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Conflict in the Middle East

How is forced starvation allowed?

1000 replies

Tinycatnoise · 23/07/2025 22:28

The top story in the BBC right now is the starvation of Gazans by Israel. The images are horrifying and not dissimilar to seeing those images of concentration camps in Nazi Germany. I cried seeing those and am crying now. I am sure someone will claim antisemitism because of this statement, but anyone looking at these images of starving children would agree.

How is this still going on? I feel like we are watching a genocide take place that the world has turning a blind eye to. The daily shooting by Israel of people trying to get aid too is just barbaric. If nothing is being done to stop this, what is the next horror that will unfold in the world that people will just accept?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce9xkx7vnmxo

OP posts:
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41
Dontthink · 29/07/2025 09:18

Cite sources

Voxon · 29/07/2025 09:26

Wedonttalkaboutboris · 29/07/2025 08:56

Comments like that really aren’t helping.
Can you hear how it sounds, @SharonEllis ?
‘20,000 children have been killed but…’

Sigh. This is just bad faith. Sharon criticises your side in an online thread and suddenly she’s responsible for 20,000 dead kids, despite even Hamas putting the number at 17,000. Let’s be honest: a lot of people here aren’t driven by compassion. They’re here to bash Israel and they get very cross indeed if anyone tries to interfere.

Of course whats being discussed is relevant. Kids starving in Gaza is overwhelmingly down to Hamas who started a war and are in complete control. And more broadly, this entire war exists because some people don’t believe Jews have the right to live, let alone live freely in their ancestral homeland. That’s the core issue here.

Alexandra2001 · 29/07/2025 09:31

Amnesty International has consistently accused Hamas of violating HR's, took me all of 5sec's to find that one & demand hostages released.

One cannot leave out the West Bank, as you said are happy to inc Israel....

Palestinians there have had the lives ended, imprisoned without trial, property taken, illegal settlements built, violated numerous agreements on stopping this.

Has Israel respected the HR's of the 2m Gazans, many currently starving, no access to medical facilities, clean water, sanitation? not too mention killing around 60,000 of them, many of whom are children.... 100s of 1000s suffering horrific injuries with almost no medical facilities, all their lives destined to be nothing but pain and misery.

Yet Israel respects human rights......

Voxon · 29/07/2025 09:37

Wedonttalkaboutboris · 29/07/2025 09:02

I also feel that- if you’re genuinely worried about rising antisemitism, I’m honestly horrified you’d comment on a thread downplaying, deflecting from, and minimising the forced starvation of nearly 2 million people. This doesn’t help- it actually risks making antisemitism worse.

This is deeply sinister post IMO.

There are people on this thread that are here for one reason: to blame Israel and to defend inflating a humanitarian crisis through disinformation.

They’re completely denying that the UN is failing to do what they should be doing, and worse, ignoring that Palestinian leadership itself started the war, holds hostages, hoards aid, and blocks ceasefires and that might just be part of the problem.

And if anyone shows up here to argue with the "it's all Israels fault" and "its fine to use misleading images" narrative they risk fuelling antisemitism?

What????

Antisemitism isn't caused by Jews being bad. It is caused by people who hate Jews.

Antisemitism doesn't increase because Jews are bad. It increases because people tell bull shit lies to make Jews out as evil.

Antisemitism isn't caused by people speaking out against antisemitism. It's caused by antisemites.

Voxon · 29/07/2025 09:41

Alexandra2001 · 29/07/2025 09:31

Amnesty International has consistently accused Hamas of violating HR's, took me all of 5sec's to find that one & demand hostages released.

One cannot leave out the West Bank, as you said are happy to inc Israel....

Palestinians there have had the lives ended, imprisoned without trial, property taken, illegal settlements built, violated numerous agreements on stopping this.

Has Israel respected the HR's of the 2m Gazans, many currently starving, no access to medical facilities, clean water, sanitation? not too mention killing around 60,000 of them, many of whom are children.... 100s of 1000s suffering horrific injuries with almost no medical facilities, all their lives destined to be nothing but pain and misery.

Yet Israel respects human rights......

