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

President Higgins has spoken up on such topics as housing and the Environment. He does have other interests apart from Israel. I doubt the posters criticising him for talking about Palestine would ever get to the point where they would find it acceptable. They just dont want Israel to be criticised full-stop.

They don't like what he says because he's correct.

And it frightens them.

Irish presidents have been vocal on numerous topics for years. The two Mary's were never afraid to speak up about things when they felt either.

There are people who'll blithely whinge about Higgins no matter what he says or does because he's on the left and nothing more. That's the extent on their "thinking" about practically everything, and they're worthless.

It's pointless even bothering to get into any discussion with someone like that.

Who is guys?

It just seems you would use any excuse to have people stop talking about the ethnic cleansing operation being undertaken by Israel.

Being here 20 years I'm sure you know that Higgins has no power to improve mental health services or healthcare, he is the head of state. Not his remit. But he did give plenty of years service to the Irish people in his prior roles, and comes across -unlike many politicians - as someone with conviction.

As for your sneery posts when people have the temerity of questioning your obvious bias in this conflict, you still haven't actually nailed your colours to the mast on your opinion on the conflict - why is that?

And lastly- and most importantly - if you and your children were days away from starving to death because some psychotic nation felt they had the right and justification to with-hold all your food because terrorists attacked them - would you hope politicians in other countries would speak up for you?

It's pointless even bothering to get into any discussion with someone like that.

Well with that approach you defo wouldn't be candidate for any discussion..

Why you guys are being so touchy? He's just as much my president as he's yours, the thing I don't really get is why so much attention is being payed to some conflicts in abroad and I don't really see the same pressure applied to sort out domestic problems? I don't mind Higgins as a president, if that's what you think btw.

How animated do you get when talking about the 97% of people killed in this conflict (who happen to be Palestinian), Vs the Israelis killed on October 7th (which make up 3%) I wonder?

Just because you think 3% >97%, most people know that isn't the case…

And how often do you tune into listen to what he says on a topic other than Israel's atrocious ethnic cleansing program?

You don't like what he has to say on the subject because it's an honest appraisal and it makes you uncomfortable. So you think that he should "keep his gob shut".

There's nothing more to it.

Wow, you've certainly made loads of claims there. Just as expected. When you do try to push your point of view at any cost and automatically assume I'm a sort of evil, because I won't nod to everything posted here, that would put you on the same side of the aggressor this thread is having a go at? Not everything is black and white. It would be great if it was though.

Go for it - try slither out of it and don't answer any of the questions, good lad.

Oh, and it's fine not nodding to everything here. Just you never seem to "not nod" to the crowd who tell us Israel aren't bombing civilians, there is no starvation, warcrimes are justified and so on.... nope, those people get a very obvious free pass from you. Why is that?

So again I'll ask - what is your opinion on Israel's conduct in the conflict? Do you think it's genocide given all the evidence you have seen?

Fairly straightforward questions.

Given that the population of increased since Oct 7 2023, it is hard to describe this as a genocide unless the least successful ever; aid would be less of an issue if Hamas didn't insist on controlling the distribution of same; and do you accept that Hamas are using civilian infrastructure (including hospitals and schools) to store weapons, as command centres, and as access points to tunnels?

And the leaders of Hamas are living the high life in Qatar.

Given that the population of increased since Oct 7 2023,

Where on earth did you get this from?

Id suggest you scrutinize your "news sources" a bit more before you embarrass yourself on the internet.

It's been a while since that 'auld canard has been posted here.

Do you have a particular number of deaths (or percentage) that would constitute Genocide? If you do, you should let the UN know. Because their definition of genocide does not include numbers.

I think it's actually 3% := 97%.

There's no winners here in relation to how many more lives are important to the rest of you're thinking 97% is more important than you have it wrong. That any life is lost is a tragedy but I'm a pragmatist. A war is ongoing and wars result in people dying.

But looking at the facts, Hamas started and maintained this . Israel wasn't going to sit back and let them keep on firing rockets into Israel or staging another incursion.

Hamas built tunnels under people's homes knowing what could happen. They used hospitals, schools and homes as operation centres. Israel had 2 choices, fire back with the resulting consequences or let Hamas build up again and attack again.

I'm no more pro Israel than I am pro Gazan but I can understand why Israel is going all out. Like it or not Israel has a right to be there and to exist and has a right to defend itself and ensure Gaza isn't a threat to it ever again.

You can not claim to be neutral and then advocate for the continued killing of Gazans no more so if you said the same about killing israelis. If you support the war against Gaza you are not in any world neutral.

Perhaps when the israelis attempt to deport the Gazans we will see who are the true humanitarians on the Israeli side