Israel/Palestine Thread

Ozymandius2011 · 20-06-2026 08:31PM

Lord Ian Austin, the UK trade envoy to Israel, is an outspoken defender of Israel. While David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, was calling Israel's actions in Gaza "monstrous and extremist" last year, Austin was in Israel promoting projects including in Haifa.

The letter said Austin did not regard Gaza as occupied for the past 18 years, referred to the UN’s Palestinian relief agency Unrwa as terrorists, opposed the UK’s suspension of arms sales to Israel and he had said it was “factually wrong” to claim the West Bank was being concreted over by Israeli settlers.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/28/uk-trade-envoy-lord-austin-visit-israel-talks-suspended-sparks-criticism

Powerful article by Geoffrey Robertson KC on the Elbit case and the irregularities in the case.

Judge Johnson had forbade the defence from telling the jury they had a right to acquit. The defence lawyer was held in contempt for doing so. The High Court held that Johnson should not have done so. But still this judge was allowed to sentence his clients as terrorists, even though the jury had only found them guilty of criminal damage. This is allowed by the Sentencing Act 2020, which greatly expands the definition of "terrorism".

https://www.theguardian.com/global/commentisfree/2026/jun/20/elbit-four-law-jurors-criminal-damage-terrorism

Enduro · 21-06-2026 12:40AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124565443#Comment_124565443

Oh, thanks for that second link. One of the accused is a child of a friend of mine, and whilst I have gotten some details about what was happening in the case, there were reporting restrictions in place, so I have only been getting sporadic updates, and kept my trap firmly shut about the case. The defence was very restricted about the nature of the arguments they were being allowed to make, so even failure to reach a verdict is a big result.

Ozymandius2011 · 21-06-2026 02:22AM

Mona Khalil, a turtle conservationist known as the David Attenborough of Lebanon, has been killed in an Israeli airstrike.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2068011451487309959

StarryPlough01 · 21-06-2026 12:49PM

Unicef’s spokesperson James Elder says 265 children have been killed in Gaza since ceasefire in October 2025:

“Gaza: Sneeze and you might get shot, warns UNICEF in alert on child killings”
By Daniel Johnson, Geneva 19 June 2026
https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/06/1167760

"Briefing journalists in Geneva via video from Amman, the UNICEF aid veteran noted that the children “were not killed in a warzone” but rather in their homes, schools while playing football or fishing. ⬅️
“They were shot, they were bombed, they were struck by quadcopters” operated by the Israeli military, Mr. Elder continued.
[...]
“I talk to mothers who have children screaming because they don't have the clean water to wash [their skin]. Imagine a parent unable to fix that night after night,” Mr. Elder said. “The scale of human suffering in Gaza being inflicted upon Gaza and enabled by others on Palestinian children, it's almost beyond comparison in our lifetime.”
"Today, nearly 1.9 million people have been displaced in Gaza, many repeatedly, while more than 1.2 million have lost their homes.

Odhinn · 22-06-2026 04:00PM

Ceasefire?

"Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed at least six people, including an Al
Jazeera cameraman and at least one child, according to health officials
and rescuers."

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gy26p6pwzo

Odhinn · 22-06-2026 11:16PM

A striking opinion piece from Ehud Olmert

https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2026-06-18/ty-article-opinion/.premium/israel-is-conducting-a-systematic-campaign-of-ethnic-cleansing-in-the-west-bank/0000019e-db02-d7a4-a99f-dfce00a20000

mrcheez · 23-06-2026 08:42AM

I was trying to find a photo of the aid being delivered on the Gaza flotilla ships to counter a Zionist claiming they only had "condoms " on board, but curiously I cant find an image of the baby formula etc... which unfortunately promotes the context the Israelis are trying to push

anyone got a link to some images?

Roman Emperor · 23-06-2026 03:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124572677#Comment_124572677

Can't find actual images - but this might be useful - https://www.globalsumudflotilla.org/aid-on-boats/

"Manifests and verification records for each vessel are available upon request."

According to Israeli authorities the payload on the Greta Thunberg vessel was a "symbolic amount" of humanitarian aid and characterized the effort as a publicity stunt.

Given the various flotillas were never going to break the blockade anyway, a symbolic amount of aid would make perfect sense - and, of course, the IDF would steal it anyway.

