Forum Topic

Why is it only Israel that daily makes the news re 'genocide'?

Jews and many living in or are associated with Israel are the race that suffered the greatest genocide in modern times.For those that might have forgotten, some 6,000,000 were murdered on an industrial scale in Nazi Germany in WWII.This naturally has made them at least wary of how they are considered and treated in the West and the Middle East.Palestinians in their conflict with Israel are not experiencing such a fate.It is claimed that Israel has killed 52,000 Palestinians in Gaza.These are figures put out by the 'Gazan Health Ministry' (unelected).This is known to be run by Hamas  which itself murdered and sexually assaulted numerous women, children and the elderly in October 2023 and still hold many hostages as well as the corpses of those it murdered.It does not distinguish between civilian deaths and those of its fighting forces that imbed themselves amongst the general Populus.And of course Hamas is attempting to enact its Charter Declaration which calls for the annihilation of the state of Israel and its Jewish citizens.But we should not forget there have been and still are many conflicts raging around the world that have resulted in many deaths and claims of genocide.They received and get little attention by the anti-Israel bien pensants and fellow travellers.All the focus is on Israel.For example note the deaths resulting from the following -2023 Masalit, West Darfur Sudan - 15,000 deaths2020 Tigray Ethiopia 162,000 deaths2016 Rohingya, Myanmar - 9,000 deaths2016 China - Uyghur birth rate drops 24% because of genocidal persecution2014 Ukraine - 12,000 deaths by Russians2014 Iraq Turkman 3,500 deaths (by ISIS)2014 Iraq/Syria (Yazidis) - 2,100 deaths (by ISIS)2003 Darfur, Sudan - 98,000 deaths2002 North Kivu, DR Congo - 60,000 deaths1996 Kivu, Zaire - 200,000 deaths (Hutus)1994 Rwanda - 491,000 deaths (Tutsis)1992 Bosnia - 31,000 deaths (by Serbs)All inter-tribal as is the conflict initiated by Hamas against Israel.Cut Israel some slack.

John Hawkes ● 60d37 Comments

The psychopathology of the debate over Idrael is interesting. Sympathy for the plight of civilians caught up in a war us a natural human emotion. But so is the desire to appear virtuous. And so, unfortunately, is the pleasure to be derived from righteous indignation at the wickedness of others. Summary condemnation of Israel and a call for an end to their campaign in Gaza satisfies all three desires at once . You can express no doubt genuine sympathy for Palestinian civilians. You can gain credit as an apostle of peace. And you can castigate the Israelis as criminals and those who support them as complicit in their crimes.Unfortunately the comfort of this position is undermined by the reality of the situation, which is that Hamas will only return the hostages if Israel agrees to withdraw from Gaza, leaving Hamas in control of the territory. This conflicts with the second satisfaction outlined above. You can't pose as an apostle of peace when what you propose would have the effect of leaving a band of genocidal maniacs, rapists, torturers and child killers in charge of a territory.At this point the critics of  Israel employ several strategies. One is silence. That is to say, they refuse to answer any questions and ignore all requests to state their position on a reasonable solution. Another is abuse, arguing that they won't discuss the issue with 'bores' and 'propagandists'. And another is digression. They introduce irrelevant material such as the naqba of 1948 or the (reprehensible) behaviour of the settlers on the West Bank.The truth is that there is no easy solution. Everyone would like to see and end to the war and the safe return of the hostages. Most people would agree that Hamas cannot be allowed to govern Gaza. And most people would like to see compromise whereby the Palestinians can rebuild their lives while Israel is safeguarded grom attack. But how to achieve this?

