Alph

Irony when the leader of democracy overrules the decision of the many.

The reason being a ceasefire now would leave Hamas standing. A pathetic case. America sells Israel these dumb bombs and claims to care about Palestinian civilians. Has anyone seen the amount of explosives dumped on Gaza put into context? And even when Palestinians die in their thousands they have to face the indignity of "they're faking it" stories. Which is ironic. When it comes to debunked claims it's actually belly laugh funny that anybody could take anything Israel say seriously. There's sooooo many lies that they're exposed for. Things they delete, backtrack on, call a mistake (but don't remove) etc etc. I'm guessing these private theatre showings for journalists don't include the footage of a Palestinian man digging his two dead little girls out of rubble? Maybe they were "dolls" too?? Suppose it's hard to get hold of some footage with all the journalists being killed. 5,000 Hamas dead? That's Israel's numbers which we know their maths isn't always too hot. Only 30k/35k left. Assuming the half million men of fighting age fully understand why they lost their entire family and face a future living in a tent without food and water. They'll be fine with it. Israel has a right to self defence

Well the ICJ ruled against their claims if that counts for anything anymore. Probably not This comes back to the British Empire too doesn't it? It's a tough gig Imperialism. I don't know why everyone fancies a shot at it. Thought Venezuela was under strict sanctions already? What they going to do when America hits them with more? Flirt with China, Russia, Iran?

There's plenty more of this on his channel if you have the stomach.

Give up hope all together. That's the utterly depressing reality We are so polarised. Our hate and fear is so easy to weaponize. What does your average Israeli Jew want? Peace, wealth and health. You're average Palestinian Muslim? Peace, wealth, health. Neither want war. Yet somehow we get the many to want to kill each other for the benefit of the few. Amazing really. But this conflict... Hate and loss is runs so deep that I don't think there will ever be peace. Israel and Palestine appeal to the worst in each other. Like this thread really. You see how it escalates. Pointing fingers about who's done the most wrong. Justifying violence. It just gets hold of you. What? Are both sides going to back track and offer a brotherly hand out. Learn that you can live side by side? No chance. The damage is irreparable Depressing as feck.

This above image imo is genocidal talk. And there's plenty more where these come from. These aren't even the worst. Smotrich has plenty of gems and Netenyahu referenced Amalek which is bizarre All far more prejudice than anything I imagine Lineker saying. But I can't be sure because I don't pay any attention to him to be honest. As for genocide, I read this earlier https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/10/opinion/israel-gaza-genocide-war.html Interesting it mentions the Rome Statute which Israel didn't sign off on. Along with America, Russia and Sudan. Now that article concludes that technically, no, this isn't genocide. If the greatest offence in all this to anybody is that it's wrongly being called a genocide when it's more just crimes against humanity, maybe a touch of ethnic cleansing, then I think they need to fix their moral compass. Also, I saw a comparison between the civilian death rate of this war and other horrific wars. 1% of Gaza population is dead. It isn't a comparison Israel would want to be seen but I've not actually got the data and I'm at work so not got time to search it out

I wonder if these are some of those who bribed their way out. Didn't Zelensky sack every recruitment officer or something? One had managed to get himself a nice villa in Portugal I think. 5m in his bank account. Tens of thousands fled illegally through the corrupt system. "Treason" was the word Zelensky used. Not that I blame them, like. I just wonder what the future holds for them. Might be best off catching the night bus into Hanley to gain some essential survival skills.

@Ramarena Credible? Could we see peace talks at the end of Biden's time?

Great fight this weekend. Haney v Prograis. I like Prograis a lot. Seems like a good bloke, and guarantee win or lose he'll give it everything. I know Haney is a class boxer but I don't know if he could out fight Prograis. Hope it turns into a street scrap. I think Prograis stands a good chance then

Hamas militants killed I've seen figures as low as 1,000 to as high as 5,000

What's the plan when everyone is in the South of the strip? Do they send them back north again? Hand out sand and cement bags? Massive take up on the construction courses at Gaza College in 2024.

It only makes sense if the aim is to push Palestinians out of Gaza completely and force them into Sinai. That's not the stated aim though. Israel have hit 400 targets since the pause that was never a pause. 400 what? Because the Al Shifa hospital was a major command point and in the end every piece of evidence was so weak and at times laughable. Absolute nothing you could ever prove in a court. What's the human cost to destroy Hamas? How many Hamas are left? Dunno and dunno. Trust me bro.

I'm not one. I've seen them. People hate Jews. People hate Muslims. I'm not sure what more I can do to show my disgust at Hamas. I made myself sit through the footage and it's so bad. But no matter what I think of Hamas, I still understand why they exist. Why Palestinians support them. And why they can't be defeated like this. However, seeing the things I saw didn't change any of my feelings towards Israel. Not all of Israel. There's plenty in Israel who I share views with. But Netenyahu and his mob? I also see the footage of what the IDF do. And I don't have to pick between Hamas and IDF/Likud. I can be disgusted by both and call both out. My bias is with Palestinians I'm afraid. I don't see why that's a problem to anybody. They're subjected to so much suffering.