The Israelis are of course correct in saying the venture was a publicity stunt - but I don't think anyone can deny it was a very successful publicity stunt - the Israeli goons fell in to the trap marvelously.

dmcdona · 23-06-2026 05:38PM

"From the river to the sea" is becoming a reality for Israel - ethnic cleansing and stealing land on steroids. And, totally against International Law.

"How not to win friends and not influence people"

World Pariah

The full content is behind a paywall but here is the Haaretz strapline:

Sometimes, to understand reality, you have to put things on a map. When you look at everything together, events connect and the logic becomes clear. That's what Haaretz just did, and this is what the map tells us: While everyone is busy with wars in Iran, Gaza and Lebanon – a revolution is taking place in the northern West Bank. The Jewish settlers' fantasy is becoming a reality.

At the heart of the drama is the renewal of four settlements that Israel evacuated 20 years ago – and the construction of many new settlements – in an area where 700,000 Palestinians live. But the settlers aren't the only ones arriving: The Israeli army is flooding the zone with forces, establishing new bases to protect the settlements and imposing terror on the lives of Palestinians. Senior IDF officials tell Haaretz this move is a ticking time bomb.

To understand the revolution in depth, we embarked on a months-long investigation, where we also learned how purposeful settlers swept Netanyahu's ruling party from within, and managed to sway an entire government to fulfill their fantasies.

Enduro · 23-06-2026 05:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124574032#Comment_124574032

As I think both of us would expect, Haaratz is bang on here.

I have been surprised for the last 2 years how many people have been so completely obsessed with what's happening in Gaza, that the big picture is missed.

Israel broadly had no interest in Gaza beyond the security aspects. They had dismantled the small number of settlements they had there, and only the more extremist lunatic fringe had any desires to return.

The West Bank is and was different, and there has been slow creeping ethnic cleansing going on there continuously. The noise of Gaza has provided cover to increase that hugely. And it is still getting a lot less attention than Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, even though, IMO, it is the one place where long-term moves are being made.

mrcheez · 23-06-2026 06:30PM

Israel are praying for an uprising in West Bank so they can completely take over "on security grounds"

Tony EH · 23-06-2026 06:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124574163#Comment_124574163

Like they were praying for an uprising in Gaza and Hamas delivered it.

I don't buy the idea that Israel had no interest in Gaza. Getting rid of the Arabs has been at the heart of extremist Jews in Israel for decades. It's certainly been at he heart of Netanyahu's politics since the 70's* and it's part of the reason why Israel was so supportive of Hamas in the first place. A lunatic fringe like Hamas being in Gaza gave the Israeli's a reason to keep it walled off and separated from the west bank where the Palestinian Authority had sway. Israel absolutely did not want that sway to extend to Gaza as well. Splitting power into two entities, even if that meant handing control to Hamas, ensured the death of a two state solution and gave Israel the excuses it needed.

If there's one thing that Israel is good at, it's the long game.

* "In the next war, if we get it right, we'll have a chance to get all the Arabs out... We can clear the West Bank and sort out Jerusalem." - Benjamin Netanyahu

Strazdas · 23-06-2026 07:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124574198#Comment_124574198

On paper, the October 7th terrorist attacks were a 'positive' event politically speaking for Israel in that it gave them the opportunity to commence 'the final solution to the Gaza question'.

In reality though, it has gone horrifically wrong for the regime. Not so much in terms of the genocide in Gaza per se, but pushing Trump into a disastrous war against Iran has left them badly exposed and knowledge of the scale of the genocide has become widespread, through western governments and the media turning against the Israelis.

dmcdona · 23-06-2026 07:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124574090#Comment_124574090

I think Israel has a huge amount of interest in Gaza.

Strategically, very important ( buffer with Egypt, sea frontage). Long coastline (fishing, gas fields), good soil (agriculture), great tourism opportunities and loads of room for the Settlers.

They fully control nearly 70% of it already and there is no sign of them letting go at all. They're even paying terrorists to manage it (again).

I'd say Gaza is a much easier win for Israel than either the West Bank or southern Lebanon at the moment.

Of course, the West Bank is more desirable but taking it is infinitely more difficult than Gaza…

dmcdona · 23-06-2026 07:13PM

Interesting headlines from Haaretz - is Eilat next?

Behind closed doors, Israel's Shin Bet chief David Zini has warned that "the next October 7 will be in Eilat,"Israel's southernmost city, several security sources told Haaretz. Zini is said to have directed the agency's intelligence units to focus on scenarios involving an attack on the resort city, which sits at Israel's borders with Jordan and Egypt, and has instructed senior officials to prioritize preparations for such an event.