Steven Rose ● 4h

"There were bodies everywhere': Druze residents describe 'bloodbath' in Syrian city Suweida"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y76e9p1gno'Over the last five days, Rima says she has witnessed "barbaric" scenes.The 45-year-old Druze woman has lived in the southern Syrian city of Suweida her whole life, and never thought her once-peaceful hometown would become the scene of a bloodbath."There were bodies everywhere outside our building," she told the BBC in a phone interview, using a pseudonym out of fear for her safety.Rima said she huddled inside her home, bracing for the unimaginable, as gunmen - government forces and foreign fighters - moved through her neighbourhood earlier this week, going door-to-door looking for their next victim."One of the worst feelings ever is to keep waiting for people to come into your house and decide whether we should live or die," she recalled, her voice still trembling with fear.The violence has left Rima and her neighbours feeling abandoned and afraid in their own homes, as bullets and shells sounded off outside.Long-running tensions between Druze and Bedouin tribes in Suweida erupted into deadly sectarian clashes on Sunday, following the abduction of a Druze merchant on the highway to the capital, Damascus.As the fighting spread to other parts of the southern province, the government of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa - who led the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime by Islamist-led rebels in December - announced that it would deploy the interior and defence ministry's forces to "restore stability".Since the fall of Assad, some local Druze leaders have rejected the presence of the security forces in Suweida city. When government forces were deployed on Tuesday, the fighting escalated.Soon, the government's forces were being accused of attacking both Druze fighters and civilians, which prompted the Israeli military to intervene with a series of air strikes that it said were intended to protect the Druze.As Rima watched this play out, the lack of internet and power made it difficult to keep up with the unfolding events. All she knew for sure was what she could see from her window: slaughtered bodies and burned buildings.Syrian state media have also cited authorities and Bedouin tribes as saying that "outlaw groups" carried out "massacres" and other crimes against Bedouin fighters and civilians.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, has said it has documented the killing of at least 594 people since Sunday, including 154 Druze civilians, of whom 83 were summarily killed by government forces, and three members of Bedouin tribes who were summarily killed by Druze fighters.'.The vast majority of Bedouins adhere to Islam as does the Syrian government.No IDF known to have been involved.

John Hawkes ● 5d

"Burkina Faso military rulers scrap electoral commission, taking control of future polls"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyzj2k2pmvo'Burkina Faso's military rulers have disbanded the country's electoral commission calling it a waste of money.The interior ministry will handle elections in the future, state-run RTB TV reported.Since seizing power in September 2022, the coup leaders have initiated sweeping reforms, including the postponement of elections which would lead to a return to civilian rule.A nationwide vote was due last year, but the junta extended the period of transition to democracy until July 2029, allowing leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré to remain in power and free to contest the next presidential election.After coming to power three years ago amid criticism that the civilian authorities were failing to deal with a growing Islamist insurgency, the military leaders have rejected the assistance of former colonial power France in favour of Russia.Rights groups have since accused the army of targeting civilians in its attempt to quash the militants, as well as suppressing political activity and the freedom of expression.There are also question marks over the effectiveness of the military operation. In the first half of 2025, jihadist group JNIM said it had carried out over 280 attacks in Burkina Faso – double the number for the same period in 2024, according to data verified by the BBC.Al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) is the main group behind a surge in militant jihadist attacks sweeping across several West African nations, especially Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.Makes the IDF look like pussycats !

