Gaza is a foreign war and councillors can't effect it

[mids2019]

Just this really. No matter how strong your feelings on Gaza why vote for local councillors ,who should be concerned about verge cutting and leisure centres, on this issue.

Your councillor won't finish a an audit committee on car parking charges in Oldham then get on the phone to Benjamin Netanyahu to have a go.

Are councillors getting votes on this ticket going to be any good for advocating for good local services.

You can’t without evidence, in good faith, make the conclusion that antisemitism is wide spread within the large portion of the UK who do not support the Israeli response.

This is problematic for me because supporting Israel's right to exist seems logically incompatible with protesting against their response to Hamas.

Why not, instead, protest vehemently against Hamas's actions in the first place, and their continuing exploitation of Gaza?

No one is questioning the right of Israel to exist. Abiding by international law and the rules that govern us makes the world a more fair and cohesive society.

Criticising the government of Israel does not make me or others antisemitic. If I criticise the government of UAE/ Iran it doesn’t make me Islamaphobic.

If no one is questioning the right of Israel to exist, then why is Israel not allowed to do its best to eradicate Hamas? Given that Hamas have made it clear what they want to do, and also made it clear that they are capable of far worse than anyone ever dreamed possible, and also made it clear that they won't stop until Israel is gone?

Lots of people have been questioning Israel's right to exist.

Wow thank you for showing your true colours.

Gaza is one of the world’s most densely populated places. There is a humanitarian crisis happening and you don’t care at all about the innocent people.

No what people are questioning is Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian people.

Don't be disingenuous, people have been questioning Israel's right to exist.

Well I haven’t come across it, please provide proof.

No one I know supports that view point

No one I know believes in aliens but it doesn't mean they don't exist. Surely you are aware of the world around you and that there are a significant number of people that do.

Wow, thank you for the personal attack.

The situation for both sides is horrific, no doubt about that. Especially as Hamas has made sure to embed itself deeply in "one of the world’s most densely populated places" - how clever of them.

No they don’t, because I haven't come across anyone who says that. Please provide proof of the significant numbers.

What people want is peace for the people of Israel and Palestine

What people want is peace for the people of Israel and Palestine

Of course. If only Hamas wanted the same!

It’s not an attack, your words show what type of person you are.

Only if you read them selectively.

Hamas and many of their follows. And, even if it's 1 percent of Muslims and non Muslims (far right) I would call that significant.

No I read them fully and my impression of you stands.

And Netanyahu, the rest of the Israeli government, the IDF and all their supporters.

Leaving aside Netanyahu and current situation. How many times have Palestinians been offered a two state solution? What is Hamas position on this?

I'm not Jewish and not fan of evil men like Netanyahu but please tell me, given where we are, what's the solution? More Hamas?

Interesting. So how do you feel Israel should be dealing with the threat posed by Hamas and their supporters?

Ideally within the framework of international law that should govern responses in situations like this. Ideally without conduct that warrants investigation into possible genocide and war crimes as well as consideration of arrest warrants similar to those issued against Putin.

There were alternatives. This was what the Israeli government chose.

I hear you @Scirocco, it's so grim. But honestly, and I am sorry to say this, I'm not sure how much "choice" they had, considering where Hamas are located and the way they operate (sensitive locations, tunnels, etc)?

They had plenty of choice and anyone who defends Israel’s actions is as abhorrent as those that defend Hamas.

Sorry what was the alternative? Under international law Israel has the right to defend itself.

I don't think any country would be expected not to respond or give their right to respond away.

The issue is the extent of their response and whether it is too far and whether it's now illegal.

The moral dilemma only exists amongst right thinking people. Hamas are not measured by the same moral measure and groups like them play on this over and over.

Sincerely, what choices? If you factor in them wanting to protect their own citizens, as well as Gazans, from harm?

Israel have the ability to work with extreme military precision. They have elite forces and Mossad who can take very skilled and effective action. They have chosen to ground and pound Gaza as it fulfils more than one agenda. They have committed multiple war crimes and people still bleat that it is their right to do so.