Yes, Amnesty puts out a quiet, token critique on Hamas buried with little fanfare. Meanwhile, their coverage of Israel is relentless: 10 times the volume, constant on social media, shouted from every stage and banner. You’d barely know Hamas exists if your only source was Amnesty’s public voice. They’ve turned holding Israel to account into a full-time brand, while treating Hamas, an actual terror group, as a footnote. They're essentially an anti Israel activist organisation now.

Alexandra2001 · 29/07/2025 09:46

There are people on this thread that are here for one reason: to blame Israel and to defend inflating a humanitarian crisis through disinformation

I very much doubt that.

Its not possible to inflate the humanitarian crisis there.

Perhaps people want to put a stop to forced starvation, killing and maiming of people who had nothing to do with 7/10.

Israel can stop this, so of course could Hamas but our Govts aren't supporting and arming them, we have no influence over terrorist organisations.

But of course anyone who is critical of the Israeli govt is branded a terrorist supporter and an antisemite.... which is what they've relied on for sometime now..

sualipa · 29/07/2025 09:52

Alexandra2001 · 29/07/2025 09:46

There are people on this thread that are here for one reason: to blame Israel and to defend inflating a humanitarian crisis through disinformation

I very much doubt that.

Its not possible to inflate the humanitarian crisis there.

Perhaps people want to put a stop to forced starvation, killing and maiming of people who had nothing to do with 7/10.

Israel can stop this, so of course could Hamas but our Govts aren't supporting and arming them, we have no influence over terrorist organisations.

But of course anyone who is critical of the Israeli govt is branded a terrorist supporter and an antisemite.... which is what they've relied on for sometime now..

I’m just listening now to Alexei Sayle’s excellent podcast was a fan ever since his early days MCing at the Comedy Store, and that now-infamous Christmas lecture where he so powerfully said: “And they lie. And they lie…”

Well, here we are again. When the whole world and its dog can see this for what it is Israel’s brutal policy of collective punishment: starving a population, bombing hospitals, wiping out medical care and anyone who speaks out is branded a liar… then ask yourself: who’s really lying?

SharonEllis · 29/07/2025 09:56

Voxon · 29/07/2025 09:37

This is deeply sinister post IMO.

There are people on this thread that are here for one reason: to blame Israel and to defend inflating a humanitarian crisis through disinformation.

They’re completely denying that the UN is failing to do what they should be doing, and worse, ignoring that Palestinian leadership itself started the war, holds hostages, hoards aid, and blocks ceasefires and that might just be part of the problem.

And if anyone shows up here to argue with the "it's all Israels fault" and "its fine to use misleading images" narrative they risk fuelling antisemitism?

What????

Antisemitism isn't caused by Jews being bad. It is caused by people who hate Jews.

Antisemitism doesn't increase because Jews are bad. It increases because people tell bull shit lies to make Jews out as evil.

Antisemitism isn't caused by people speaking out against antisemitism. It's caused by antisemites.

I agree. Very sinister indeed. Trying to unpick fact from fiction is not downplaying anything. I will continue to call out antisemitism where I see it and to try to pretend that antisemitism is caused by anything but hatred for Jewish people, and is deeply wrong. Its also disingenuous to pretend that misinformation, both deliberate and naive, doesn't fuel it. Which is why we will call that out too.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 29/07/2025 10:02

I DO blame Israel.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 29/07/2025 10:03

Israel are responsible for the famine. Nobody else. Israel are the ones refusing to let in much food. I think it is convenient to Israel if everyone in Gaza dies, or most.

sualipa · 29/07/2025 10:04

Michael Ben-Yair is a former Attorney General of Israel (1993–1996) and a former Supreme Court judge. A respected legal authority, he has decades of experience at the highest levels of the Israeli justice system. In recent years, he has become a prominent critic of Israel’s occupation policies, calling them a form of apartheid and a moral abomination. He has publicly supported Palestinian rights and has urged the international community — including the EU — to recognise the State of Palestine. His views carry significant weight precisely because of his insider status within Israel’s legal and political establishment.

https://x.com/1benyair/status/1949803919745380601

How is forced starvation allowed?
sualipa · 29/07/2025 10:06

sualipa · 29/07/2025 10:04

Michael Ben-Yair is a former Attorney General of Israel (1993–1996) and a former Supreme Court judge. A respected legal authority, he has decades of experience at the highest levels of the Israeli justice system. In recent years, he has become a prominent critic of Israel’s occupation policies, calling them a form of apartheid and a moral abomination. He has publicly supported Palestinian rights and has urged the international community — including the EU — to recognise the State of Palestine. His views carry significant weight precisely because of his insider status within Israel’s legal and political establishment.

https://x.com/1benyair/status/1949803919745380601

The image checker quite rightly picked up the picture he used to illustrate his tweet - that of a starving child. This is the tweet.