John Hawkes ● 5d

More Islamist aggression against Israel in the Middle East.https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/whats-happening-in-southern-syria-and-why-israel-is-involved/'Over the last 24 hours, southern Syria has seen a sharp escalation in violence involving Syrian government forces, local Druze militias, and Israeli airpower. The developments centre on the city of As-Suwayda and the surrounding region, home to much of Syria’s Druze population, and have drawn renewed attention to the complex relationship between the Druze community, the Syrian regime, and Israel.By this morning, Israel had moved reinforcements to its northern border. The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) reported that dozens of suspects attempted to infiltrate Israeli territory from Syria, specifically in the Khader area. In cooperation with the Border Police, Israeli forces worked to prevent infiltration and to disperse the gathering.What explains this sudden surge in hostilities – and why is Israel involving itself?At the centre of the picture is the Druze minority. Numbering roughly one million across the region, the Druze are a religious community with roots in 11th-century Egypt and theological elements drawn from Islam, Greek philosophy, and other traditions.Reports suggest that Druze communities in and around Suwayda had been under mounting pressure from both the Assad regime and Islamist groups. In late April, tensions escalated dramatically after a group of Syrian Druze were allowed to visit religious sites in Israel for a pilgrimage. Upon returning to Syria, they were accused by jihadist figures of being Israeli agents,. Clerics in several mosques reportedly called for jihad against the Druze.Since then, there have been reports of targeted attacks, executions, and armed assaults on Druze areas. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that more than 200 people have been killed in recent clashes; of those, 92 were Druze, including 21 civilians who were reportedly executed by government forces. A video circulated yesterday appearing to show Syrian soldiers forcibly shaving the moustaches of Druze men – a deliberate act of humiliation and disrespect. Such images have compounded the sense of crisis.The violence has been carried out by forces loyal to Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Al-Sharaa, who lacks international credentials and is perceived by some as a jihadist figure, has quickly become a source of both moral and strategic concern for Israeli policymakers. While some argue the killings reflect decentralised militias acting independently, the broader implications for Israel’s security posture and diplomatic strategy are clear.This broader context may explain Israel’s decision to intervene militarily. Although Israel has no formal relationship with the Druze across the border, it has a deep, enduring bond with its own Druze citizens – roughly 150,000 in number. These citizens are not just integrated but often serve at the very heart of Israeli society and national defence. Druze Israelis have long volunteered for the IDF, often serving in elite combat units, special forces, and leadership roles. Their loyalty and bravery have been recognised and respected across Israeli society. Many have paid the ultimate price, including during the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, when Druze fighters were among the first to mobilise and defend Israeli communities. That day, described by some as a national reckoning, also proved a moment of profound solidarity between the Jewish and Druze populations of Israel – reaffirming a relationship built on shared sacrifice and mutual respect.'

John Hawkes ● 6d

Mr Hawkes. Firstly, perhaps "request politely" rather than "expect" a response - a lesson in how to gain friends and influence people? :-) Sudan does appear to have been reported in the BBC link you posted? And I have seen/heard other items in the past. I obviously don't have inside knowledge as to how or why news organisations decide what to report so I can only guess. As I indicated in previous post, I suspect it's done on a basis of what news items will be of interest to viewers, listened or readers? Perhaps, because Israel is an ally that the UK government provides with arms whereas Sudan isn't, that's a basis for prioritising Israel in news items? But as I say, that's purely a guess based on my perception of the situation; given it's obviously of great interest to you and you've obviously looked at it in more detail than me, why do you think Israel appears more in news reports? Aside from MSM, I've recently noticed a lot of anti-Israeli posts, particularly coming from the US, on social media. Perhaps Iranian or Russian - or even North Korean - cyber agents are manipulating social media algorithms, which I believe they're acknowledged as being expert in, and that, in a roundabout way, is influencing public opinion and what MSM cover? To be honest, I've not seen much about Sudan or other African conflicts on social media (although Ukraine does get coverage).I look forward to you analysis when you've time, I expect you're glued to the tennis this weekend? Enjoy.

Michael Ixer ● 11d

Mr Ixer,Very confused argument, wandering all over the place.I was referring to a BBC News item regarding racial and religious genocide in Sudan TODAY and unlike were the perpetrator to be Israel, no one on this Forum bats an eyelid let alone condemns it.You make no mention of this incident but instead bang on about Russia and the Ukraine where the wrongs and the perpetrators of them are perfectly clear and no one thinks other wise.You are good at such diversionary tactics.You seem to claim that being a close ally of ours is the reason Israel gains so much (negative) attention.IE we expect better of them and to behave 'like us' and assume they, 'like us', should not retaliate to attacks.I hope we would not be so feeble and cowardly were we to become victims of Islamism.Yes it is likely 'more people in the UK have relatives in Palestine than other areas of conflict so it gets a higher profile'.Why is that ?What brings them here if they feel unwelcome and subject to racial attacks ?But also there are many parts of the country where Islam predominates and sets the tone for how Palestinian, including Hamas', actions and attitudes are perceived.Positively.There are also many Jews in the UK peacefully going about their daily lives and not 'marching for freedom' every Saturday.So why do they only get attacked and not sympathised with ?And if Palestinians don't like it here, what's to stop them returning to the West Bank ?I concede Gaza is no longer a choice  but some how they messed that option up.

John Hawkes ● 11d