Netanyahu rejects claims accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza

[CharlieH]

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday pushed back against claims that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, calling such accusations “false” after South Africa filed a case against Israel at the U.N.’s top court.

“I would like to say a word about South Africa’s false accusation that Israel is committing genocide. No, South Africa, it is not we who have come to perpetrate genocide, it is Hamas,” Netanyahu said during a Cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv, according to an English translation reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

 

“Hamas would kill us all if it only could,” Netanyahu added, referring to the Palestinian militant group that Israel has vowed to eliminate following its Oct. 7 surprise attack.

Netanyahu’s remarks were in response to South Africa’s launching a case at the U.N.’s International Court of Justice last week that accuses Israel of carrying out genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Netanyahu argued that Israel’s military is “acting as morally as possible” and doing “everything to avoid harming civilians” as it wages an offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

More than 21,500 Palestinians, including many women and children, have been killed since October, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

The Biden administration has strongly supported Israel following Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks, but in recent weeks U.S. officials have upped their calls for Israel to be more mindful of protecting civilian lives in the coastal enclave.

Several White House officials, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Defense Secretary Llyod Austin and Gen. CQ Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Israel earlier this month, where they encouraged the country to transition to a “lower-intensity” phase of the war.

 

FULL STORY

 

[Morch]

Kinda funny it's South Africa rushing to the front.

 

Earlier this year, South Africa was saved from major embarrassment (and potentially more than that) by Putin announcing he will skip the BRICS meeting held there.

 

There's an arrest warrant with Putin's name on it, and South Africa being an ICC member would have been obligated to act on it. There was a whole lot of pressure from Russia, a whole lot of squirming and dodging from South Africa trying to find ways around it, loopholes etc.

 

Will also be amusing to see the international composition of judges tasked with hearing this. Hilarity around the corner.

[Jeff the Chef]

Israeli officials are concerned the International Court of Justice (ICJ) could charge the state with genocide in Gaza, Haaretz reported on Monday. 

According to the Israeli daily, a senior legal expert dealing with the case has warned the military leadership that there is a "real danger" the court will issue an injection calling on Israel to halt its military action in Gaza. 

 

https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-officials-concerned-icj-could-charge-israel-genocide?nid=331061&topic=Israel-Palestine%20war&fid=495911

[couchpotato]

3 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

Israeli officials are concerned the International Court of Justice (ICJ) could charge the state with genocide in Gaza, Haaretz reported on Monday. 

According to the Israeli daily, a senior legal expert dealing with the case has warned the military leadership that there is a "real danger" the court will issue an injection calling on Israel to halt its military action in Gaza. 

 

https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-officials-concerned-icj-could-charge-israel-genocide?nid=331061&topic=Israel-Palestine%20war&fid=495911

Hope that 'injection' doesn't sting!

[thaibeachlovers]

12 hours ago, CharlieH said:

“I would like to say a word about South Africa’s false accusation that Israel is committing genocide. No, South Africa, it is not we who have come to perpetrate genocide, it is Hamas,” Netanyahu said during a Cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv, according to an English translation reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

 

“Hamas would kill us all if it only could,” Netanyahu added, referring to the Palestinian militant group that Israel has vowed to eliminate following its Oct. 7 surprise attack.

He's hardly going to agree that he's committing genocide, is he?

 

IMO the idea that Hamas, whatever it wants to do, is capable of killing all israelis, is a nonsense, and should not be given any credence at all by any rational person.

IMO it's just an excuse they trot out to justify blowing thousands of children to bits.

[2baht]

The lowlife Netanyahoo needs to be held accountable for the disgraceful atrocity he is committing! Beggars belief how the world has stood by and done absolutely NOTHING! Shame on all!

[bannork]

The IDF is being sued by some of  the concert survivors

https://m.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-780328

[Bkk Brian]

Issued by South Africa, no surprise there, any country can refer a case to ICJ. The ICJ is not the ICC, its another UN branch with no teeth and countries tend to abide by its rulings on a case by case basis, there are no penalties that can be issued by the court if they fail to do so. That is how the US interprets each case ruling from the ICJ. A good example being the ICJ ruled that Russia should immediately end its hostilities in Ukraine; that war is getting ready to enter its second year. The UN security council could in theory enforce consequences but we've seen how that performs in this war and all others with the vetos allowed.

