The army is warning the settlers around Gaza that in the coming hours they will hear a series of massive explosions in Gaza.

[Wedonttalkaboutboris]

60,000 reserve soldiers have been called up starting tomorrow for the Gaza operation.

“Israel's troops have established a foothold on the outskirts of the city - which is home to more than a million Palestinians - after days of intense bombing and artillery fire.” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyr7l0z9edo

I guess those troops plus the 60,000 reservists are just there to watch Hamas cause all the death and destruction.

It's funny isn't it informing families to evacuate? Not really what you'd expect from an army allegedly intent on 'doing a genocide'.

If this sort of thing is ignored, I don’t see how there is any hope for a peaceful end to all this.

As I’ve said before, when extremism spreads or gains popularity, you have to ask under what conditions that was able to happen. It’s not good enough to put it down to the religious element alone (as significant as it may be). People need to be angry, disenfranchised or feel forgotten to turn to extremism. It happens everywhere, including in the UK, but doesn’t tend to gain traction because there aren’t enough angry/desperate/vulnerable people.

Making the conflict between Israel and Hamas purely a religious one means totally disregarding why people would turn to extremism in the first place. It’s not about defining Islamic extremism and looking at why that came about. It’s about exploring why people decide to join in. If we ignore why extremism spreads, it’ll just carry on spreading.

The IDF are warning about strikes against terrorists giving civilians the chance to get to safe areas. You know, to prevent civiliian deaths?

No idea how you are equating this to what the nazis did.

Let’s not call it a genocide then - let’s call it displacing millions of people from their homes and destroying more families, infrastructure, homes and hope, with the aim of stealing the land from its people.

Moving 2m starving, injured, and/or vulnerable (very young or old) people whilst not providing the necessary aid to get to them with the hope that they’ll decide to leave Gaza forever is hateful. Not genocide, you’re right. But we’re edging closer to ethnic cleansing, aren’t we?

Now you might the thinking, “No! This is all about Hamas! Once they’re gone and the hostages are returned, Palestinians will be able to return to their homes and (over several decades) rebuild their lives.” But tell me why, then, is one of the most powerful members of the government (Smotrich) saying they would force all of the population into a small area, destroy the rest of Gaza and then “They will be totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza, and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places.” Or saying they will “kill the de facto Palestinian state (in relation to the WB illegal settlement plans). “It is one of our most important challenges. We are at a historic opportunity.”

As much as I’d love for this not to be the way things go (and I’ve certainly been called cynical/negative before!), we have to be look at all the evidence in front of us and be realistic about what the Israeli government’s aims may be. My fear with all of this is the pain and suffering of the many displaced and traumatised Palestinian people and also the safety of the Israeli people. This sort of treatment of people breeds hatred and more violence. The Israeli government are not making the world or region safer by taking away everything from a large group of people. They are making them vulnerable to extremism.

'People need to be angry, disenfranchised or feel forgotten to turn to extremism'

Or they just need to be radicalised to believe they are superior to Jews and they can murder people without consequences and it's a no to both

Terrorism and extremist ideology needs ro be wiped out in the ME.

'let’s call it displacing millions of people from their homes and destroying more families, infrastructure, homes and hope, with the aim of stealing the land from its people'

Or 'let's call it' what it is warning civilians of imminent strikes to get rid of terrorists. I know it spoils it a bit for hamas as they do like civilian deaths for their pr but at least it does give gazans a chance.

And where exactly can they go to which is safe and where they won’t get bombed at on route?

A pp said 'In parts of Gaza city currently, the army is informing families to evacuate from Gaza city immediately and to head to the southern part of the Gaza Strip' so I'm guessing the southern part of gaza?

Absolutely- it's been a lengthy genocide, hasn't it? In and out, normally, like 7/10.

Southern Gaza has already been destroyed so hardly a safe area to move to.

People still need to be ‘vulnerable’ to find that sort of horrendous rhetoric attractive though. You can’t radicalise happy people. It just doesn’t appeal. There needs to be a vulnerability. And the people of Gaza and the WB have a reason to be angry.

Agree wholeheartedly that terrorism and extremism need to be wiped out but not just in the ME. Young white American men (usually but not always) go into schools and shoot their classmates and teachers. Brits set alight to hotels because they don’t like immigrants. It’s all violence, extremism and hatred. It all has to end. Hence why we have to look at why all these people are radicalised. It’s not just an Islam or Arab issue. It is a global issue. And we have to figure out why certain people are vulnerable to extremist rhetoric. As I said, I am not questioning the foundation of Islamic extremism. I am questioning what makes people susceptible to that ideology.

Re displacement, where are they going that’s safe? To me, a child being safe means very basic things. Food security, a reliable shelter, protection from violence/abuse/neglect etc. Is that a possibility for children in Gaza right now?

Any comments on Smotrich? That part doesn’t seem to have garnered a response.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-philippe-sands.html

He's a racist extremist who it could be argued has also been radicalised to hate. Doubt you would describe him as "vulnerable" in any way but he was born in a settlement and grew up in a family suffering generational trauma. His grandmother was a survivor from the Holocaust. His grandfather lost both parents who drowned while on a ship trying to reach Palestine. Though I don't personally excuse extremist behaviour on people having reasons to be angry.

