Israel - Palestinian militants launch massive attack, 7 Oct 2023 #14

[shotgun09]

A thought: Considering the large population packed into the Gaza Strip, maybe part of Hamas’ plan was also a form of free population control, free up more land and resources for themselves.

They knew Israel would fight back hard and many civilians’ lives would be lost as a result of their actions.

The thought is surely dark, twisted and malevolent enough for Hamas. I could see it....

 

[margarita25]

The sad thing is that Libya was in talks to normalise relations with Israel.

One step forward may now be many steps back.

This is all so complex politically. Admittedly I’m not up to date on Libya. They’ve obviously been/just entered the equation in a big way.

So, in this “apparent gesture of solidarity with the terror group,” reportedly at the request of the US, what does the US get now?

 

[Charlot123]

When Gazans have had "enough", maybe they'll drag Hamas out of hiding, or "rat them out" to IDF. If Hamas truly hides in houses, schools, mosques, hospitals (basically  everywhere), the "civilians" have to know where they are, imo.

In the article that I have linked, it has been mentioned that long-term work with HAMAS was guided by the fear that those who come next might be worse.

But I read in credible Slav-languages sources that the system of the tunnels might be way more outreaching than it has been thought of initially. It is more like a megapolis subway station from the photos I saw. Which makes prisoners' situation dire.

 

[JennieM]

37 min ago

Report: Pope Francis held "fraught" call about Gaza war with Israeli president in October​

From CNN's Christopher Lamb

Pope Francis spoke on the phone with Israeli President Isaac Herzog about the Israel-Hamas war in late October.

The conversation between the pair was described as a "fraught phone call," according to a Washinton Post report Thursday, citing a senior Israeli official familiar with the call, which has not been previously reported.

Herzog was telling Francis of the unprecedented level of shock felt in Israel after the Hamas attack on October 7 when the pope said bluntly that it is “forbidden to respond to terror with terror,” according to the Post, citing the Israeli official.

A Vatican source on Friday confirmed to CNN that a phone call between the Israeli president and the pope took place at the end of October, but CNN has been unable to verify that Francis used the “terror” remarks.

In a statement to the Washington Post about the call, the Vatican said, “The phone call, like others in the same days, takes place in the context of the Holy Father’s efforts aimed at containing the gravity and scope of the conflict situation in the Holy Land.”

A few days after his phone call with Herzog, the pope spoke to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on November 2. On October 22, Francis called United States President Joe Biden about the war.

Some background: The pope has publicly described the war between Israel and Hamas as terrorism.

On November 22, during a general audience in St. Peter’s Square, Francis said, “This morning, I received two delegations, one of Israelis who have relatives as hostages in Gaza and another of Palestinians who have relatives suffering in Gaza. They suffer so much, and I heard how they both suffer: wars do this, but here we have gone beyond war. This is not war; this is terrorism.”

The pope has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and is in regular contact with the Catholic community in Gaza.

December 1, 2023 Israel-Hamas war

Israel and Hamas continue to negotiate through mediators over the potential release of hostages from Gaza that would prompt another pause in hostilities, sources say.

edition.cnn.com

 

[Charlot123]

The thought is surely dark, twisted and malevolent enough for Hamas. I could see it....

I believe anything that might enrich them HAMAS might do. But population control, given dwindling birth rate everywhere in the world is not reasonable.

 

[margarita25]

US working with Israel on plan to protect civilians in southern Gaza

The United States will continue to talk with Israel about how to implement the measures.

m.jpost.com

 

[margarita25]

Israel must pull out of Gaza ceasefire talks with Nazi-like Hamas - FM | The Jerusalem Post

Smotrich called on the government to officially announce the end of the truce.

m.jpost.com

“Israel must officially declare its withdrawal from talks to resume the humanitarian truce in Gaza, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Friday afternoon, arguing that the IDF cannot be fighting a "semi-war."

Speaking following a phone conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Smotrich said he called on the prime minister to "cease all contact with the Nazi enemy," Hamas, and mediators such as Egypt and Qatar.”

 

[shotgun09]

I believe anything that might enrich them HAMAS might do. But population control, given dwindling birth rate everywhere in the world is not reasonable.

They ( Hamas ) slaughtered pregnant mothers and babies in the womb. I personally don't think they think about birth rate numbers at all.

 

[Brightchaser47]

Israel must pull out of Gaza ceasefire talks with Nazi-like Hamas - FM | The Jerusalem Post

Smotrich called on the government to officially announce the end of the truce.

m.jpost.com

“Israel must officially declare its withdrawal from talks to resume the humanitarian truce in Gaza, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Friday afternoon, arguing that the IDF cannot be fighting a "semi-war."

Speaking following a phone conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Smotrich said he called on the prime minister to "cease all contact with the Nazi enemy," Hamas, and mediators such as Egypt and Qatar.”

It appears the "enemy" has already done this, so wouldn't this merely be a formality, at this point?