 

Besides which the bar is high for a ruling of Genocide, intent needs to be found.

 

This from over a month ago:

 

South Africa's Government Is an Unapologetic, Shameless Proxy for Hamas and Iran

A pornographic, sycophantic romance between government ministers and Hamas leaders, a warm embrace for Iran, explicit calls to attack Jews, our homes, our workplaces, our schools. We South African Jews wonder if our own government is inciting pogroms against us.

Following the slaughter of more than 1,200 Israelis, most of them civilians, by Hamas terrorists, the kidnapping of 239 hostages into Gaza, and the onset of the latest Israel-Hamas war, there has been a sharp and frightening increase in antisemitic rhetoric and threatened violence around the world. But South African Jews are confronting a far more sinister and almost unique challenge: Our government has emerged as an unapologetic, shameless proxy for Hamas and Iran.

https://archive.ph/QreGb

https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2023-11-16/ty-article-opinion/.premium/south-africas-government-is-an-unapologetic-shameless-proxy-for-hamas-and-iran/0000018b-d7d9-dffa-adef-f7d979970000

[Morch]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

He's hardly going to agree that he's committing genocide, is he?

 

IMO the idea that Hamas, whatever it wants to do, is capable of killing all israelis, is a nonsense, and should not be given any credence at all by any rational person.

IMO it's just an excuse they trot out to justify blowing thousands of children to bits.

 

@thaibeachlovers

 

Hamas managed to kill over 1000 Israelis in a single day.

Israel's pace is nowhere close to that.

 

Hamas announced they would do it again, and again.

You say ignore it.

 

Try harder.

[Hanaguma]

Funny kind of 'genocide' where the population of the supposed genocide victims actually GROWS.  Grows by 400% since 1967.  

 

Same as the other tired shibboleth of Gaza being an "open air prison". Funny kind of prison which has KFC,  3 star hotels, and thousands of guests from outside visit for extended stays. 

[Jeff the Chef]

1 hour ago, Hanaguma said:

Funny kind of 'genocide' where the population of the supposed genocide victims actually GROWS.  Grows by 400% since 1967.  

 

Same as the other tired shibboleth of Gaza being an "open air prison". Funny kind of prison which has KFC,  3 star hotels, and thousands of guests from outside visit for extended stays. 

Just think how many more Palestinians there could have been if Israel had not continually "Mowed the lawn" or had treated them like Human Beings instead of human animals of a Zionist open-air prison.

 

KFC you're having a laugh, 10 years ago. https://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/16/world/meast/gaza-kfc-smuggling/index.html

 

IDF masses tanks and bulldozers on Gaza beach
Seafront which used to be popular destination for Palestinians to cool down in the summer is now home to the Israeli military. 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/17/idf-tanks-bulldozers-gaza-beach-hamas-israel-war/

[Bkk Brian]

28 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

Just think how many more Palestinians there could have been if Israel had not continually "Mowed the lawn" or had treated them like Human Beings instead of human animals of a Zionist open-air prison.

 

KFC you're having a laugh, 10 years ago. https://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/16/world/meast/gaza-kfc-smuggling/index.html

 

IDF masses tanks and bulldozers on Gaza beach
Seafront which used to be popular destination for Palestinians to cool down in the summer is now home to the Israeli military. 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/17/idf-tanks-bulldozers-gaza-beach-hamas-israel-war/

IDF masses tanks and bulldozers on Gaza beach
Seafront which used to be popular destination for Palestinians to cool down in the summer is now home to the Israeli military. 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/17/idf-tanks-bulldozers-gaza-beach-hamas-israel-war/

 

Its a war zone, what do you expect, Gazans sunning themselves at the beach while Israel sends missiles from its ship over their heads at terrorist infrastructure?

[Jeff the Chef]

45 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

IDF masses tanks and bulldozers on Gaza beach
Seafront which used to be popular destination for Palestinians to cool down in the summer is now home to the Israeli military. 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/17/idf-tanks-bulldozers-gaza-beach-hamas-israel-war/

 

Its a war zone, what do you expect, Gazans sunning themselves at the beach while Israel sends missiles from its ship over their heads at terrorist infrastructure?

