Dear Foxy,

«Hamas has threatened to stop releasing hostages
because Israel has not allowed humanitarian aid
to reach the Northern Gaza strip.»

There was only a short logistical interruption, which wasn't caused by Israel.
It was fixed and humanitarian aid continues to flow to Gaza as we speak.

«A bit one-sided isn't it?»

Then how would you feel, and what would Australia do, had some of the hostages been Australian?

Regarding the hostages, every Israeli says today, "It could have been me!".

Should Israel fail to stop Hamas now in far off Gaza, then you too should start worrying that in your old age you might one morning wake up by terrorists pulling you out of your bed, whisk you away with a terrible back-pain on a motorcycle, then let you die slowly and painfully as you cannot receive your medications and proper food.

---

Dear Critic,

«And you can all call me Anti-Semite if you want, I'll take it as a compliment and wear it as a badge of honour.»

And as far as the Jewish settlers in the West Bank go, you can count me in too!

«I defend the right of Palestinians to resist a murderous occupation»

My family are not occupiers, nor have they murdered anyone.
They live rightfully on their own land in Israel-proper.
So why are they being targeted?
Why can they be killed at any moment by a wondering rocket from Gaza?

«I'm now convinced that the real animals are on the Israeli side.»

Sure, Israelis have many pets and farm animals.
Why did Hamas shoot the milkmen on the morning of October 7th and some cows as well, with the rest of them going unmilked for days?

«Those who commit the Zionist crimes, and those who defend them.»

Zionists crimes, if any, were committed over 75 years ago: the present Jewish-settler criminals are anything but Zionists, they destroy Israel.

Yet I do defend historical Zionism, not the rubbish that passes today for "Zionism", and I do try to defend my family too. I suppose this makes me a criminal in your eyes...

Armchair Critic, and Yuyutsu,

Haaretz - tells us that - religious devotion
starkly connects with political extremism.

We're told that:
it is religious fervor that towers over claims to
land, power, resources, nation, and narrative - in its
raw capacity to escalate conflict and block peace.

We're told that in the Israeli-Palestinian context -
religious movements are prime actors stoking and
sparking escalation. From Hamas or Islamic Jihad
rockets fired into Israel, to radical Jewish settler
attacks on Palestinians and relentless settlement
expansion over decades.

And because of their centrality to society and
politics on both sides - there is not, and can be no
peace without at least a partial acquiescence of
religious communities.

Haaretz states that many believer's narratives are tribal
and exclusive. We alone are the chosen group, and our claims
alone are correct.

Most importantly, the divine religious mission is often
framed as a matter of life or death.

Haaretz says that Jews
sanctify the notion of "giving one's life for the land."
Palestinian religious extremist groups such as Hamas and
Islamic Jihad support killing and attacking civilians and
themselves, if needed.

We're told that notably on both sides - the cause is so holy
that it justifies violating each religion's own principles.

Haaretz states that political compromise can't satisfy the
extremists but the effort for peace must include a
willing portion of religious opposition, or at least
convince them to refrain from spoiling the effort.

"The big problem, as I see it," said Itamar Rabinovich, a
former Israeli ambassador to Washington and a distinguished
fellow at the Brookings Institution:

"Is that the Biden
Administration:
would like to see a renewal of negotiations
between Israel and the Palestinian Authority with the
prospect of a Palestinian state at the end of the process.
That is a big problem between the Biden administration and
the Netanyahu government because Netanyahu is very much
focused on staying in power."

“The leaders of the occupation [Israel] should know, Oct. 7 was just a rehearsal,” stated Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas in Gaza.

Sinwar now lives in Qatar and is a multimillionaire, achieved mainly from kick-backs from the donors to Hamas. He was once in an Israeli gaol on five life sentences for murder but was released in a prisoner swap. While in goal he was cured of cancer. A nephew of the donor who saved Sinwar's life is now a a hostage. Small world!

Sinwar is currently 'visiting' Gaza to bolster the morale of those who are fighting his fight.

So, according to the anti-Semites in our midst, Israel is supposed to just sit back and wait for the next massacre of its citizens to happen. Fortunately the Israelis and most of the Arab world don't concur.

Needless to say Sinwar has an IDF target on his head.

Hi Yuyutsu,

"So why are they being targeted?"

Sometimes it hard to find sense or meaning in things of this world.
It may be that there are a lot of people on both sides with good kind hearts, who are just caught in the middle.

The anger and hatred on both side was something that was taught to them.

I'd like to think the children on both sides were born out of love.
- And neither side got to choose what side they were born on.

You are right to defend and protect your family.
This is a product of your love for them.
It's very basis comes not from hatred.

http://twitter.com/Partisangirl/status/1730298764387307948

Do not concern yourself with the wellbeing of hostages held in Gaza mhaze..
From all of the footage I've seen, and I've seen quite a bit
- By the look on the faces of these Israeli 'hostages'
They've not been treated like hostages at all.
Rather, it seems they've been shown kindness
- And treated like family, or honoured guests.

post-truth mhaze,

Your: "So, according to the anti-Semites in our midst, Israel is supposed to just sit back and wait for the next massacre of its citizens to happen."

Can just as easily be written as: "So, according to the anti-Arabs in our midst, Palestinians are always supposed to just sit back and wait for the next massacre of its citizens to happen."

Similar escalations were at play to those which pre-empted the typical IDF "mowing the grass" actions which routinely slaughters 1,000s of Palestinians.

Your gripe seems to be that the Palestinians armed wing got in first this time before the Israeli armed wing.

How utterly one-sided is that.