He’s extremely vulnerable to radicalisation for all the reasons you’ve mentioned. Like you say, this doesn’t give extremists a free pass when they commit horrific crimes against other people. It doesn’t justify or excuse their actions. But it does need to be taken into account when we talk about why extremism exists and spreads.

Smotrich isn’t an extremist because Jewish people inherently hate Muslim or Arab people. Members of Hamas aren’t extremists because Islam is an inherently violent religion. People of all religions (or none) turn to extremism if they are angry, disenfranchised or feel forgotten. Or, perhaps in the case of Smotrich, if they were vulnerable in the sense that they were indoctrinated with these views as a child or not protected from the impact of generational trauma.

I don’t think there are evil people out there. There are people who do incredibly evil things and we have to figure out why they got to a point where that felt like the only or best option. It can be hard to humanise people who have done such terrible crimes. But they are just humans. So the most important thing we can do to stop extremism from spreading is to understand the conditions under which it takes hold and who is most vulnerable.

In the current situation, millions of displaced people who have lost everything are extremely vulnerable so a huge effort needs to be made to ensure they are not recruited to a cause that celebrates violence and pain. To do this, they need to feel like they are valued. Displacing people, destroying homes and families, leaving people with little food and medical facilities, talking about them like they’re lesser - that all helps extremism.

I don't think there are evil people out there.
I wish I could believe that but there is too much evidence to the contrary.

I do think there are evil people out there. I think you can waste years wondering why people do evil things but you’ll never fully understand it because people who love violence aren’t like us.

We can agree that hatred breeds hatred. But there’s so much hatred in Gaza - on both sides - & the cycle of violence has been going on for so long - the solution is beyond me. In reality it seems inconceivable the two sides could ever live peacefully alongside one another. And I’m normally the optimist!

Maybe ask Egypt and Jordan that question. They are being contained, for want of a better word, so Israel can finish the job they've started. Hamas needs to go for Palestinian civilians' sakes, as well.

I think we ultimately agree in that some people for whatever psychological reason get a kick out of pain and death. They are drawn to extremism to fulfil their own selfish, horrendous desires. I personally don’t think all extremists are these types of people - some but not all. It’s why teachers and other professionals have things like PREVENT training - to stop everyday people being radicalised. So the conditions that lead to people being radicalised are key to stopping a significant number of people becoming extremists.

And yes - I think we sadly agree when thinking about any future peace. Hopefully your usual optimism is well placed though - it’s certainly better for everyone if that’s how this all ends.

Still no reference to Smotrich then? After all, this all sounds a lot like his plan…

…force all of the population into a small area, destroy the rest of Gaza and then “They will be totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza, and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places.” Or saying they will “kill the de facto Palestinian state (in relation to the WB illegal settlement plans). “It is one of our most important challenges.”

Sending all the Palestinian people to another country (with no hope of returning) or making life in Gaza so hopeless they have to leave is, as I’ve said above, getting scarily close to ethnic cleansing. If that seems an outrageous statement, please explain how it’s different to this definition: “the mass expulsion or killing of members of one ethnic or religious group in an area by those of another.”

And before you say it, yes, I know exactly what Hamas also aims to do. But let’s focus on Israel’s government’s plans for a moment.

The post I was responding to suggested that forcing non-combatants out of one area into another under threat of arms was somehow incompatible with genocide. No idea how some people are so unaware of history that they'd believe this. It's happened repeatedly - Rwanda, Cambodia, Armenia, Poland and many other places.

I'm not saying this is necessarily what's happening here but to think that such depopulation precludes genocide is utter fantasy.

This is the only thing that makes any sense to me.
This constant war and hate without limits only brings misery and suffering to all those living in the area, independently of which side of the border they are. It is robbing both Israeli and Palestinian babies of a right to live in a peaceful nation that cares for their wellbeing. I am a strong believer that Netanyahu's actions will only bring forth more war and danger for Israelis. It is not going to sort any issues, but bring more and more.
Both Hamas and Netanyahu need to walk themselves into jail. Alongside Hezbollah and any other similar idiot that knows nothing but hate and more hate.

@Dangermoo have you actually looked at the logistics of ethnically cleansing the Palestinians to either country so they can build a Gaza Riveria?

Egypt already has a homeless crisis of 11.6%,(12 million people )the second highest in Africa. It heavily relies on foreign aid and is one of the highest recipients of American money. Where are 2 million refugees going to live?

Jordan is reeling from the cuts in USAID, they are also a major benefactor. There are 11 million people living in Jordan already including 2 million Palestinan refugees (370,000 of whom live in UNWRA refugee camps who I know Israelis have a problem with) 80% of Jordanians work in the service industry, agriculture is very poor.. Are they going to be able to house 2 million refugees?

It's all well and good saying these things but sometimes every aspect needs to be looked at carefully. Palestinians have a right to stay in Gaza and the West Bank they should not be ethnically cleansed.

Oh and @PinkBobby I would truly think Smotrich represents the worst of human kind. He has no compassion or empathy and an audience who agrees with him

Yes - sadly he’s made it to the very top of a Western democracy and uses his disproportionate amount of power to get others (the military, settlers etc.) to fulfil his extremist ideas. Wears a suit and keeps his hands ‘clean’ whilst inciting violence and causing great pain and suffering - horrendous.