The sources said that Zini considers Eilat particularly vulnerable because of its isolated location. However, other officials within Israel's defense establishment who spoke to Haaretz were skeptical about the possibility of such a scenario, and the existence of intelligence that supports Zini's theory.

Another source said that the Shin Bet has recently been examining what it describes as a growing trend of Arab citizens of Israel moving to Eilat, which some agency officials view as "concerning."

Police have also identified the trend, though not everyone in law enforcement sees it as problematic, a senior police official said, adding that "at this stage, we do not identify any security concern here." Last month, Haaretz reported that Zini himself told the Netanyahu government's cabinet several months ago that there was "an attempt by Arabs to take over Eilat."

Police officials said they are more concerned by a different trend: More and more organized crime groups are entering Eilat and purchasing property. Even so, authorities say they have not yet seen an unusual rise in crime.

mrcheez · 23-06-2026 07:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124574226#Comment_124574226

as terrible as the Gaza war is for the people in Gaza, can anyone remember how many mentions of Gaza there were in the years before Oct 7th? Almost none… yet people were regularly shot and it never made the news.

How many countries recognised a Palestinian state?

How many flotillas tried to get in despite the blockade existing for 20 years before.

It's unfortunate it came to this, but it certainly focused the world's attention on Gaza… and ultimately I suppose Hamas won the PR war

dmcdona · 23-06-2026 08:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124574265#Comment_124574265

I think the whole sorry episode has shown the entire world precisely how depraved Israel can be and how downtrodden the Gazans have been.

And for those who didn't know the history of the Palestinians, I'd say a lot more do now.

For those with little interest in the ME, they know Israel is well capable of murdering women and children, medics, humanitarian workers and priests and nuns. Some also know Israel is capable of executing its own too.

Cluedo Monopoly · 23-06-2026 08:57PM

This may have been shared already.

Israel committed genocide in Gaza by deliberately killing Palestinian children, UN inquiry says | The Independent

Israel committed genocide in Gaza by deliberately killing Palestinian children, UN inquiry says

The independent study concludes that the aim of Israel was to destroy the ‘larger Palestinian group in Gaza

Israel has deliberately and intentionally targeted Palestinian children during its military campaign in Gaza, resulting in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, a UN commission of inquiry has said.

A report released on Tuesday says that Israeli authorities and security forces deliberately and intentionally targeted Palestinian children, including after a ceasefire came into effect in October 2025.

It says that Israeli forces "deliberately carried out acts inflicting death and severe bodily and mental harm on hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children", as part of a “deliberate strategy to destroy the future of the Palestinians in Gaza”. Around 30 per cent of those killed in the Gaza war were children, the report found, with a total death toll of at least 20,179 by October 2025.

=====

The independent UN inquiry also found that Israel has committed war crimes in the occupied West Bank.

It follows a report by Unicef on Monday, which said that 265 children have been killed since the ceasefire and that children have been shot, bombed, struck by quadcopters and have also been killed while in their tents, schools and while playing football or fishing.

Are there any posters left who deny reality?

Miniegg · 23-06-2026 10:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124574510#Comment_124574510

How could it be anything but at this stage? It must be hell on earth in Gaza.

Everyone knows what this is, including the posters denying it. I haven't seen a good argument from any of them in over two years to justify their defence of it, just resort to slander and run away. That is never the pov of someone with conviction in their beliefs.

They know what this is and they don't care.

Tony EH · 23-06-2026 11:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124574226#Comment_124574226

…and yet it's Israel that are still coming out on top with regards to its illegal expansion, both throughout Palestine and the Lebanon.

It may be a PR disaster for them, but they'll absorb that with little bother and they've already tried to turn it into a form of propaganda. Everybody hates us because we're Jews, blah, blah, blah.

The biggest losers here are the Arab population in Palestine, who've seen their land and their basic human rights shrink continuously while the world looks on and kicks the dirt sheepishly.

If any other nation on the planet had done what Israel has done, there wouldn't be the tolerance for it that's been shown to them, and they know it too…full well…which is why the likes of Ben-Givir can openly mock Europe. They know that there won't be any real repercussions.

dmcdona · 23-06-2026 11:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124574510#Comment_124574510

Israel's response (in your link - and thanks for sharing - I've seen no mention of it at all until now):

“Israel dismisses this libellous sham,” it said in a statement, adding that “every child deserves protection”.

