Israel/Palestine Thread

Ozymandius2011 · 29-03-2026 07:08PM

Israel blocks senior church officials entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass on so called security grounds.

https://jrnl.ie/6997729

Fann Linn · 29-03-2026 07:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349598#Comment_124349598

I'm surprised they didn't just let them in and then bomb it.

dmcdona · 29-03-2026 07:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349602#Comment_124349602

Or perhaps arrest them and subject them to torture and rape for a few months?

dmcdona · 29-03-2026 07:20PM

Gaza Genocide going swimmingly too:

"Gaza's civil defence agency said that nine people were killed in Israeli strikes in the south of the Palestinian territory.

On Saturday evening, "Israeli strikes hit police posts... in the Al-Mawasi area" killing eight, said Mohammed al-Mughair, an official at the agency which operates under Hamas authority.

Another person was killed earlier "after being hit by fire from Israeli forces" at a roundabout in Khan Yunis, Mughair said.

According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, a young girl was among the dead last night."

https://www.rte.ie/news/post/104889348

dmcdona · 29-03-2026 08:30PM

Given that children have been accused of "terror" offences simply by throwing stones, I guess Israeli Morgues are smacking their lips at the pending increase in business.

"Israel's Knesset National Security Committee has approved a proposed death penalty bill against Palestinian detainees. It will now advance to a final vote expected next week.

The bill aims to allow for the execution of Palestinian prisoners convicted of terror offences. Pushed by the current far-right Israeli government, it would introduce a mandatory death penalty that does not require judicial unanimity, with executions to be carried out by hanging within 90 days of confirmation by the Israeli Prison Service.

Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem said "Israel is already killing Palestinians on a regular basis, …with close to zero accountability" and has described the bill as "… another tool in this toolbox"."

https://www.rte.ie/news/middle-east/2026/0329/1565585-death-penalty-israel/

Billy Mays · 29-03-2026 10:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124349323#Comment_124349323

Judeo-Christian principles 🙄

wildgreen · 30-03-2026 09:02AM

The spineless West continues to ignore Israel's theft of Palestinian land.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Day

https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2024/02/land_governance_and_land_rights_in_palestine_analysis_and_recommendations.pdf

Land management and administration in Palestine operates in a unique context due to the numerous challenges imposed by the continuing Israeli occupation since 1948. The ongoing confiscation of land, demolition of houses, imposition of closures, sieges of urban areas, control of the resources required for sustainable development and the division of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip into three areas (A, B and C) after the 1995 Oslo interim agreement are some of the most pressing challenges to sustainable land management in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

brickster69 · 30-03-2026 01:16PM

The middle easts only democracy is having a vote today on enabling Palestinian prisoners to be executed. All the crazies seem excited and even got some badges made in anticipation of a positive result.

https://twitter.com/dn_osama_rabee/status/2038503285829603351

T-Maxx · 30-03-2026 04:55PM

Had to double check the date there, I thought this was a bad April's Fool joke.

dmcdona · 30-03-2026 05:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124351339#Comment_124351339

No - they had those pins on a few months back when the bill was first debated.

The irony of a law for the execution of terrorists by hanging when Ben-Gvir is…. a convicted terrorist and racist….

dmcdona · 30-03-2026 07:03PM

Seems this is now a new MO for the IDF. Shoot someone, deny medical assistance and simple let them bleed out.

"The most moral army in the world".

More like the Khmer Rouge.

Haaretz:

A 22-year-old Palestinian man was fatally shot in the southern West Bank overnight into Monday, and his body is being held by the IDF, according to the Health Ministry. Palestinian news outlet Wafa reported that Israeli forces prevented ambulance teams from reaching him to provide medical care until he died.

The IDF has yet to issue a response. Meanwhile, in villages near Bethlehem and Hebron, Palestinian media reported that settlers set vehicles alight and sprayed graffiti in the early morning hours.

dmcdona · 30-03-2026 07:07PM

Aha - so that's why the bill of the death penalty only covers Palestinian terrorists…

Seems Herzog is ignoring 600 former security officials including Mossad. But I guess hanging a load of Jewish Settlers really wouldn't be a good look.

Haaretz:

President Isaac Herzog condemned what he described as a "surge of violence by extremist elements" in the West Bank while refraining from calling the phenomenon "terror."

According to Herzog, the violence interferes with Israel's efforts to battle "Palestinian terror threats."

Meanwhile, the Commanders for Israel's Security group – which includes around 600 former security officials, among them an ex-Mossad chief – sent a letter to the IDF chief and the head of Central Command to warn of rising "Jewish terrorism."

dmcdona · 30-03-2026 07:09PM

The only democracy in the Middle East? Not according to Haaretz:

"The police's actions are a reminder that it's time to renew the struggle against the government's anti-democracy campaign, curtailment of freedom of expression and political persecution, because the war is being exploited as a means of controlling the public sphere" – Haaretz Editorial

dmcdona · 30-03-2026 07:16PM

This is a very interesting piece.

Settlements and draft dodgers get a cool $250 million. Nice.

Not sure how Lapid didn't know Likud were a "gang of thieves" though - their leader is before the Israeli courts for corruption and bribery and is wanted in The Hague to answer for War Crimes.

Haaretz:

Just hours before the Knesset faced dissolution and the prospect of early elections, PM Netanyahu's coalition pushed through Israel's 2026 state budget overnight into Monday and duplicitously managed to funnel an estimated 800 million shekels ($250 million) in additional funding to the ultra-Orthodox community.

