Netanyahu tells Israel ‘We are at war’ after Hamas launches an unprecedented attack, killing at leas

Yeah no shit sherlock. That's why there won't be a ceasefire and that's why Hamas isn't returning any hostages. I was just pointing out why your super simple solution is dumber than a bag of hammers.

 

Good piece from Soufan on Hezbollah's political considerations in getting involved. Their position among the Shia in Lebanon even is suspect, and of course, the Shia-Sunni divide in the larger region.

Bottom Line Up Front:

• Regional and political constraints have thus far prevented Lebanese Hezbollah (Party of God) from fully opening a new front against Israel as Tel Aviv begins its ground assaults against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
• Hezbollah’s leaders, as well as their mentors in Tehran, fear a conflict with the U.S. military.
• Within Lebanon, a large portion of the population would resent Hezbollah joining a war against Israel that would inevitably bring destruction and further economic deterioration to the country.
• Hezbollah’s military wing is far more militarily capable than Hamas, but Hezbollah does not have the support and sympathy of the broader Arab world that Hamas and the Palestinian people do.

Hezbollah’s Choices Will Determine the Course of the Mideast Crisis

 

And I said my response to the obtuse poster asking for Israel to have a ceasefire. Weird you didn't attack them LOL.

 

Solid listen

After returning from a week of reporting in Israel, David Remnick has two important conversations about the conflict between Israelis and Arabs both in and outside of Gaza. First, he speaks with Yonit Levi, a veteran news anchor on Israeli television, about how her country is both reeling from the October 7th terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas, and grappling with how to strike at Hamas as the country prepares for an invasion that would be catastrophic for Palestinians. Meanwhile, the Palestinian academic Sari Nusseibeh maintains that peace is possible, if the influence of Hamas and the Israeli far right can be curtailed.

Is There a Path Forward for Israel and Gaza?

 

Yeah @BigCypressGator1981 come attack me for advocating a stop to the killing

 

Eventually there will be a ceasefire. And then hostage negotiations will commence. But right now, Israeli hostages in Gaza gives Israel carte blanche to bomb the ever living shit out of any Hamas target they please in Gaza without losing goodwill from the west (I understand they already don't have it with a lot of westerners). That's going to be a lot harder to do after hostages are traded. Which is why I don't think getting the hostages back is Israel's immediate top priority even if they say it is. They have a lot of rope to work with right now and I expect them to use it all.

 

Like I said, dumb to suggest a ceasefire before hostages are released. Thanks for agreeing with me. It says a lot about the people calling for a ceasefire. Not many calling for Hamas to release the hostages.

 

Hostages will not be swapped en masse until there is a cease fire. And there will eventually be a ceasefire. I think some people just want to see the number of civilians killed in airstrikes during the interim to be minimized.

 

I don't want to see anyone killed but the terrorists. You can just keep making dumb generalizations but that's all you are doing. Anyone thinking there is a ceasefire without a massive number of hostages released first is dumb. I think some people just like making up crap on the internet for no reason.

 

I think Israel has made it clear Hamas crossed a red line, which is why they aren’t doing what they typically do of bomb some rocket sites, kill a few folks, and then trade 90 Hamas members for three Israelis.

I suspect you’re right that, in this instance, getting the hostages back is not the number one priority guiding their operational plan. Instead, this time the priority is making clear that kidnapping Jews is not an exercise that is conducive to any outcome Hamas wants.

 

And I want to win the powerball! Get real.

 

Agree completely.

 

Would you consider the Palestinian groups on US college campuses bigots?

 

If you don’t want that you should support a ceasefire. Lots of people that aren’t terrorist are getting killed. Thousands of them.

 

I would. Call them what you want. They are pro-Hamas. It is no different than groups marching in support of Nazi war aims during WW2. You can try and say, “No, no, no. They are just supporting the German people,” but most would see through that BS.

 

Nope. I want the terrorists to either surrender now and release the hostages or I hope they are hunted down and killed. Will some innocent people be killed also? Yes. That sucks but that blood is on Hamas, not Israel. It's weird there aren't mass protests out there for Hamas to release the hostages, wonder why...

 

We’ve been over this. Because Hamas are not reasonable people. They are terrorists. No amount of protesting would make any difference.

 

Yep. Anyone being racist should be called out for it. It's weird, I don't hear a peep from these protests about letting the hostages go. Wonder why...

 

So that means don't protest? Maybe pressure the rest of the Muslim world to pressure them to release the hostages? I know, crazy thought...

 

Israel’s top priority is eliminating Hamas so they can’t do this again and so no one else will think of trying this or anything like it or worse.