Hamas strike on Israel - mod warning in OP updated 19/10/23

The RTE website correctly states the position:

Hamas dismissed as pointless ceasefire talks with Israel, accusing it of waging a "hunger war" on Gaza as famine looms and Israel prepares for a broader assault on the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.

Israel approved a military plan on Sunday involving the "conquest" of Gaza, where nearly all 2.3 million people have been displaced and a two-month Israeli blockade has worsened the humanitarian crisis.

"There is no sense in engaging in talks or considering new ceasefire proposals as long as the hunger war and extermination war continue in the Gaza Strip," Basem Naim told AFP.

They also report further comments Smotrich made at the conference which confirm the intent of Israel to ethically cleanse the Palestinians from Gaza which is a War Crime and Genocide. Israel are making the ICJ's decision a slam dunk:

A victory for Israel in Gaza means that the Palestinian territory will be "entirely destroyed" before its inhabitants depart for other countries, Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said.

"Gaza will be entirely destroyed, civilians will be sent to ... the south to a humanitarian zone without Hamas or terrorism, and from there they will start to leave in great numbers to third countries," the far right politician said at a conference on Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank.

"Israel do not care about the hostages?" There have been massive protests and countless public campaigns within Israel demanding their release. The hostages are a central concern for Israeli society.

As for Hamas' so-called offer to release them—if they truly intended to free all hostages, why haven’t they done so unconditionally? Every offer so far has come with strings attached, often framed to gain political leverage. Hamas is in no position to dictate terms. Their military defeat in Gaza - and that is exactly what that is - has stripped them of that privilege. Do you accept that they have been defeated in Gaza?

"Impending influx of settlers?" That’s simply not grounded in reality. Outside of a small ideological fringe, there is no serious appetite in Israel to settle Gaza. Even in the Judea and Samaria (West Bank), settlement is a seriously divisive issue within Israeli society. The suggestion that there’s a mass push to resettle Gaza ignores public sentiment.

And on the topic of policing Gaza—there hasn’t been a single serious offer from any country or international body to take on that responsibility. Yes, it’s a dangerous and costly task, especially when dealing with terrorist groups like Hamas. But if those who claim to care about the people of Gaza truly do, why hasn't anyone volunteered to help restore order and stability? You can’t criticize Israel for stepping in when no one else is willing to.

Just checking - Hamas and IDF are both terrorists. So it would be hypocrisy to not believe one yet believe the other.

You appear to be unaware of the hostage situation. The Govt. doesn't care about the hostages. Of course the hostages families do care and yes, they are protesting at the Govt refusing to accept the Hamas ceasefire proposal.

I posted last year that Hamas were defeated - because the IDF stated that. My position on Hamas has been very clear - they are terrorists and must be eliminated. Not sure why you feel the need to ask the question to be honest. Unless you think you had a "gotcha" moment?

You must have missed the news over the last 24 hours - Israel is taking over Gaza. Ben-Gvir attended a Settler movement event a few months back who had laid out all their plans to Settle Gaza.

I explained why no-one has stepped up to offer to police Gaza - self-preservation. They don't want to be on the end of an IDF 2000lb bomb or a sniper's bullet. Or even and IDF bulldozer. Simple.

Eh? No idea what you are talking about at all now - but I'll try.

You believe neither the IDF or Hamas - correct?

And how have you surmised that I believe Hamas? I believe the reports from e.g. RTE, BBC, Haaretz and others when they quote the Qatari mediators who relay the Hamas position or those reporting IDF lies.

Probably not the gotcha you were hoping for I suspect.

I dont really get the point of using nice or neutral words to describe Israel's or the IDFs behaviour during the campaign. Similar to how Hamas's behaviour should be described or Israel should be told to f-off out of the West Bank.

The West for years has supported Israel and will probably not condemn Israel whatever they decide to do with Gaza after.

Israel are not even hiding their evil/illegal intentions anymore and yet their fanboys can't get enough. Only muslims.

Poor SeanW thinks that Ukraine attacked Russia or tries to flip my post. I compared Israel and Russia. Both land-grabbing and bombing innocents and said that Putin and Bibi are so alike in their ways. They really are.

They are also both wanted by the ICC for War Crimes. And both on the run.

It would only be worthwhile getting travel brochures for Hungary as they'll be one of very few counties who wouldn't arrest them and ship them off to The Hague.

Former hostage Moran Yanai said that, when Hamas took her into the Gaza Strip, she saw "everyone, the entire city, from the smallest child to the oldest one, celebrating evil".

Before 7 October 2023, Hamas had already indoctrinated so many young people with hatred towards Jews.

She saw everyone? Really? Was she brought around the city on a tour?

Any more from the Henry Jackson Society?

Netanyahu cannot visit another EU country or he will be behind bars and deservedly so.

Q. Do you think Netanyahu has any questions to answer? Don't expect a response.

As usual, some very interesting snippets from Haaretz today - particularly the first item - the irony of Smotrich using the "C" word will be lost on no-one

The other items: Israel is a democracy? Don't think so; War Criminal #1 sucks up to his buddy War Criminal # 3; Israel demolish almost an entire Palestinian village in the West Bank.

• Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that in a few months, Israel will be able to declare that it has won the war in Gaza. "What will the image of victory look like? Gaza is completely destroyed. [Gaza's] civilians will be concentrated from the Morag Corridor southwards to a humanitarian area where Hamas and terrorism are absent," and from there, the Palestinians "will start leaving for a third country. Our hostages will have returned home," he said at the Makor Rishon newspaper's conference on settlement.
• At a Knesset committee session, lawmaker Simcha Rothman cut off the sister of a hostage killed in captivity after she warned against obeying "unequivocally illegal orders," accusing her of promoting disobedience by soldiers. "Anyone flirting with disobedience [to orders] won't be given the right to speak. I'm very sensitive to disobedience," Rothman said.
• PM Netanyahu spoke with Russian President Putin by phone, thanking him for his assistance in securing the release of Russian-Israeli hostage Sasha Troufanov. Netanyahu's office said Putin initiated the call, which took place on the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II.
• Israel demolished most of the Palestinian village of Khallet al-Daba in the Masafer Yatta area of the southern West Bank on Monday, in what residents described as the largest demolition to date in the region. A visit to the village revealed that nearly all structures had been leveled, with only five still standing amid widespread rubble and scattered belongings.

If it was genocide it would've been over by the end of October in 2023. If it was genocide then the Allies' fight against the Third Reich would've been genocide.

The war would end if the Hamas leaders in Gaza went into exile, which Netanyahu said he is willing to let them do. Presumably, if the Hamas leaders agreed to that, Arab League and ICRC observers would be on the scene to ensure that the deal is adhered to.