I think the above states quite obviously the reasons why Hamas made this all out attack. It was because the whole Palestinian issue was starting to be sidelined. It was because of even Saudi-Arabia was coming closer to officially normalize relations with Israel. Well, the Palestine cause is back now thank to them. — ssu
Before Saturday, three quarters of Israeli troops were in the occupied West Bank due to the upsurge in Palestinian attacks over the past year, exacerbated by the ultra-nationalist Israeli Netanyahu government in the total absence of any prospect of a settlement.
The claim that an insurgent group can never lose enough traction due to bad performance to be replaced is falsified by Hamas' rise itself. — Count Timothy von Icarus
In reality, bombing campaigns and collective punishments have never worked. They have always strengthened the insurgency, while simultaneously inflicting immense suffering on civilian populations.
This is not the case, although I think it holds true in this context. — Count Timothy von Icarus
I agree that it is extremely unlikely that say, Egypt or Turkey get involved. But Hezbollah and Iran? It's looking more probable every day. And Israel would likely emerge "victorious", but they will also suffer from a very high civilian death toll, I don't see how that can be avoided if Iran and Hezbollah join.
But as this massacre continues, Egypt and Jordan and others will be heavily pressuring Israel. A very general and uninspired comment is that, after this, it seems to me that the status quo of Gaza and the West Bank may not go back to how it has been until recently.
But, in wars, almost everyone is wrong. Too many factors involved. — Manuel
I don't think they have any desire to do anything on behalf of Israel, that's for sure. Just like Egypt won't assist Israel on Nakba II and take the civilians from Gaza.I meant that "if an alliance of Egypt and the Gulf State joined the war on behalf of "the Palestinians," they would end up occupying Gaza as part of their offensive operations. And if they did that, they would almost certainly get rid of Hamas too, since they are enemies. I don't know if they would have the same "mowing the lawn" issues. — Count Timothy von Icarus
Well, they can always hope that US & Israel will attack Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon. How do think that going with the Arab street? Israel killing Palestinians, Lebanon under attack, Syria under attack... and so on.My point was simply that the whole "we'll provoke Israel so that they kill so many civilians that the whole Arab world joins the fight," is fanciful — Count Timothy von Icarus
(AP) a Navy warship shot down missiles appearing to head toward Israel Thursday and American bases in Iraq and Syria were repeatedly targeted by drone attacks.
Later, a U.S. official said there had been a rocket attack early Friday morning on U.S. and coalition forces at a diplomatic support center near the Baghdad International Airport. Initial assessments indicated two rockets were fired, the official said, noting that one was intercepted by a counter-rocket system and the other struck an empty storage facility.
And do you believe that Netanyahu has really a "strategic plan for a two state solution"? I think his strategic plan is to talk about a two state solution (to keep Americans happy) and make sure it never happens. This is the plan: destroy the terrorists.They need to actually have a strategic plan for a two state solution and work to bolster the moderate Palestinians. — schopenhauer1
Sorry, but to kill over 1400 civilians, you really have to make the effort. It's not just civilians getting into crossfire and a conditional that "some may have".I think some of the Hamas fighters (some in civilian clothes as you can see) and other 'volunteers' may have crossed the fence and with the same spirit of revenge that is in the air today, may have attacked and killed civilians. Also, some civilians may have been killed in the crossfire. — FreeEmotion
No one is protesting Israel killing Hamas fighters either, but typically killing families of soldiers is a war crime, assuming not everybody in the family is part of the military.Notice no-one is protesting the killing of Israeli soldiers, some off-duty, and when a Hamas leader is killed along with his family, that is alright, but if an Israeli soldier is killed along with his family it is a horrific atrocity. — FreeEmotion
Yes, but that was some time ago when Israel thought it was a great "divide and conquer" strategy to have PA and Hamas fighting each other. Yet that is history now.The stated goal of Hamas is not peace, or a two-state solution. For some reason Israel propped them up, in their wisdom. — FreeEmotion
And do you believe that Netanyahu has really a "strategic plan for a two state solution"? I think his strategic plan is to talk about a two state solution (to keep Americans happy) and make sure it never happens. This is the plan: destroy the terrorists. — ssu
Umm, actually ISIL and Tamil Tigers actually were destroyed. There was no "peace deal" with them in the end.History is replete with peace deals with the most vile dictators, terrorists (didn't we just hands Afghanistan back?) and belligerents. The idea peace isn't possible with Hamas is just a narrative people lap up because it's repeated ad nauseum and it's obvious bullshit. See: ISIL, IRA, ETA and Tamil Tigers. — Benkei
The Jaffna Peninsula was captured by the Sri Lankan Army by 14 January. On 25 January 2009, SLA troops "completely captured" Mullaitivu town, the last major LTTE stronghold.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared military victory over the Tamil Tigers on 16 May 2009, after 26 years of conflict. The rebels offered to lay down their weapons in return for a guarantee of safety. On 17 May 2009, LTTE's head of the Department of International Relations, Selvarasa Pathmanathan conceded defeat, saying in an email statement, "this battle has reached its bitter end".
US President Joe Biden held a telephonic conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, with both leaders affirming the need to ensure the continued flow of humanitarian aid and relief materials into Gaza. — Hindustan Times
Umm, actually ISIL and Tamil Tigers actually were destroyed. There was no "peace deal" with them in the end. — ssu
No one is protesting Israel killing Hamas fighters either, but typically killing families of soldiers is a war crime, assuming not everybody in the family is part of the military. — ssu
Sorry, but to kill over 1400 civilians, you really have to make the effort. It's not just civilians getting into crossfire and a conditional that "some may have — ssu
And do you believe that Netanyahu has really a "strategic plan for a two state solution"? I think his strategic plan is to talk about a two state solution (to keep Americans happy) and make sure it never happens. This is the plan: destroy the terrorists. — ssu
Herzog, however, argued that the rhetoric that civilians in Gaza were unaware of Hamas' attacks or were not involved in them is untrue, and explained the deaths of civilians as "they could have rebelled against the malicious regime that took over Gaza in a coup attempt, they could have fought against it." — AA
I think duels were usually not looked well upon. Totally different from how fighting well in war is respected.I find it interesting that killing an armed person in uniform in cold blood is somehow acceptable. Its curious. Is there some gentleman's agreement to kill or be killed, sounds macabre. Duels were once legal. — FreeEmotion
The violent attack on Israel is far worse than the defensive reply with violence. Defense is permitted, attack is not — Nicholas
The violent attack on Israel is far worse than the defensive reply with violence. Defense is permitted, attack is not. Killing in defense is not as bad karma as murder during an assault. — Nicholas
So proportionality isn't a thing? — Benkei
Proportionality is generally associated with retributivism and Kant, ... — Hanover
What do you propose? How would you defend your home if it were under similar attack? — Hanover
Israel is reaping what it sowed for years — Benkei
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