Many of us just could not believe this morning's news.
Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories are
reeling from the most serious escalation between the
Jewish State and the Islamist group Hamas to date.

Prime Minister Netanyahu declared war as at least 250
Israelis were killed and more than 230 Palestinians died
in an airstrike launched in response.

After a surprise Palestinian attack on the morning of a
Jewish holiday led to hundreds of deaths, the seizure of
Israeli hostages it has now sparked fears of a
regional escalation.

Things are looking very bad.

It appears that this new fight could be just the beginning.

What will Australia do?

Should we get involved?

There has been an overwhelming international response
from countries around the globe who are all standing with
Israel.

Our PM and Foreign Minister, as well as the leader of the
Opposition have all condemned the surprise attack and stand
with Israel. Israel has a right to defend itself is the
general consensus.

There's always going to be conflict there.
Both sides are religious oriented and there will never be a compromise.
No point whatsoever in sending our men and women into harms way.
Zelensky is going to be angry it's not all about Ukraine anymore though.

5000+ missiles launched, IDF hostages taken and a nuclear power plant hit.
I think the bigger question here might be 'Is the conflict unprovoked?'

Armchair Critic,

I have to get more detail as to why this happened so
I can't answer the question you've asked. Hamas is
considered a terrorist organisation - and I'm sure that
there will be a great deal of condemnation for its
actions.

Dear Foxy,

Thank you for the concern.

A year ago, nobody could believe such a thing could happen, but this surprise attack and war was made possible only due to Israel's internal weakness and disintegration.

Specifically, three things gave Hamas the courage and will to attack:

1) As a consequence of Netanyahu's "judicial reform", many key military reservists, including pilots, strategists, commanders, doctors, intelligence experts and former generals, refused to continue volunteering (they cannot be compelled to serve due to their age) in the service of a non-democratic government. Morale similarly dropped among those who are legally unable to quit the army. Israel's army admitted that the army's preparedness for battle is being compromised as a result.

2) Ben Gvir, a disgusting Nazi MK whom Netanyahu, in order to form a coalition, was forced to include in his government as "internal security" minister, unilaterally and vengefully decreed a series of worsening the conditions of terrorist prisoners, such as not allowing them to bake their own bread, reducing family visits to once every two months instead of every one month, and recently breaking their autonomy and dispersing them into solitary confinement in different prisons. We know that Hamas is extremely sensitive to the conditions of their prisoners, so they felt they had nothing to lose.

3) Israel's police forces were stretched thin between handling mass demonstrations, protecting politicians, rising criminal murders in Arab towns and villages, and forking out new troops to safeguard the West-Bank settlers and support their pogroms there as they became bolder and bolder.

I really cannot see how Australia could possibly help Israel militarily, logistically or medically as Israel has more than enough and much more than Australia in these respects. If you would like to help, then please think of ways to stop this corrupt Israeli government from attacking and weakening its own population.

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Dear Critic,

Yes I read in horror about all the other news, but can you please tell me where did you read about an Israeli nuclear plant hit?

Yuyutsu,

Thank you for the information. It was most helpful.
I think that unless you live in Israel or at least
visit it - none of us can really begin to understand the
situation there.

What I find unfair is that The Law of Return states that
any Jew , born anywhere in the world, can go and live in
Israel. No Palestinian can. To me that is wrong.
I think that people
who go to visit Israel should also visit Palestinian
areas as well -
and see how Israelis treat the Palestinians.
And whether they think this is acceptable.

My heart goes out to everyone who is suffering in these
appalling conditions. I can only hope that sooner rather
than later - both sides will be able to sit down and reach
some sort of compromise. However I don't see it happening
any time soon.