Just like Hind Rajab did. Six year old girl slaughtered by the crew of four in their 60 ton Merkava Battle Tank.

Does Israel think the rest of the world is entirely effing stupid?

Ozymandius2011 · 23-06-2026 11:51PM

Today Parliament debated a petition on Israeli influence in UK politics. Several MPs predictably called it "anti Semitic". A minister, Frith, who was asked did he accept Israel had committed genocide in Gaza said he did not.

I'm not that optimistic things will change under Burnham, but we will see. Burnham failed to say Israel had committed genocide recently.

A lot of those on the other side were Muslim MPs. It's disappointing others did not ask the tough questions of Israel. I think it's easier to do so in constituencies with large Muslim populations. But the Home Secretary is herself a Muslim and is enforcing this awful crackdown on Palestine protests. Before she was Home Secretary she abstained in the vote on proscribing Palestine Action.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/feb/25/home-secretary-granted-permission-appeal-ruling-palestine-action-ban

https://youtu.be/5L2o8FKJmJk?is=QiqEgg8ld5ZrDl1F

Strazdas · 23-06-2026 11:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124575118#Comment_124575118

I'm not so sure. Most people globally now know that the Zionists in Israel are a shower of evil, depraved b*****ds. I would agree completely that everything that is happening currently is a disaster for the Palestinians - but goodness knows what the future holds for that rancid state carrying out the war crimes. It's hard to imagine they can come out of this okay or that they can rehabilitate their image (ever). Even Russia has far better chances of recovering in future.

Roman Emperor · 24-06-2026 12:42AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124575149#Comment_124575149

According to official Israeli figures, over 22,000 Hamas operatives have been killed in Gaza.

To effect this level of annihilation involved the total destruction of 160,000 residential buildings (UN figures).

In other words, to effect the death of just one Hamas operative it required the total destruction of seven homes.

But that wasn't enough for the World's Most Moral Army - a further 300,000 homes suffered varying degrees of damage, 22 of Gaza's 34 hospitals have been rendered entirely non-functional while the remaining 12 have suffered severe damage.

Furthermore, 432 out of 564 of school buildings in Gaza have received a direct hit from American bombs while the vast majority of universities have been either completely destroyed or severely damaged.

Also, over 85% of economic establishments and commercial infrastructure have been either fully demolished or severely damaged.

It doesn't take a genius to see that the professed aim of decimating Hamas was totally secondary to the real mission - to annihilate the entire population of Gaza and to render the territory uninhabitable.

A Dub in Glasgo · 24-06-2026 12:07PM

https://twitter.com/SaulStaniforth/status/2069666943943037161

and what kind of society elects such leaders… Israel is a sick and depraved society

dePeatrick · 24-06-2026 05:40PM

https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/24/israel-democratic-party-new-york-primaries-00973287

Pro-Israel politics just took a huge hit in New York

Progressives critical of Israel swept a trio of House races in the home of the nation’s largest Jewish population — a stunning shift that carries national implications for the party.

At least is the right direction.

z80CPU · 24-06-2026 06:07PM

And a Coffee shop banned a Jewish Congressman because of the Israeli Genocide.

behind a paywall but posting URL to show I'm not making it up

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/23/new-york-lawmaker-cafe-banned-pro-israel-view

A Dub in Glasgo · 24-06-2026 06:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124576953#Comment_124576953

Well he is supporting genocide and I am sure some nazi supporters were banned in the 1940s

Goldman in May attended the Israel Day parade in New York City, which was also attended by Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli far-right finance minister.

Smotrich has described himself as a “proud homophobe”, and he has called for the destruction of Gaza and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian villages in the West Bank. Goldman after the parade said he was “proud” to have attended and to “celebrate the nation and state
of Israel”, which he described as “distinct from its government”.

Strazdas · 24-06-2026 10:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124576887#Comment_124576887

Israel is rapidly becoming a busted flush in the US. The message is going out that any politician who strongly supports Israel and Netanyahu is probably deeply corrupt and very possibly on their payroll.

dmcdona · 25-06-2026 07:33AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124575934#Comment_124575934

Israel is morally lost.

Until and unless its people root out and overthrow the warmongers, those who fully support war crimes and Genocide and those who turn a blind eye to the depravity, it will remain lost.

International support for the regime is increasingly evaporating. Even if they stop the atrocities right now, the chances of any kind of quick rehabilitation are beginning to vanish.

The world will not forget.

Israel/Palestine Thread

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