How is forced starvation allowed?
Twiglets1 · 29/07/2025 10:08

Totally agree @Voxon & @SharonEllis

Unpicking fact from fiction & attempting to have a balanced debate does not fuel antisemitism and the suggestion it does is an attempt to shut up anyone defending Israel. I’m not antisemitic so I’m confident the opinions I express will not be “making antisemitism worse”.

Twiglets1 · 29/07/2025 10:11

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 29/07/2025 10:03

Israel are responsible for the famine. Nobody else. Israel are the ones refusing to let in much food. I think it is convenient to Israel if everyone in Gaza dies, or most.

No but their government is partly responsible, in my opinion.

But Hamas are more responsible. Do you blame them at all for the situation in Gaza?

SharonEllis · 29/07/2025 10:11

Twiglets1 · 29/07/2025 10:08

Totally agree @Voxon & @SharonEllis

Unpicking fact from fiction & attempting to have a balanced debate does not fuel antisemitism and the suggestion it does is an attempt to shut up anyone defending Israel. I’m not antisemitic so I’m confident the opinions I express will not be “making antisemitism worse”.

And I think if someone finds themselves thinking antisemitic thoughts when they read your posts, or mine for that matter, they need to work on that themselves.

Wedonttalkaboutboris · 29/07/2025 10:15

Twiglets1 · 29/07/2025 10:08

Totally agree @Voxon & @SharonEllis

Unpicking fact from fiction & attempting to have a balanced debate does not fuel antisemitism and the suggestion it does is an attempt to shut up anyone defending Israel. I’m not antisemitic so I’m confident the opinions I express will not be “making antisemitism worse”.

Unpicking fact from fiction’ and having a ‘balanced debate’ means genuinely engaging with all credible evidence- including well-documented findings from politically neutral medical and humanitarian sources like the WHO, UN, and Médecins Sans Frontières. When those sources consistently show that Israel’s blockade has caused catastrophic hunger and preventable deaths, ignoring or dismissing that isn’t balance- it’s denial.

@Twiglets1 you’ve certainly struck a more balanced tone at times, but others here have not.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 29/07/2025 10:17

Israel are responsible for the famine. Their defenders will forever be on here pretending that they are not. Even bare facts will be denied, including that Israel hold back food trucks at borders.

Voxon · 29/07/2025 10:31

Wedonttalkaboutboris · 29/07/2025 10:15

Unpicking fact from fiction’ and having a ‘balanced debate’ means genuinely engaging with all credible evidence- including well-documented findings from politically neutral medical and humanitarian sources like the WHO, UN, and Médecins Sans Frontières. When those sources consistently show that Israel’s blockade has caused catastrophic hunger and preventable deaths, ignoring or dismissing that isn’t balance- it’s denial.

@Twiglets1 you’ve certainly struck a more balanced tone at times, but others here have not.

Well documented findings are engaged. ALL of them. Even the ones quietly well documented that some prefer not to talk about.

And note, opinions are not facts. The facts organisations share and publicise are often selected because of their bias.

The idea that an organisation like the UN is politicaly neutral is laughable. Do you seriously believe that?

SharonEllis · 29/07/2025 10:37

Voxon · 29/07/2025 10:31

Well documented findings are engaged. ALL of them. Even the ones quietly well documented that some prefer not to talk about.

And note, opinions are not facts. The facts organisations share and publicise are often selected because of their bias.

The idea that an organisation like the UN is politicaly neutral is laughable. Do you seriously believe that?

I just can't.....

Do people know what the UN is? Its just all the nations in the world. How on earth is it going to be politically neutral?