No, I didn't say that. And you know I didn't. But it's easier to gaslight me like that rather than answer the many questions I have about Israel. So I repeat. Again and again hoping at some point it will get through to you. I have seen the videos from October 7th. I can't put into words how disturbing they are. The very nastiest stuff you could imagine. A beheading with what looks like a trowel is a particularly detailed part. I condemn Hamas. Feck Hamas. How many times do I have to say it. I said it on page 1 and I've been saying it ever since. I don't support Hamas. But Palestinians are not Hamas. I'm not interested in whether it's Palestinians being burned alive in West Bank/bombed in Gaza or whether it's Jews being handed live grenades. I'm not measuring terror against terror. That was my entire issue with the article I'm simply accusing IDF of terrorising Palestinians in Gaza and in West Bank. Of torture, of murder, of brutality, of humiliation, of stealing etc etc. And I'm asking the logic of their current military campaign. Because it's severely severely flawed. And you will say 'time will tell'. And I'm saying by the time we can tell if Israel were justified or not it will be too late for thousands and thousands and thousands of innocent Palestinians. We don't know how many but we do know Netenyahu said he will destroy Hamas and "nothing will stand in our way". So there's no limits for Netenyahu. Are there any for you?

Just to add, before somebody says the purpose of that article is to call an end to the the blame game. Why did it go into so much detail on the horrors of the 7th? Is it suggesting people don't care? Forgot? Support Hamas? It's saying people "secretly" don't consider those 1,200 people victims? Hmm. Ironic way to call and end to the ghoulish competition and bat away the pretend argument that "where any empathy shown to dead Israelis somehow leaves less available for Palestinians" I thought it was just me that twists and distorts opposing views?

Someone complaining about whataboutism with an argument purely based in whataboutery And I'm antagonistic? Just adding "context" again eh. This is the thing. I've seen the videos from October 7th. Like I've actually seen them. Has anyone else out of interest? Would you like to know the gory details? Would you like me to post some stuff on here that I guarantee you'll watch once and your mind will revisit it for days, weeks and occasionally for years. Feck Hamas. Nobody is comparing evil to evil. Well, you are actually in this article. Ironically. Feck Hamas. Feck Hamas. Feck Hamas. Likewise who wants to see some videos from West Bank. You've seen the mass graves in Gaza? The dead babies? The Palestinians released from prisons, some without charge, who have been tortured? Now do you want to see some videos and pics of Settler violence? Do you want to see what happens in Jenin? Does anybody here need proof of IDF barbarity? No. It servers zero purpose except to join in with The Guardian nonsense and continue the tit for tat escalation that apparently is mostly down to me. So, let's accept Hamas are evil. I'm cool with that. Now, can we hold IDF to the same standards? Are they terrorists? If not then why not? Then can we examine quotes by the likes of Netenyahu and Smotrich and all the other thugs? Tell me if these words carry more threat and are more antagonistic than anything some knob head has ever said on a football forum. And the reason I ask you to examine this is because next I'd ask again what are Israel really trying to achieve? Wipe out Hamas? Consider this approach when used in other cases. Consider that Hamas is an ideology. Consider that Hamas isn't the only organisation that threatens Israel. Consider what happens to the millions of effected Palestinians who have no security and lose their homes and loved ones So, with that considered. Are Israel justified by their actions in Gaza and West Bank? Both? Neither? It often feels like this thread must have a lot of hidden posts where people are defending Hamas. Because I know I could sit here all day condemning Hamas. But if anybody actually does want peace then you have to understand them. Know why they exist. Know how to take power and influence away from them. Or just keep killing those who we don't agree with and give them nothing. Manifest Destiny innit

I'm struggling to come to terms with the loss of Nobel Peace Prize winner Henry Kissinger. True American hero.

You don't see Israel escalating the conflict? This is why I asked what Israel are trying to achieve in Gaza right now because I think it's fair to say Hamas are gaining more support and in the long term at least will come back stronger? That's how this thread became so heated but I hope I can get my tone across here that I'm trying to discuss and I'm not telling you your wrong. I'm trying to understand the logic of Israel. I suppose what's done is done anyway and if we are talking about moving forward then from this ceasefire we would need to get Fatah and Israeli government to the table. Couple of problems with that are that many Palestinians accuse Abbas and Fatah of being sympathetic to the Occupation, of corruption etc. I'm not saying they're right or wrong. But it's a stumbling block because of the view that this government doesn't have the best interest of Palestinians at heart. So I don't know how they combat that? The other obviously is the right wing Zionists in Israel. It's hard to imagine that Netenyahu and Co can be the ones to negotiate. Is that fair to say? It has to be those within Israel that oppose Netenyahu? Too much damage has been done by him and his allies to possibly be the ones to find peace? It's really hard to know if my tone is coming across as aggressive. I can only hope it isn't. I'm not the most eloquent poster!!

