Hamas strike on Israel

Hostages are leverage for Hamas, without them Israel has carte blanche as you say.

As an armed force, they have demonstrated they are not to be messed with by other nation-states. Be it Iran, Syria or Lebanon, or even Hamas.

The question was why other Arab nations don't threaten Israel, and they seem very quiet on the issue of Gaza, more so than we in the West.

Do you disagree?

Ah ok . Fair play to them.

The International rules like rules and principles of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, international humanitarian law, international human rights law etc.

The 'rule of law' was in relation to the simple example you were happy to indulge in until is suited you not to. There are international rules and laws that are to be adhered to, if Israel get a pass on having to abide by them then they should be put in the bin

The flippant "Gardai/strongly worded letter" remark, although intending to add weight to your argument doesn't really work -yes there should have been a 'policing' force sent in - The UN. The writing was on the wall for innocent civilians when Hamas attacked in '23. Everyone knew it would be open season for Israeli retribution. This was another instance where the UN should have stepped in.

By excusing Israeli actions today in relation to the hostages, you are also legitimising Hamas/terrorist organisations reacting in the same manner; why should they have relied on diplomacy/rule of law in relation to the hostages Israel held/hold pre & post October 2023?

Before October '23 they held about 5000 Palestinian prisoners - roughly 1200 or so held without trial or charge so in effect hostages. Post Oct '23 they've gone to 10,000 Palestinian prisoners with 3,000 odd being held under 'administrative charge'; i.e. without charge/trial/reason.

I'll go back to February/March this year; The Israeli hostages were to be returned through a negotiated ceasefire yet Israel were the ones to break the agreement and ensure that they did not return. Don't tell me that the hostages are Israel's priority.

The equivalent would be like saying Gazan society is sick and depraved because of Hamas and their actions.

There's plenty on this thread, even within the last 24 hours who have said precisely the same;

"Nothing stopping the Gazans rising up against Hamas" - Can we apply the same to the Israeli populce as well if they want the war to end? Nothing stopping them either.

"If the Gazans don't accept it, f**k em"………some people are happy with this "solution" but tell us again about the posts with racist tone and manner.

Except Hamas are an armed group that violently took over the gaza strip. The majority of the population of gaza have never voted for them. And even the ones that did vote for them, didn't vote for a violent takeover.

Israel voted in the current government. No, not everyone voted in Bibi. But Israeli society bear more responsibility for him and his actions than Palestinians do for Hamas.

The Israeli public has voted parties in that have continued the policy of taking land in the West Bank for decades. The Israelis do not want peace and the majority do not believe in the two state solution. This cant all be blamed on Bibi.

The Palestinians and Israelis attitudes are their own obstacles to peace.

Front page of the Daily Express today in Britain and if you know the DE, that is some movement from them

ITV ripped Lammy to bits. Strange going on, you have a human rights lawyer who does not know what genocide is as PM and this guy who does not know what apartheid is as foreign minister

I have to question do Likud and the far right really want to see the back of the Iranian regime and an end to the likes of Hamas in the long term. I mean with no bogeyman to point to what excuse can they use to not advance a two state solution. The likes of France and Britain say they are holding off on recognising a Palestinian stage but so long as Likud are in power there will never be a right time regardless of who runs Gaza. I would like to believe that a two state solution is still possible if Likud and Hamas are off the stage.

How can they possibly speak with any moral authority on any future conflict? Are they banking on people having the memory of a goldfish? The disturbing truth is that concern for civilians is predicated on geo political concerns not on any moral principle. Why else was Ursula appalled by Russia attacking civilian infrastructure in Ukraine but remained silent when Israel was doing it.