Alexandra2001 · 29/07/2025 10:49

Voxon · 29/07/2025 10:31

Well documented findings are engaged. ALL of them. Even the ones quietly well documented that some prefer not to talk about.

And note, opinions are not facts. The facts organisations share and publicise are often selected because of their bias.

The idea that an organisation like the UN is politicaly neutral is laughable. Do you seriously believe that?

Who has said the UN is politically neutral?

Is the Israeli Govt? Do you think so?

Most of Gaza is now classed as in a state of famine, now because thats based on a UN assessment, will it be dismissed by you and others?

On who is to blame? thats irrelevant and doesn't help anyone, open the borders, let in Aid, let in medical teams...

The IDF now control most of Gaza, so it should be possible to limit Hamas theft and the black market.

We really shouldn't be arguing about this.

Voxon · 29/07/2025 11:07

Alexandra2001 · 29/07/2025 10:49

Who has said the UN is politically neutral?

Is the Israeli Govt? Do you think so?

Most of Gaza is now classed as in a state of famine, now because thats based on a UN assessment, will it be dismissed by you and others?

On who is to blame? thats irrelevant and doesn't help anyone, open the borders, let in Aid, let in medical teams...

The IDF now control most of Gaza, so it should be possible to limit Hamas theft and the black market.

We really shouldn't be arguing about this.

The post I was replying to says the UN is politically neutral

SharonEllis · 29/07/2025 11:11

Alexandra2001 · 29/07/2025 10:49

Who has said the UN is politically neutral?

Is the Israeli Govt? Do you think so?

Most of Gaza is now classed as in a state of famine, now because thats based on a UN assessment, will it be dismissed by you and others?

On who is to blame? thats irrelevant and doesn't help anyone, open the borders, let in Aid, let in medical teams...

The IDF now control most of Gaza, so it should be possible to limit Hamas theft and the black market.

We really shouldn't be arguing about this.

Who would expect Israel, or any state to be politically neutral? Nobody said they were. PP did say UN was.

Wedonttalkaboutboris · 29/07/2025 11:45

Voxon · 29/07/2025 09:26

Sigh. This is just bad faith. Sharon criticises your side in an online thread and suddenly she’s responsible for 20,000 dead kids, despite even Hamas putting the number at 17,000. Let’s be honest: a lot of people here aren’t driven by compassion. They’re here to bash Israel and they get very cross indeed if anyone tries to interfere.

Of course whats being discussed is relevant. Kids starving in Gaza is overwhelmingly down to Hamas who started a war and are in complete control. And more broadly, this entire war exists because some people don’t believe Jews have the right to live, let alone live freely in their ancestral homeland. That’s the core issue here.

I said:
Antisemitism must be taken seriously, but that can’t be used to shut down criticism of state violence.

Sharon said:
“Antisemitism must be taken seriously but…”

I then said:
Comments like that really aren’t helping.
Can you hear how it sounds, @SharonEllis ?
‘20,000 children have been killed but…’

No one said Sharon is responsible for those deaths. That’s a bad-faith misread of a very straightforward point: saying ‘[X atrocity]… but’ often ends up sounding like a dismissal, even if that’s not the intent.

And it’s deeply frustrating to keep seeing this pattern- where people sidestep evidence of enormous civilian suffering by invoking ‘bad faith’, ‘Israel bashing’, or antisemitism.

Yes, antisemitism exists and must be taken seriously. That doesn’t mean Israel’s military or policy choices are beyond scrutiny. It’s possible to condemn both Hamas and the mass killing of children. And pretending this is just about Jewish existence ignores the specific and ongoing policies, like siege, starvation, and bombing, that people are rightly criticising.

I stand by what I said:
Antisemitism must be taken seriously, but that can’t be used to shut down criticism of state violence.

Wedonttalkaboutboris · 29/07/2025 11:46

ComeAsYouAreAsAFriend · 29/07/2025 10:59

Completely agree @Alexandra2001

Just seen this latest update on BBC news

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has issued an alert saying "the worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip".

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cdrkj810plvt?post=asset%3A220caa3b-5c99-48e7-9a2d-d5df144e858d#post

The situation is horrifying.

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