 

[margarita25]

The thought is surely dark, twisted and malevolent enough for Hamas. I could see it....

There is NOTHING these monsters won’t do. Just like the Nazi’s.

 

[JennieM]

2m ago

184 killed since resumption of fighting, Gaza authorities say​

Gaza health officials say Israeli air strikes have killed 184 people and wounded at least 589 others since the truce expired on Friday morning.

More than 20 houses had been hit, Reuters reports the officials as saying on Friday evening.

The Gaza health ministry said earlier that most of those killed were children and women.

The figures cannot be independently verified.

Israel’s bombardment on Friday after the collapse of the seven-day ceasefire was most intense in the southern areas of Khan Younis and Rafah, medics and witnesses said.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been sheltering there because of fighting in the north.

Houses in central and northern areas were also hit.

Israeli airstrikes hit near Damascus, says Syria – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[margarita25]

It appears the "enemy" has already done this, so wouldn't this merely be a formality, at this point?

Yeah, it appears so. IMO Israel has already been very clear what the ramifications would be if the terms of the truce were broken. And I’m sure Net will be making an additional statement anyway with the resumption, if he hasn’t already (still catching up).

“Smotrich called on the government to officially announce the end of the truce and do so "explicitly and publicly," calling for a return to full fighting until Hamas is destroyed and all the hostages are returned. The Israeli minister has regularly called for the return to hostilities and a return to active combat, decrying attempts and diplomacy, putting little trust in Egypt and Qatar.”​

Israel must pull out of Gaza ceasefire talks with Nazi-like Hamas - FM | The Jerusalem Post

Smotrich called on the government to officially announce the end of the truce.

m.jpost.com

 

[Gardenista]

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/mansour-abbas-calls-on-armed-palestinian-factions-to-throw-down-their-weapons-work-with-pa-to-establish-state/

Ra’am chairman MK Mansour Abbas becomes the first Arab party leader in Israel’s history to publicly call on the armed Palestinian factions to demilitarize and work with the Palestinian Authority in order to establish a Palestinian state through non-violent means.

“In order to move forward, the Palestinian militant groups need to throw down their arms. They need to work hand in hand with the Palestinian Authority in order to realize a national movement that will aspire for a state of Palestine in a peaceful solution alongside the state of Israel,” Abbas tells CNN in a rare interview with international media.

 

[Brightchaser47]

2m ago

184 killed since resumption of fighting, Gaza authorities say​

Gaza health officials say Israeli air strikes have killed 184 people and wounded at least 589 others since the truce expired on Friday morning.

More than 20 houses had been hit, Reuters reports the officials as saying on Friday evening.

The Gaza health ministry said earlier that most of those killed were children and women.

The figures cannot be independently verified.

Israel’s bombardment on Friday after the collapse of the seven-day ceasefire was most intense in the southern areas of Khan Younis and Rafah, medics and witnesses said.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been sheltering there because of fighting in the north.

Houses in central and northern areas were also hit.

Israeli airstrikes hit near Damascus, says Syria – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

I'd still like to know why it's mostly women and children being reported as killed (and how they can be certain of that, as many bodies are still buried under rubble). jmo

 

[SusanDonim]

Were they protesting to free Palestine from Hamas?

No, from Israeli occupation.

 

[JennieM]

I'd still like to know why it's mostly women and children being reported as killed (and how they can be certain of that, as many bodies are still buried under rubble). jmo

The bodies under rubble are considered as missing I think. 1,500 children are missing and they are presumed to be under rubble.

Also:

How the dead are counted in Gaza

The BBC has been looking in detail at how the casualty figures are totalled.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Brightchaser47]

The bodies under rubble are considered as missing I think. 1,500 children are missing and they are presumed to be under rubble.

Also:

How the dead are counted in Gaza

The BBC has been looking in detail at how the casualty figures are totalled.

www.bbc.co.uk

It's possible some of those children are simply lost or separated from family. jmo.

 

[JennieM]

Maybe some of those children are simply lost or separated from family. It's possible, imo.

Maybe but most reports I have read state that they are presumed dead.

ETA: Maybe the children who are missing also have family members who are missing (perhaps also under rubble).

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

Well they are sure enough going to have a clean sheet to start with.

I've been watching the smoke, the dust and the heaps of concrete from one end of the enclave to the next. Just demolition rubble everywhere.

Apart from the obvious, there must be health issues here for the people?

Yes to health issues, just as in earthquakes and 911. I'm always so moved by humanity pulling together for a just cause. I hope with all my heart that the people have peace and Gaza is rebuilt without terrorists controlling their lives. Whoever built the first bulldozers, needs a noble prize.

 

[Brightchaser47]

Maybe but most reports I have read state that they are presumed dead.

ETA: Maybe the children who are missing also have family members who are missing (perhaps also under rubble).

Very possible. In a situation like that, I'd think it would be difficult to account for everyone.