There are no such thing as 'surgical strikes' when you are bombing one of the most densely populated places on earth.
I have no clue how to post a link, but the DNA studies circa 2015 that I easily found show that Jews and Palestinians are, indeed, extremely closely linked by blood. There is no doubt that in general they are cousins if not brothers, no matter what the given name of a specific common ancestor. The texts have scientific backing on this issue, again, no matter the name(s).
That’s only step 1 of a negotiated surrender. They are also going to have to turn over all of the weapons and all of the people who participated in the mass rape, murder, and pillage of 7 October.
Agreed. But relying on intel and attempting surgical strikes is far more humane than Israeli tanks invading Gaza with impunity en masse.
I don't think there is any disagreement at all about Hamas being fully responsible for the atrocities.
I’m only speaking of historicity of Isaac and Ismael as half brothers. No doubt there is similar DNA, but I suspect that if we could travel back in time, then we would find the early Hebrew peoples and early Arab peoples were already well established in separate lands (neither of which was modern-day Israel) at the time that Isaac and Ismael were supposedly being born.
Would it be? You would still have to blockade in any case. You can’t have Hamas being resupplied with food, munitions, medicine, etc. And have you gamed out what happens when Hamas starts running out of the food they stored up for the battle that they wanted? Who do you think they are going to take from? Forcing surrender by siege with the occasional targeted raid you suggest could take months of starvation, and Hamas will starve last, not the people. Israel — not that we care about their problems, of course — also can’t sustain months and months at full mobilization. The least bad of many bad choices imposed on Israel by Hamas is to force surrender as quickly as possible. That means direct ground action after airpower has taken out as many known targets as practical. Yes, that sucks for the people, to use deliberate understatement. But the blame is misplaced. You should be arguing for Hamas to surrender more quickly if you want to avoid as much unnecessary bloodshed as possible.
There's a parallel with religion and nationalism as you describe it. On their own, they are just things--categories. But in the extreme as expressed by people, both can be (are) at the detriment of other religions or nations.
Fortunately, not all religions follow that principle. Unfortunately, a large enough demographic in the Middle East does follow it.
You have good ideas in your reply. However, your posts always talk about annihilating Hamas, who definitely need annihilating in the worst way possible, without recognizing that in doing so, will likely cause the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent Palestinians. Also, we both know that once Israel occupies Gaza, which is probably needed, they ain't never going to leave, because "Never Again." Netanyahu, who currently has the same bloodlust as the Hamas heathens who just murdered 1300 innocent Jews, really needs to take a step back and reassess his current plan to level Gaza and annihilate many, many, many innocent Palestinians with a full-scale attack with Israeli tanks, en masse. I stand steadfast with the Jewish people and Palestinian people, not with Netanyahu, not with Hamas.
Yes. My statement is not fatuous (silly or pointless). It is how I feel in this current situation. Sorry, I know how much you hate feelings that are not feelings of bloodlust, sir. I stand steadfast with the Jewish people and the Palestinian people, not with Netanyahu, not with Hamas.
They might want to, but, no, I don’t think so. Not that Hamas will surrender under those terms … yet, because they won’t. But let’s just say they did. The U.S. would press Netanyahu to accept, so would the political left in Israel. Hungry for revenge as one might be, it would be too difficult to refuse a deal that gets you back most of the hostages (some of whom are already dead, but all of whom will surely be dead soon), Hamas’ caches of weapons, and all of those who participated in the organized rape and pillage of the settlements in Israeli hands without losing hundreds of more soldiers and without having to raze Gaza to the ground, then that is the mother of all wins.
Do your part to encourage Hamas to surrender then. That’s the only feasible course of action at this point.
I’d point out to there has been war after war after war through history based upon whose story book is correct. Religion, for purposes of personal faith and morals, is unparalleled in its efficacy. Religion, though, is equally unparalleled in its exploitation.
Encourage Hamas to surrender, sir? How am I supposed to do that? I am just a middle-aged guy living in Colorado who's starting to bald. Do you think I have a hotline to Hamas? Do you think I can mobilize small arms and mortars and the like to the innocent Palestinian people so that they can overthrow the murderous assholes that are Hamas? Exactly how am I supposed to "Do my part to encourage Hamas to surrender?" You, sir, are being fatuous. PS: Thanks for teaching me a new word today! Fatuous- silly, pointless.
