So yes, the IDF did accidentally kill three hostages which is incredibly cruel and awful but does happen in war.

Yes it does. You just don’t like it.

So obviously this war started a very long time ago it didn't start on October 7. By your own admission civilians die in war, that obviously means you're okay with the heinous actions of Hamas on 7/10.

The atrocities committed on 7th October were barbaric and evil and there can be absolutely no justification for those actions however it’s very naive to think this war started on 7th October 2023.

It’s sad but yes it does happen in every war. What should israel do, ignore a violent attack and murder and kidnapping and rape of its citizens? What do you think would happen then?

Do you only have sympathy for the aid workers? How do you actually feel about the Palestinian babies and children who have been murdered? Deep inside? Anything? Or just some ‘regret’ at ‘unavoidable’ collateral deaths.

I do wonder at some people who clearly can only have true compassion for victims on one side.

But the rest of their strategies are sound and we should trust in them that they’re advanced enough to conduct precision bombardment?

OP do you have even the tiniest bit of knowledge at all about this complex and hideous situation?
Israel are carrying out genocide.
Hamas aren't a little group of baddies in Palestine. They control everything and everybody. Ordinary people have absolutely no chance whatso ever.

There was no war with Hamas prior to 7 October. It was a deliberate terrorist attack aimed at starting a war. And it did.

Nothing in between ignoring and obliteration no?

It's more like when some innocent people were killed when they bombed Osama bin Laden's hideout.

If terrorists choose to base themselves on schools hospitals there will be deaths of innocents. Don't forget hamas are the democratically elected leaders of Palestine - not just a random terrorist group who are based there.

Not saying I agree with the extent of this either - but the analogies given here are not similar to the situation.

You compared Hamas to Nelson Mandela.

What should Palestine do now, ignore the ongoing violent attacks and murder and kidnapping and rape of its citizens by Israel and its IDF? Where does all this horror end??

As an aside, I do wonder how one of the most hyper vigilant and militarised states on earth were unaware of the Hamas strike until it happened.

Every country including ours makes mistakes in war. It’s the heat of the moment and you have to kill or be killed. Actually Israel’s record on civilian casualties in war is better than ours.

No, it really doesn’t. Whether or not I like your comment is neither here nor there.

Except it won't stop if they release the hostages which Netanyahu has said. Do you actually listen to what Israel are saying or do you stop once you've heard what you want to hear? When you said "instantly stop the problem" what do you mean? Do you think that living under siege hasn't been a problem...? Has Isreali soldiers raping Palestinian women not been a problem? Has Isreali settlers brutalising and killing Palestinians not been a problem?

This this this!!

Hmmm. Given there’s no independent sources available in Gaza by Israeli design, I wouldn’t be making that statement so conclusively right now.

There’s no rape or kidnapping by the idf. There is a war. Israel are winning and hopefully Hamas will be defeated. To be honest that will be best for everyone including Palestinians.

No, they don't. A strategy to mitigate impact on civilians would have allowed them a safe route away from dangerous areas. It would not involve starving them. It certainly wouldn't involve targeting aid workers. It's been confirmed that the number of civilian deaths in Gaza is way out of proportion with what is normal in war.

If you really want to sustain this line, you have to think of a better argument than "that's what happens in wars". Because, on this scale, it simply is not.

This is a silly claim that has already been debunked. It’s offensive to Irish people as well as Jews.

How many times can you intentionally do the same thing before it can no longer be called a "mistake"?

I don't know maybe they could follow the suggestions of many military experts and use special forces to target militants and rescue the hostages?
You seem to suggest it's either displace and starve a population, shoot children in the head and murder aid workers trying to prevent a famine or nothing....