[News] Middle East conflict

[Horses Arse]

Spot on from someone at the UN.

“The current wholesale slaughter of the Palestinian people, rooted in an ethno-nationalist colonial settler ideology, in continuation of decades of their systematic persecution and purging, based entirely upon their status as Arabs … leaves no room for doubt.”

Mokhiber added: “This is text book case of genocide” and said the US, UK and much of Europe were not only “refusing to meet their treaty obligations” under the Geneva Conventions but were also arming Israel’s assault and providing political and diplomatic cover for it.

 

[borat]

Clearly doesn't matter to the Israeli's how many children or women they kill just as long as they can justify the strike for taking out a SINGLE Hamas member. Nothing but terrorists which our government are supporting.

And that assumes we believe Israel that a Hamas member was at the camp rather than the explanation being a post war crime justification.

Israel can somehow locate a single Hamas member in a refugee camp, yet were unable to detect the preparation and implementation of a wider attack involving many Hamas members.

 

[Bakero]

Spot on from someone at the UN.

“The current wholesale slaughter of the Palestinian people, rooted in an ethno-nationalist colonial settler ideology, in continuation of decades of their systematic persecution and purging, based entirely upon their status as Arabs … leaves no room for doubt.”

Mokhiber added: “This is text book case of genocide” and said the US, UK and much of Europe were not only “refusing to meet their treaty obligations” under the Geneva Conventions but were also arming Israel’s assault and providing political and diplomatic cover for it.

Just to add, he was able to speak so candidly as this was his final communication before stepping down, having reached retirement age.
Predictably, his words have had a mixed reception: praise in some quarters, accusations of anti-Semitism from others. It seems those in the latter group have taken umbrage at his advocacy of a one-state solution.

 

[Horses Arse]

Just to add, he was able to speak so candidly as this was his final communication before stepping down, having reached retirement age.
Predictably, his words have had a mixed reception: praise in some quarters, accusations of anti-Semitism from others. It seems those in the latter group have taken umbrage at his advocacy of a one-state solution.

Yes, early retirement I believe. Such a shame that political pressure to support Israel despite everything that happens prevents such thoughts being expressed.

 

[Bakero]

Yes, early retirement I believe. Such a shame that political pressure to support Israel despite everything that happens prevents such thoughts being expressed.

Working for the UN must be frustrating at times as the veto system reduces them to a debating society.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I wouldn't be too surprised by our Government's support really. Nothing much changes.

UK apology sought for British war crimes in Palestine

A 300-page dossier details atrocities by British soldiers against Palestinians during UK rule.

www.bbc.com

And if anyone wants to just dismiss that as all in the past. Then you can read this from today as well.

King Charles expresses "deepest regret" for Kenya colonial wrongdoings

King Charles said on Tuesday he felt the "greatest sorrow and deepest regret" for atrocities suffered by Kenyans during their struggle for independence from British colonial rule.

www.reuters.com

I am not sure what apologizing for our colonialism has to do with demanding a ceasefire in someone else's war.

 

[borat]

I am not sure what apologizing for our colonialism has to do with demanding a ceasefire in someone else's war.

It's not strictly speaking someone else's war though is it and we have contributed to the current state of affairs.

The Balfour declaration helped facilitate the Nakba and death and displacement of Palestinians.

We sell arms (almost half a billions worth in last 8 years) and also give significant political support to Israel. Both main UK parties give unflinching support to Israel regardless of what they do.

We help facilitate and maintain the Israeli occupation and Apartheid so cant glibly call it "someone else's war"

 

[nicko31]

It's not strictly speaking someone else's war though is it and we have contributed to the current state of affairs.

The Balfour declaration helped facilitate the Nakba and death and displacement of Palestinians.

We sell arms (almost half a billions worth in last 8 years) and also give significant political support to Israel. Both main UK parties give unflinching support to Israel regardless of what they do.

We help facilitate and maintain the Israeli occupation and Apartheid so cant glibly call it "someone else's war"

Hard to disagree we're far from a neutral player, International law and convention applies when it suits us.

 

[Zeberdi]

I am not sure what apologizing for our colonialism has to do with demanding a ceasefire in someone else's war.

I agree - Absolutely nothing in terms of getting us out of the current situation and Britain has not been directly responsible for daily horrors that have characterised life in the OPT for innocent Palestinians or innocent Israeli’s that have died - however, I think @borat is right to remind us though (yet again on this thread!) , that (setting aside ‘colonial’, ‘post-war‘ Europe), Britain’s relationship with Israel has been inextricably linked in the past 70+ plus years of the conflict - both politically and militarily as I and other have pointed out above - in particular as I said earlier by arming her with tanks during the 1967 6 Day war that enabled the illegal Occupation of non-Israel Palestine .

We can not, as some poster was suggesting on another thread, treat this war as something a/ we have had no part in creating the conditions for b/ something we should not care about because it’s happening thousands of miles away ‘to Jews and Arabs’

It effects us both from a geo-political pov and also directly effects citizens in the UK - especially Jewish and our very significant Muslim communities.

