Little or no public debate allowed by the BBC.

[mouthpipette]

Caller to R5 live the other day mentioned that the last time the conflict in the ME was discussed on Nicky Campbell's show was March 14.
Considering there are usually 2 topics discussed and that it goes out 5 days a week, that's a lot of shows that haven't been a platform for debate about Israel/Gaza.

And it gets even worse.

BBC1 question time, and you have to go back to October 17 2024 to find a question about the ME. Since Oct 17, dozens of questions about Trump and Ukraine, but strangely Israel / Gaza doesn't feature.
Also, whilst stories about Harry or GCSE results will have a "Have your say" comments section, on the BBC news website, there are none for stories on the current conflict.
LBC not afraid to cover it and to be a platform for a discussion, the BBC obviously are.

I don’t think many people in the UK do give a shit about the hostages

i think Gaza is a fashionable cause on many left circles - but as a virtue signal rather than any genuine interest in the conflict and having an in depth knowledge of it

I’ve asked a few people who are all over social media about it for more info in real life - in good faith to get more understanding of their view
and knowledge- they couldn’t really tell me much

What happens in Israel/Palestine doesn’t impact on the average person.
Hamas are terrorists that the population of Palestine seem to be okay with. Why should this impact the UK?

Or they just could find watching children being blown up or starved to death quite alarming especially when we are one of the countries supplying the weapons.

no - I don’t think it’s that. I think it’s because it doesn’t impact on their daily life.

and the lefties I referred - I think they get their info that it’s a cause to support through quite superficial social media and in real life surface level chat.

It might not have a huge impact on some people's lives in the UK but I do think the majority will hold some sort of opinion on the conflict. I don't agree with the previous poster who though it's mostly only Muslims or foreign nationals who care.

I disagree 🤷‍♀️ people might have a soundbite about “their side” - mostly “free Palestine” type slogans - but I don’t think they genuinely care. I think it’s a fashionable political identity.

which is not to say that of course there are people who do genuinely care. But I don’t think it’s the majority at all.

There are not tens of thousands on the streets. @Madcatdudette

Shall we add "Demo-denier" to the list ?

I said most people will have some sort of opinion on it. It's hard to miss seeing how often the conflict is reported on in the news.

I don't agree that most people consider it a fashionable identity but again, that's just my opinion.

The list?

Holocaust deniers,
Genocide deniers,
denyer deniers.

40 denier (keeps your legs warm)

43-deniers are 40 year old men on dating sites.

sorry, my last post was nonsense, there was a joke in there...... originally, but it got lost.

I think most people when they hear of children being starved and orphaned and having their límbs amputated with no anaesthetic have some kind of visceral reaction to it. I'm not sure it matters if they know loads about the cause, my dog could nearly tell you that denying aid to millions of people for months is a rotten, immoral, disgusting thing to do. Some people will just think that and move on with their day storing Israel are starving children and aren't even shameful about it away in their brains somewhere for future use and that's ok. You don't need a degree in the history of the middle east or warfare to know right from wrong.

Many people have opinions on what's happening in Gaza, but for most, it's not something they focus on day in, day out.

Right now, here in the Uk, there is a real and growing struggle with living costs — food prices are high, rent and mortgages are punishing, utility bills are rising and people are stretched, they’re just trying to manage everyday life.

Those turning out for marches are often students, activists, or people with more flexibility. They're not typically the ones juggling childcare, holding down weekend jobs, ferrying kids to parties, playdates, clubs, doing the shopping, laundry, and all the other humdrum of family life. Not everyone has the time, energy — or spare money — to travel to London for a protest. Not everyone lives in London. And for many, the focus isn’t on global politics, but simply keeping family life ticking over.

It’s not apathy — it’s reality. Most people are doing their best just to stay afloat.

I am have not kept track of Question Time but Chanel 4 news and the BBC very recently have been pretty clear about Israel’s actions.

How much of the day do you spend thinking about women and girls in Afghanistan? Yedzhi women being stoned? Children in Sudan?

the world is a horrible place

Like I said people often store away snippets of information for future use and that's ok.

"I think it’s because it doesn’t impact on their daily life." @2024onwardsandup

I agree, there's little material impact, but that doesn't or rather shouldn't, stop us getting involved.

When I was growing up, there was a phrase "Stand up and be counted" and the general interpretation was "Be brave enough to call out wrong or injustice."

This was in the 1960/70s, not long after WW2 and so the shadow of the Holocaust was still very dark.

Maybe in the 1930s, if people (especially those in power) who were aware of what was happening to the Jews had made more effort to help them, rather than accommodating Hitler, then maybe, just maybe, there may have not been such horrific results.
It's about standing up and calling out injustice when you see it and then see if you can do something to stop it.

Personally, I would love to see UK government ratchet up sanctions. But that will never happen because it would be bad for business and business always trumps ethics.

Pretty much everyone I know has an opinion on what's happening in Gaza and are well informed. Channel 4 are the most consistent on reporting and regularly interview people representing both sides. I can't believe pp insisting nobody cares that's not what I experience at all 🤔

Well then here’s a good insight for you about the lived experience of many other people in Britain.

Personally, I would love to see UK government ratchet up sanctions. But that will never happen because it would be bad for business and business always trumps ethics.

Even the Netherlands who are usually staunch Israel supporters are questioning the EU trade agreement with Israel and it's validity due to the clause that states there needs to be respect for human rights and democratic principles. The EU are Israels biggest trade partners so that would be huge. I think if Israel keep on their current abhorrent trajectory it will become unavoidable for others to take action.

How do you speak for many people in Britain? Surely you can only speak for yourself and people you know? Did you watch the big protests held around the Country and showed on news channels? Perhaps you think they were fake?

Before that we have had stock market crashes, tariffs, local elections, PIP changes, winter fuel allowances, Sudan, war in Ukraine and the ridiculous treatment by Vance and Trump, trials that have been prominent, Prince Harry dominating the news, VE day commemorations, so many things. To some the whole topic can only be gaza a place where terrorists launched an horrific attack starting a war.

Now we have the new Pope being elected, the war between India and Pakistan and Iranian nationals planning an attack on the Israeli embassy in the UK.

Then reform, immigration and the £4,000,000 daily cost to house, welfare, etc etc etc