Morch

There was no Palestinian state. You're either ignorant, making up stuff or playing word games.

Let me guess - you consider yourself 'objective'.

Doubt anyone seriously claimed this. Was the Hamas attack helpful on that front?

As usual, the pleas for rational, level-headed response are one sided. How about Hamas changing its standing agenda? Or even express willingness to discuss anything? How about releasing the hostages? Or not sacrificing the people of Gaza for the 'cause'? How would Hamas terrorist be 'jailed'? By whom? You keep on going on as if the hatred is one sided, that's not the case.

Because look at Lebanon. Or Iraq. Come up with a ME example of working, peaceful bi-national country, and we could discuss this. Also, you may consult the Hamas Charter - it does not allow for this.

And yet, he chose differently then your advice and prescribe. So did other Western leaders. You keep making them appeasement and scaremongering posts.

None of us decides, obviously. I'm asking how do you suppose things could be, realistically, tackled in a different manner. Not talking about what should or should not have been done years ago. Not talking about some perfect world out of touch fantasies. Hamas killed a whole lot of Israeli civilians. Abducted hundreds. How should Israel respond to that?

It's not 'the same'.

More excuses for the Palestinians. Funny how self-proclaimed Palestinian supporters tend to portray the people they support as totally incapable of making rational decision, organizing for a cause or doing much of anything in an effective manner - then asserting that they could run a state, be trusted to sign agreements with and so on.

And yet, on a post above you apparently condone Hamas sacrificing them thousands Palestinian lives.

"may seem extreme" ?! Did anyone consult the Gazas about being sacrificed? How come you're not into one of them faux angst displays over the cynical sacrifice of thousands of Palestinian lives? Or is it only 'bad' if you can blame Israel for it? Also, I kinda think that if you can spot the cynicism involved in such an evil plan, many others around the globe could too.

The Gaza Strip is ruled by Hamas. Israel usually responds to Hamas attacks. Somehow in your account of things, Hamas is not responsible for the consequences of actions. Same stance, essentially, as you hold with regard to the PA and all of the Palestinians. There is nothing seriously preventing the Palestinians from holding elections. Your confidence that there could be genuine peace is not supported by the Hamas's agenda.

Got to love how you claim 'powerful', then omit Russia, China from list.

A former junior Israeli official and Jeremy Corbyn are the best you can come up with?

I don't think the current bombing campaign is presented as an ultimate solution, but as preparation for ground assault. Not sure what you're on about. Sure, a one-state-solution, with Israelis and Palestinians living happily ever after. That was never on the cards. Maybe you could provide some reference to other countries in the ME where this worked out alright? No idea what you mean by 'live as a non western country' or why would anyone want that.

Biden doesn't have to see things your way, you know. Maybe you missed the word 'diplomacy' in the headline?

Do you have any realistic ways dealing with the situation?

For starters, there is no total 'demise' of Palestine and the Palestinians as you suggest. There's a war, and it's on a bigger scale than previous clashes, but it's not more than that. The Muslim world sustained a whole lot worse even in recent history - and that was with more popular victims than the Palestinians. You keep banging on about the Arab/Muslim world as if the people are single minded drones that are only interested in one thing, that somehow fits your own views and bias. That's not the case.

There are similarities and differences between the situation Israel faces vs. Hamas, and The US/The West vs. AQ/ISIS. To start with, it is indeed impossible to fully eradicate a terrorist organization relying on religion, solid ideology and so on. The 'idea' remains, so to speak, and can be revived. But with that given in mind, it is certainly possible to render such a terrorist organization ineffectual, in disarray and posing less of a threat. This is by no means perfect - such organizations can revive, mutate, or be replaced by others. It's a question of choices - is the threat of letting them carry on greater than the 'costs' involved in crushing them (and whether conditions allow this)? AQ and ISIS have been, relatively speaking, quiet - and for some time now. Sure, they could be reorganizing, a new outfit could be growing in the shadows etc. But there is a reprieve, of sorts. And the alternative would have obviously been way worse. AQ and ISIS were far bigger fish than Hamas, in terms of membership, funding, arms, capabilities and global reach. Also, working the global angle (as opposed to Hamas's local appeal and cause) gave them greater potential support. If crushing them was possible, then dealing with a smaller, weaker and much better known opponent should be doable.

No, it won't. First of all, there will be no 'all Hamas members are killed'. If Israel manages to dispatch even the majority of the Hamas military wing members, it would be an unexpected achievement. Israel will not be able and nor is it in its interest to kill all Hamas members regardless of role. Hamas is more than rockets and barbarian attacks on Israel. There's a whole civilian side to it as well. I don't see how demanding the release of the hostages, and at the same time broadcasting all Hamas would be killed regardless is going to work. The only motivation remaining in such a situation is protecting the lives of Gazans, and Hamas already demonstrated its lack of interest in that. And no, peace will not prevail. Not with so many deaths. Do you expect people to simply forgive and forget? That's hardly realistic. It could be achieved in some situation where the conflict is shorter, narrower in scope or conducted in a more 'gentlemanly' manner. That's not the case.

By the same token, were the death inflicted on Israeli civilians by the Hamas not enough for the Palestinians? Are their supposed feelings of revenge not satisfied? And sure, go on posting Hamas supplied, unverified casualty figures, like they are a solid fact or anything. In your book, apparently, Palestinians killing Israelis is justified and carries no consequences. Somehow, you seem to think that 'reap what you sow' works only one way.

Thank you.

Israel said to form unit tasked with killing Hamas commandos behind Oct. 7 assault https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-form-unit-tasked-with-killing-hamas-commandos-behind-oct-7-assault/ Shin Bet usually works domestic, West Bank, Gaza Strip and (sometimes) Southern Lebanon. Mossad usually works abroad, outside Israel.

AP visual analysis: Rocket from Gaza appeared to go astray, likely caused deadly hospital explosion https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-hospital-rocket-gaza-e0fa550faa4678f024797b72132452e3 Yet another analysis supporting previous conclusions, but with more visuals.

What peace would that be?