This is the point which it can easily dissolve back into tit for tat because I don't think there is any chance of peace without assurances from Israel. And I know you think that might be my bias but please hear me out and tell me where you disagree. You can't ask Hamas or Palestinians to stop fighting. Well, you can. But they will always say that until the Occupier returns what they have taken then they will stand against Israel, no? They will, whether we agree or not, point to the settlements and Gaza. This is where I think I'll get grief again because I'm putting the ball in Israel's court. Being the military power, being the occupier or whatever less offensive term is I think they have to offer the Palestinians something. Not Hamas. But work towards a Palestinian State and work with Palestinian Authority. All the while they'll come under attack. But I don't see another solution. Fatah and Israel have to be brought to the table and Israel will have to give the Palestinians more than they would like to. And the Palestinians would have to take less than they'd like. And then it's vital that whatever provocations, Israel deal with settler violence. They can't control Hamas but they can control that. Then, as I've maintained and nobody has put an argument against it, Hamas can't be destroyed by Israel. It's an ideology and will always return in one form of another. Because of angry Palestinians. Because of Iran etc. So the only way to remove Hamas is to get Palestinians to reject them. To reduce Hamas influence over Palestinians until they're such a pathetic force maybe Israel will be able to strike at. And Palestinians will feel less like Hamas is there only guard against illegal and aggressive occupation (that's how they see it) This has been my view from the start and I've been guilty of going in hard at Israel. But genuinely just trying to get the point that they are the power here and it has to be them that make the first move. I know that's not always been the case. I know Arab nations around them, particularly one, if they were in Israel's position then Gaza would be flat packed. I know nations like America and Iran etc have their own agenda. I hope this time I haven't come across as ranting. I'm all ears for what other avenues we could go down. I know it will take years to get through a process. I've just never heard much of an alternative. It breaks into "well you did this" and "you did that" and "well we offered this before" and "you've never offered anything that you didn't steal"

Then my next question would be do you think Israel's recent actions are ultimately going to save lives or extend and intensify the conflict? I know Hamas actions on October 7th certainly extended and intensified the conflict. I don't want you to think I'm suggesting Israel shouldn't react at all.

I think this is why there's an argument that the terms 'terrorism' and 'terrorist' have lost their value and are used more often to kind of support a narrative. This isn't about to be some defence of Hamas by the way. There are many cases of attacks on military targets we label terrorism and then attacks on civilian infrastructure that are considered collateral damage. I'm not sure how you measure it. I'm genuinely asking, if you take into account some of the comments from Israeli government and look at the pattern of attacks on Gaza could that be considered terrorism (an unlawful use of violence in pursuit of political aims)? Because we have to consider that Hamas are hidden in a densely populated area. And then we have the actions in West Bank which imo are more controversial I would call Hamas terrorists all day long by the way. All day every day. Expand this and as mentioned... Hiroshima? The Napalm Strikes and Agent Green in Vietnam? Dresden? The drone strikes in Afghanistan/Iraq? The Russian bombardment of Ukrainian Cities? Where's the line and who decides? In your opinion what would you say?

I said you dismissed Ilan Pappe? You gave him a score of 6/10. You posted supportive angles for the Iraq and Afghan wars including in the Ukraine thread ref drone strikes? Were cynical about Iranian chances of a democracy and implied that people think a Palestinian State would be an easy objective. You've not spoken up for Palestinians until today and so today I think I've tried to meet you on common ground? You refused the idea that Hamas might have predicted the Israeli response and played on it accordingly. I don't have access to your podcasts and articles. I have no idea who you are? All I have to go on is what I see here? So if you've spoken on behalf of Palestinians before then how would I know? On here you've not been impartial? And now, again as I try to bring it back to a reasonable debate you do a little diva strop? Which is fine by the way. But if you're refusing to engage with me then please extend that to not speaking about my views. I'm not interested in keep doing this tit for tat stuff. If people want to meet on common ground and hold Israel, IDF and Palestinians and Hamas to the same standards then I will take on board their views and discuss in a calm manner. But if they're going to just "add context" on behalf of Israel then of course, being pro Palestinian, I'll argue my case. Again, a reasonable response. Stop being a diva.

Does this mean we won't be friends? On a serious note though. I explained that I was annoyed with how dismissive you are. That's it. Comments like "Land Grab" and "won't be the land of milk and honey" rubbed me the wrong way. I try to bring it back to reasonable debate and you won't engage. I don't mind but let it go or engage. Don't keep mentioning me unless you will engage with the reasonable posts to you and Crewton