Big respect for Baroness Warsi resigning from the government over it's stance on Gaza

TODAY



©liam_karma

Agree with the sentiments but the conflict is an industry within itself, and multi-billion one at that.

Arms industry + governments(so closely linked it's creepy) = bunches of cnuts

Surely you're not trying to suggest that starting a war in the Middle East and having commercial links to despotic regimes in Egypt and the UAE somehow makes someone unsuitable to be a Middle East peace envoy are you?  Crazy talk.

Now hold on a minute! Are you trying to say we have a Middle East peace envoy? I know we've got a travelling salesman offering up the latest in "this is will fcku people up with pinpoint accuracy weaponry devastation guaranteed" So the same guy doing the touting is all also 'keeping the peace' conflict of interests?? Seems legit people….

Sorry in advance for misplaced sarcasm.It's either that or…these cnuts make me rage..And that would get boring pretty quick.

Whats the death toll so far?.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28814555

"A Dutchman honoured by Israel for hiding a Jewish child during World War Two has handed back his medal after six of his relatives were killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza."

Interesting article, if true.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-29008045

4 Sq. Kilometres of Palestinian land taken in "response" to the murder of 3 Israeli teenagers.

I wonder how much Israeli land can be claimed for 2100 Palestinians?

Shocking aerial footage:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-29074263

I fear I am opening a can of worms here, but I think seeing as this is an open forum that I will share my thoughts on the conflict, regardless of whether I am heavily outnumbered or not.

I know this is an extremely sensitive subject, and one many people (including myself) feel passionately about, but I just want to share my opinions in a constructive manner without any hate or anger involved.

I am not condoning the way Israel has acted throughout the conflict, but Israel does have a long history of giving back land. Take Israel's return of Sanai to Egypt as a prime example of when both sides want peace it is achievable.

It is truly devastating the amount of innocent blood spilt on both sides, but there is very clear evidence that Israel does everything it can to try an minimise civilian casualties, whilst Hamas does everything they can to try and maximise them. Whilst this is not an attempt at an excuse - as I think Israel's response has been too great - Hamas fired 4,480 rockets at Israeli citizens in the last two months alone and have spent millions and millions of pounds/dollars of aid money building underground tunnel networks in an attempt to carry out terrorist attacks on Israeli soil. It would be foolish to think that any country who gained concrete intelligence about this would not do everything in their power to neutralise the threat in order to protect their civilians. Would you not expect the same from your country?

There are two key facts for me that make this conversation so hard sometimes. One, is that Hamas are a recognised terrorist organisation. And, two, it states in their charter that they want to destroy Israel.

Israel has proven that they can live side-by-side with arabs by the fact that there are well over a million living in Israel who are fully integrated into society, and have all the same rights as everyone else that lives there.

It is so unbelievably sad that the people from Gaza are clearly the ones who are losing in all of this, and it makes me feel sick every time I read about further civilian casualties. The violence must end from BOTH sides, not temporarily, but permanently, and the only solution is a two-state solution...but how can this be worked towards when the terrorist organisation who run Gaza are only interested in the destruction of Israel.

I fear that unfortunately, as long as Hamas are in charge, there can never be peace.

Thank you feralthings for your constructive response. Like you I agree with one of your points (the first), but unfortunately not the second.

Israel should not continue to build settlements, as it is a clear violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and is illegal. Unfortunately no country is perfect, and we can only hope that the deconstruction of these settlements happens in the near future.

However, lets not forget that Israel did dismantle 21 settlements in Gaza and 4 in the West Bank in 2005, so I believe there is still hope for those remaining.

With regard to your point about civilian casualties, I must rebut this point as there is significant evidence that implicates Hamas's disregard for civilian life.

Yes, you are correct that 7 hospitals and 4 UN-run schools were targeted, however I don't think that tells the whole story. Firstly, the IDF gives prior warning to any airstrike that is going to take place in a civilian populated area. They conduct this by sending flyers giving advanced warning to any civilians to evacuate the area. Then prior to the airstrike, they fire a warning shot, again to give warning of the impending strike. Only after this is the strike executed, with perfect precision. However, we must not simply look at what they are targeting, but why they are targeting it. There is absolute proof that Hamas stores weapons in hospitals and schools, as well as launching rockets from them. How can anyone defend a government who directly places its civilians in the firing line, and uses them as human shields. Hamas knows that civilian casualties is fantastic for their press. As you mentioned, the IDF's bombing have become a recruiting tool for Hamas.

In addition to this clear disregard for civilian life, Hamas aimlessly fires rockets into Israel hoping to hit anything and anyone. Imagine if Israel did not have the Iron Dome, just think how many causalities there would be. People look at the death toll, and come to the conclusion that Israel are the only bad guys, but they aren't. For example, around 10% of Hamas's rockets land inside Gaza resulting in the death of their own civilians. Further to this Hamas dress some of their soldiers in civilian clothing in order to increase the civilian death toll. Don't misunderstand this as a statement that I agree with what Israel have done, and how they have done it, but at least there is evidence that they try to minimise civilian casualties. Whereas on the other side, two of the most senior Hamas leaders appeared on Hamas TV saying that "Hamas loves death like Israelis love life". Not a particularly constructive starting point towards peace.

How anyone can believe Hamas has any legitimacy as a Government who can negotiate a settlement or ceasefire is unfortunately misguided. They are a terrorist organisation in the EU and US' eyes and have not attempted to hold an election since they seized power nearly 8 years ago.

I support Gaza, and I support Israel, but I do not, and can not support Hamas. Unfortunately, as you pointed out, Hamas is an obstacle to peace, and in my opinion the most prevalent one.

My skin craws reading this god awful IDF propaganda.