It’s not helpful imo to start raking over the ills of the British empire or western colonialism prior to 1947 -where would you start to untangle our historical influence on the world from contemporary conditions - look at the map - !? it moves the dialogue too far away from current atrocities being committed by Israel now and by Hamas by getting stuck too much on this - but it is pertinent, I think, to have a basic contextual understanding of the modern geo-political relationship that the UK (and the US have with Israel, if only to appreciate the complexity

(Btw, Israel was selling arms to Argentina while Thatcher was dealing with the Falklands war and Israel was occupying Beirut and overseeing massacres of Palestinians in Lebanese refugee camps.)

British Empire | History, Countries, Map, Size, & Facts | Britannica

British Empire, a worldwide system of dependencies—colonies, protectorates, and other territories—that over a span of some three centuries was brought under the sovereignty of the crown of Great Britain and the administration of the British government. Learn more about the British Empire in this...

www.britannica.com

I dont know why the image map above was removed from my post - it is clearly an educational resource, open access material, available to share and print without permission! No copyright infringement afaiwa and filed under commons.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I do not support the current carnage and indiscriminate maiming and killing of children. It is sickening.

But I'm not standing along side people shouting 'death to Israel' and 'Jihad'. I'm not on the 'side' of Hamas either.

I'm not sure what I can do as an individual other than emote.

And I've not spoken to one of my brothers, who blames Israel for all of this, and logically 'understands why' Hamas launched the recent attack, for what it is worth (nothing).

It is all so tragic. I am not at a loss to see how this will end any way other than badly. Horribly. It is very hard to be unable to do anything that would make a meaningful difference.

 

[AK74]

...where would you start to untangle our historical influence on the world from contemporary conditions...

As there are only 22 countries [out of 195] which Britain hasn't invaded or fought conflicts in, it's small wonder that other nations aren't exactly thrilled when we show up offering to show them the errors of their ways in the modern era.

 

[Simster]

Working for the UN must be frustrating at times as the veto system reduces them to a debating society.

I noticed that Turkey approached Russia only yesterday about setting up a UN alternative for precisely this reason.

I'm not sure why they went to Russia with it - the Russians are one of the nations with a veto! You'd think anyone outside those 5 nations would be a bit more sympathetic.

 

[sparkie]

Is thinking 'both sides are as bad as each other' both anti-semitic and islamophobic at the same time ?

Because that's where my thoughts are heading.

Enough.

 

[Zeberdi]

Is thinking 'both sides are as bad as each other' both anti-semitic and islamophobic at the same time ?

Because that's where my thoughts are heading.

Enough.

No - those terms would be misplaced in this context - if you are referring specifically to the bombardment of innocent civilians by Israeli government or the atrocities carried out by Hamas - criticism of either side is just being humane.

 

[Albion my Albion]

And that assumes we believe Israel that a Hamas member was at the camp rather than the explanation being a post war crime justification.

Israel can somehow locate a single Hamas member in a refugee camp, yet were unable to detect the preparation and implementation of a wider attack involving many Hamas members

Hamas attacked Israel without any regard at all for civilian casualties. They are terrorists that purposefully took hostages. The Israelis are fighting a war. Whether they were prepared for the attack by Hamas has nothing to do with the need to take out the Hamas leaders. Don't cleanse the Hamas leaders of their sins because they are hiding among their civilians! Those Hamas leaders are the true cowards of the situation. They want to fight a war with only one side playing by the rules of war.

 

[borat]

Hamas attacked Israel without any regard at all for civilian casualties. They are terrorists that purposefully took hostages. The Israelis are fighting a war. Whether they were prepared for the attack by Hamas has nothing to do with the need to take out the Hamas leaders. Don't cleanse the Hamas leaders of their sins because they are hiding among their civilians!

You missed the point of my post. Please reread.

 

[rippleman]

How anyone living in the free country we do, or even those elsewhere who post on here, can look at tonight's pictures on the news of Gaza and say it is deserved are deluded. Lives of innocent people are being exterminated by evil.

To be fair, I think it's only really the government and Sir Starmer who are of the mind that it is deserved.

No right-thinking person with a jot of empathy and compassion would take the view that the brutal, vicious assault on innocent Palestinians, particularly children, by the State of Israel is deserved.

 

[carlzeiss]

Not sure exactly how this helps the Palestinians

Now a THIRD McDonald's is hit by pro-Palestine mice attack

A masked gang of pro-Palestine activists hurled rodents at a third McDonald's restaurant in Birmingham while chanting and flag-waving in protest at the fast food chain's alleged support of Israel.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Krafty]

To be fair, I think it's only really the government and Sir Starmer who are of the mind that it is deserved.

No right-thinking person with a jot of empathy and compassion would take the view that the brutal, vicious assault on innocent Palestinians, particularly children, by the State of Israel is deserved.

Yes exactly, I do think some users on here do think the assault on innocent Palestinians is deserved though.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Not sure exactly how this helps the Palestinians

Now a THIRD McDonald's is hit by pro-Palestine mice attack

A masked gang of pro-Palestine activists hurled rodents at a third McDonald's restaurant in Birmingham while chanting and flag-waving in protest at the fast food chain's alleged support of Israel.

www.dailymail.co.uk

It obviously isn't designed to directly 'help' anyone. Stop Oil protesters throwing orange powder over a tennis court, do not think that direct act is going to stop the Maldives sinking into the ocean.

Surely like any other direct protest, it is just designed to grab headlines and thus raise awareness, of their cause (in this case Israel's treatment of the Palestinians, and McDonald's perceived support of the Israeli regime).