The coalition submitted last-minute reservations to the budget it had already approved, and opposition lawmakers, caught off guard, mistakenly believed these were their own amendments and voted in favor. By the time they realized their error several minutes later – at which point they halted automatic voting – the additional funds had already been approved.

Opposition leader Lapid said"nothing like this has ever happened in the history of the Knesset," describing the coalition as a "gang of thieves" that was "looting Israeli citizens while they are in bomb shelters."

Dozens gathered outside the Knesset on Monday morning to demonstrate against the move, with one protester saying the government is "funneling billions to draft-dodgers and settlements" during wartime.

Police arrested five protesters while dispersing the crowd.

wildgreen · 30-03-2026 09:49PM

Red Ribbon Campaign 16-18 April

The Red Ribbon Campaign has today issued an urgent statement calling on the free people of the world to join their planned activities on 16, 17, and 18 April 2026 against Isreal’s plans to execute scores of Palestinian detainees.

The statement said, “We will turn every square, every street, and every digital platform into a space demanding their right to live.”

It continued: “In the darkness of prison cells, among the worst on earth, Palestinian detainees are no longer facing imprisonment and abuse alone; they are confronting a clear and systematic plan of execution. Through the “Red Ribbons” campaign, we declare to the world that the occupation has completed the pillars of its crime. Execution is no longer a passing statement; it has become a reality legitimised by the Knesset and endorsed by judges. Even more alarming, reality has revealed the willingness of “doctors” to participate in carrying out these killings, in a precedent that tramples over all international ethical and medical conventions.”

Odhinn · 30-03-2026 10:05PM

The apartheid state reveals it's nature -

"Israel Passes Bill Mandating Death Penalty for Palestinians Convicted of Lethal Acts of Terrorism

The bill's wording creates a distinction designating it almost exclusively for Palestinian terror, while the ideological burden of proof it sets is expected to make its application to Jewish nationalist terror difficult to impossible"

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-politics/2026-03-30/ty-article/israel-passes-bill-mandating-death-penalty-for-palestinians-convicted-of-terror/0000019d-3f83-d3ba-abbf-bfdfd95c0000

Ozymandius2011 · 31-03-2026 01:34AM

CNN reporting an IDF battalion that attacked their crew has been suspended. They were recorded on video doing it, including soldiers saying "Revenge".

sock.rocker* · 31-03-2026 04:28AM

Israel as usual discovering new depths of depravity. I actually have a lot more respect for Israelis and the IDF than I do for any non-Israeli who of their own volition decides to support them. The former have some excuse being born into it but the latter have none.

Montage of Feck · 31-03-2026 08:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124351969#Comment_124351969

A very sad day for Israel, the pos that put forward that bill called for the death of Yitzhak Rabin before his assassination. The current Israeli government of assorted far right and ultra religious headbangers are more of an existential threat to the State of Israel than Hamas or Hezbollah could ever be.

Bishop of hope · 31-03-2026 08:58AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124352264#Comment_124352264

So you have respect for the IDF and Israel, just none for anyone else that does? Jesus that's a good one!

Fuascailteoir · 31-03-2026 09:03AM

That bill is a conveyor belt for murder. Like something straight out of a Heinrich Himmler playbook

Ozymandius2011 · 31-03-2026 09:33AM

The Times of Israel reports that Israel is operating a parallel import system for Gaza whereby dual use goods that humanitarian aid organisations are not allowed to bring there can be sold to Gaza commercially.

Also reports that Israel believes only 50% of Hamas tunnels on the IDF controlled side have been destroyed.

sock.rocker* · 31-03-2026 09:42AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124352402#Comment_124352402

I have one Israeli friend who was in the IDF and I don't mind that. It's just where he is from. I don't have any non-Israeli friends who support Israel any more. There is no excuse for it.

Bishop of hope · 31-03-2026 10:23AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124352524#Comment_124352524

If you're willing to accept that it's just where they are from, I can't see any reason you'd be in any way critical of them frankly!

igCorcaigh · 31-03-2026 02:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124351969#Comment_124351969

For the sake of argument I'm going to ask a naïve question: setting aside the ethnic discrimination of this law, it would only be applied to those found guilty of committing murder, right? Many countries in the world have the death penalty for murder, I guess?

Timberrrrrrrr · 31-03-2026 02:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124353323#Comment_124353323

The problem there is you have to ask can a Palestinian get a fair trial in Israel?

igCorcaigh · 31-03-2026 03:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124353429#Comment_124353429

Yes, of course, and it's a military trial too, not a jury trial AFAIK. No visitors after verdict! 😮

Odhinn · 31-03-2026 03:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124353323#Comment_124353323

They have, but I can't think of one where there is official approval for such discrimination.

"The death penalty law will institutionalize a state mechanism for executing Palestinians. The law is worded to apply to Palestinians only, and is set to normalize their execution as a common punitive tool through several measures:

The penalty – execution by hanging – must be carried out within 90 days of sentencing, with no possibility of pardon. The death penalty will be determined in military courts where only Palestinians are tried. These courts have an approximately 96% conviction rate, based largely on “confessions” extracted under duress and torture during interrogations.

The death penalty will be the default sentence, and judges will be able to commute it to life imprisonment only in special circumstances. In addition, the judges will no longer be required to reach a unanimous decision. A simple majority will suffice, and once the sentence has been handed down, there will be no possibility of a pardon or any reduction of the sentence."

https://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20260330_israel_turning_execution_of_palestinians_into_official_state_policy