Forum Topic

'Lest we forget'

'On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian nationalist militant groups launched a coordinated armed incursion from the Gaza Strip into the Gaza Envelope of southern Israel, marking the first invasion of Israeli territory since the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. The attack coincided with the Jewish religious holiday Simchat Torah1. The offensive included launching thousands of rockets at targets in central and southern Israel and breaching the border fence between Israel and Gaza. Many women, children and the elderly were sexually assaulted, raped, murdered or taken hostage. Many hostages have still not been released.

John Hawkes ● 23d5 Comments

Many do not seem to appreciate that Israel has been invaded on two fronts and is now in a state of war (though such a state is no longer formally declared and certainly Hamas nor Hizballah did not do so).The perspective given by Mr Rose is unfortunately true and apt in all respects.

John Hawkes ● 22d

Philippa, genocide means the deliberate annihilation of a nation or an ethnic group. Where is the evidence that Israel is trying to exterminate the Palestinian people? Tragically thousands of civilians have died in Gaza, mainly because they have been used as human shields by Hamas who fire from schools, hospitals and residential buildings. But the Israelis do not deliberately target civilians. On the contrary they give warnings to civilians to evacuate areas they intend to bomb. What army has ever done this? Did the Americans give warnings to the citizens of Mosul before bombing the city on 17 March 2017 when between 200 and 300 people died in an attempt to eradicate Isis? Did the RAF warn the citizens of Hamburg before firebombing the city in July and August 1943 when an estimated 46 000 people died, including 21 000 women and 8000 children? What about the raid on Tokyo on 9/10 March 1945 when the Americans killed over 90 000 people? Would you say that Britain and America were guilty of genocide? Or is this just an accusation to be made against the Jews, who were themselves the victims of the greatest genocide in history and are currently fighting an enemy, Hamas, whose constitution advocates the extermination of the Jewish people?

Steven Rose ● 23d

I've always understood Mrs Starmer to be Jewish.  Doesn't everybody abhor what happened on 7 October last year? Doesn't everybody think that the hostages should be released? Doesn't everybody abhor the genocide now being carried out?  If not - why not?  Many people there and around the world don't support Netanyahu and the current far right govt in Israel just as many don't support Hamas.  The thing you seem completely unable to grasp is that everything was hunkydory before that date - and it wasn't - there has been increasing and continuing injustice and unfairness.

Philippa Bond ● 23d

'In Berlin, a pro-Israel demonstration near the Brandenburg Gate on Sunday drew about 500 people, many waving the Israeli flag and some carrying pictures of hostages. More than 1,000, meanwhile, marched in solidarity with Palestinians'.Plus ca change.....

John Hawkes ● 23d

Keir Starmer said: “One year on from these horrific attacks, we must unequivocally stand with the Jewish community and unite as a country.”Britain’s prime minister added: “On this day of pain and sorrow, we honour those we lost, and continue in our determination to return those still held hostage, help those who are suffering, and secure a better future for the Middle East.”

John Hawkes ● 23d