Hamas don’t want peace

[Icanthinkformyselfthanks]

A two day ceasefire was offered to them in return for four hostages but they declined. Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said Hamas “once again refused to release even a limited number of hostages to secure a ceasefire and relief for the people of Gaza”.
Isreal has now offered a million dollars for each hostage and safe passage out of Gaza for their captors. Hamas have yet to respond.

Yes the millennia of Jewish people suffering this is abhorrent - it’s bound to have an effect.

What pro Palestinian propaganda? Do you realise how ridiculous you sound?
People shouldn't speak out against Israeli atrocities and ethnic cleansing because anti semites exist?
What have you done @Feelingathomenow to protest against the murder of thousands of Palestinian children by Israel?

@Feelingathomenow The difference between anti Zionism and semitism isn’t ’irrelevant’ here, it’s actually the opposite it’s VERY relevant.. people like yourself who want the two to be intertwined and closely connected are causing Jews to feel unsafe. If we are critical of Israel, is this anti semitic or anti Zionist?

You’re talking about Jewish history (again connecting Jews with Zionism) like it’s an excuse for Zionists to persecute Palestinians? You’re talking about the war between Israel and Hamas are you not.. why are you brining up WW2 like this gives Israel the right to use the suffering of the Jews to cause the same suffering to Palestinians… the last 70 years of oppression would undoubtedly create groups like Hamas.

Maybe you should stop referencing the events in Amsterdam unless you're also going to address the islamophobic and antiarab racism displayed by the football hooligans. It's also true that the dehumanisation of Arab people and unchecked islamophobia over the last year has emboldened Israeli football hooligans and legitimised damaging people's private property and attacking Moroccan taxi drivers for exampl. There is hatred and prejudice everywhere. That doesn't mean you can smear posters who are anti genocide as "stirring up antisemitism" unless you're going to also smear people such as yourself as stirring up Islamophobia and anti-arab racism.

Me, personally?

Well, I've done and continue to do inter-faith work, including having worked with and supported local people from minority groups other than my own. There's been a lot of different things involved in that.

In caring about human rights, I have been to many places around the world to provide life-saving and life-changing care to people in desperate need, including in conflict and disaster zones. I currently can't physically go, but technological advancements mean I can still provide remote assistance and supervision.

I remain actively involved with and supportive of human rights charities and NGOs working on a number of issues, including international aid and women's rights around the world.

You asked what I've done, so what have you done - in particular, what have you done to protect Muslims, Palestinians or Lebanese people?

So, do you think that these things only warrant condemnation or criticism if they happen to particular groups?

Why are these things not awful, regardless of the ethnicity or faith of the victims or the perpetrators?

Oh I’ve stood up to islamaphobia when my friends have been attacked. But what have you done specifically to protect Jewish people suffering from the explosion of anti semitism fuelled by anti Zionism? You have answered about all your “work” yet not mentioned Jewish people once.

You list doesn’t really at who you are supporting.

So, do you think that these things only warrant condemnation or criticism if they happen to particular groups?

That is exactly what they are saying, some lives matter more than others

Ooh why do you think Israel are protective about their space?

It's what Israel are doing in everyone else's space that people have a problem with. Excusing apartheid and occupation with 'ooh it's just Israel being protective of their space.' is gross.

No, and once again you are twisting. You specifically asked why I hadn’t discussed the history of a particular point in time of a particular people. I said that it could only be seen in the context of a much longer period of time.

I find it interesting that you seem to deploy a technique of appearing you’re quoting something I’ve said and then actually writing something different. Is this a deliberate ploy or are you so narrow minded as to actually read that when my post says something completely different.

Of course I’m worried about other peoples. I’m worried about women and girls in Afghanistan and all places where women are suffering through being treated as Devond class citizens . I was very vocal when the World Cup went to Qatar due to the treatment of women (look at the official who was raped) I’m very vocal about any community that puts down women’s rights. I’m vocal about the Left who want to erase womens rights in preference to men’s in the West and I’m very active in that space.

Well if someone came into the UK and did what Hamas did to Israel I would want our government to protect our space by all means necessary too. It’s not “gross”. You don’t think Israel has a right to exist. What do you think will happen to the people there. Will their freedoms be protected?

But it’s not what I am saying though is it? Interesting you use the pronoun “they”!

@Feelingathomenow the best thing to do to help Anti Semitism is to distinguish it from Anti Zionism, however people like yourself thrive on them being so closely connected. You want them to both be used in easy exchange so that you can say OHHH ANTI SEMITE HERE if I speak against the Israeli oppression of Palestinians.

You are talking about Jewish history etc because you are equating Israel to ALL Jews.. Why.... to fit YOUR narrative that Anti Zionism is Anti Jewish... NO! Stop demonising all Jews!!!

What are you on about? Why are you telling me I don't think Israel has a right exist because I don't agree with illegal occupation and apartheid . Are you under the impression that their illegal occupation and apartheid started after Oct 7? Their occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem predates Hamas. 'Because Hamas, doesn't work for that I'm afraid, you are going to pull out another tired phrase to defend that one.

I’m not the person stirring up, intentionally or unintentionally anti semitism

No, I’m saying the two things are already intertwined in the popular mind )and this is why many definitions of anti semitism include anti Zionism. Whilst technically they are two different things, in practice they often aren’t. No matter how much you cling to the concept they are separate real world experiences show they are anything but.

So you’re happy with Israel and recognise it as a state and condem any action or movements which threaten its existence

Well, specifics can be outing. Some pretty anonymised examples:

I'm part of the reason people in my workplace don't display any political logos/flags/protest symbols because I didn't want Jewish people or other people concerned for loved ones in Israel to feel intimidated or unsafe or upset.

I'm part of the reason our local work to call for a ceasefire, aid and support for victims of the violence in the Middle East includes active recognition of the hostages still trapped in Gaza and their families, as well as the victims of October 7th.

I helped get antisemitic thugs arrested and made it clear they were unwelcome when they tried to attend local events.

I walked with my Jewish neighbour and friends when they were afraid for their safety.

I've understood (as best I can) and supported Jewish and Israeli friends through this terrible time, how they needed me to support them.

I previously mentioned providing remote/virtual work-related support. That has included support for people working with people affected by the October 7th attacks.

Some of the charities and projects I've supported have also worked with survivors and bereaved relatives of the October 7th attacks.

Well, I'm not 'happy' with Israels actions no. I've never said that they 'don't have a right to exist' like you accused me of, it has never occurred to me that it's existence is something that I have a say over. I have no problem with Israel existing, I have huge problems with their actions though.

Nice way to try and side step your defence of apartheid though.

Have you thought their actions might be necessary for its existence because so many people in the Middle East don’t want them to exist and will do anything to stop them existing - right I need to love you all and leave you as I need to get to work- laters

What I had said was:

'A population has experienced brutal violence and terror at the hands of (mostly) men who seek to kill them. There is evidence of extreme violence, including recorded footage and eyewitness accounts this.'

I then stated that I consider these things to be abhorrent. But it came across in your response as though you considered the extent to which things might or might not be abhorrent to be dependent upon the group to which they were being done, and that you considered it offensive or inciting hatred to criticise some groups for carrying out such actions.

Have I thought that apartheid is necessary? Are you really asking that? That's fucked up, no wonder you are off on your way.

@Feelingathomenow just because it's popularly intertwined that doesn't make it factually correct and give you the right to call people anti semitic because they are criticising Israel and the Zionist regime. Call it was it actually is: Anti Zionist

What do you mean?