Nice deflection away from the original post it was answering from Hanaguma

[Bkk Brian]

37 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

Nice deflection away from the original post it was answering from Hanaguma

I don't do deflection, I was addressing you not Hanaguma and letting you know why the beach is like that now.

 

Its a pity its a warzone, used to have some nice hotels:

 

 

 

[Hanaguma]

3 hours ago, Jeff the Chef said:

Just think how many more Palestinians there could have been if Israel had not continually "Mowed the lawn" or had treated them like Human Beings instead of human animals of a Zionist open-air prison.

 

KFC you're having a laugh, 10 years ago. https://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/16/world/meast/gaza-kfc-smuggling/index.html

 

IDF masses tanks and bulldozers on Gaza beach
Seafront which used to be popular destination for Palestinians to cool down in the summer is now home to the Israeli military. 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/11/17/idf-tanks-bulldozers-gaza-beach-hamas-israel-war/

Apologies. The KFCs are actually located in the West Bank, not in Gaza.  But your story was interesting- it freely admitted that there are HUNDREDS of tunnels used by Gazans to smuggle goods into and out of their area. Which is a first class, excellent reason why Israel needs to shut them all down. 

 

Again, not much of an 'open air prison' when KFC can be smuggled in. Or places like the Al Mathaf Hotel do business...

 

https://www.facebook.com/mathaf.hotel/

 

[Bkk Brian]

The bias UN, nothing new here, been bias against Jews for years

 

Top UN official ‘breached’ guidelines over liking series of anti-Israel tweets

Sarah Douglas, the deputy chief for peace, security and resilience at UN Women, endorsed a string of incendiary claims on social media following the October 7 attack.

One tweet posted on X/Twitter liked by Douglas that was posted on 16 October read: "We are currently witnessing all the forces of empire team up to annihilate the Palestinian people and struggle for freedom."

An 18 November tweet liked by Douglas declared: "The tide has turned. Young people simply will not allow our politicians to keep supporting the mass murder of Palestinians."

Meanwhile, a tweet posted by Jewish Voice for Peace on 11 December and also liked by Douglas accused America of "funding and arming the genocide in Gaza".

https://www.thejc.com/news/world/top-un-women-offici-breached-un-guidelines-over-liking-series-of-anti-israel-tweets-oxkr6h4t

[bannork]

Israel will go to court 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israel-to-defend-itself-at-world-court-after-south-africa-files-genocide-accusations

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, bannork said:

Israel will go to court 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/israel-to-defend-itself-at-world-court-after-south-africa-files-genocide-accusations

but will they turn up? If they don't who is going to make them- not the US for sure.

However, they ( the indicted ) may be liable to be arrested in a country in the ICC if they travel.

[Bkk Brian]

13 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

but will they turn up? If they don't who is going to make them- not the US for sure.

However, they ( the indicted ) may be liable to be arrested in a country in the ICC if they travel.

They don't have to turn up, its voluntary. This is not the ICC its ICJ. ICJ is a UN run court and has no teeth, just ask Russia.

[Bkk Brian]

‘We hold South Africa criminally complicit with the Hamas rapist regime’ Israeli government spokesman @EylonALevy explains the Israeli decision to appear before the ICJ: ‘To fight this absurd blood libel that stains the memory of the holocaust’ 

 

 

[Morch]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

but will they turn up? If they don't who is going to make them- not the US for sure.

However, they ( the indicted ) may be liable to be arrested in a country in the ICC if they travel.

 

@thaibeachlovers

 

How do you mean 'will they turn up'? Why wouldn't they?

Again, you seem to comment while not grasping basic facts - presence in the proceedings is voluntary.

There is no 'make them' element at play.

And this is the ICJ - not the ICC, and no liability of arrest, as you fantasize.

[Jeff the Chef]

The World should read the whole document, only available as a PDF file: https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20231228-app-01-00-en.pdf

 

                                   APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS

 

To the Registrar of the International Court of Justice, the undersigned, being duly authorised by the Government of the Republic of South Africa, state as follows: In accordance with Articles 36 (1) and 40 of the Statute of the Court and Article 38 of the Rules of Court, I have the honour to submit this Application instituting proceedings in the name of the Republic of South Africa (“South Africa”) against the State of Israel (“Israel”). Pursuant to Article 41 of the Statute, the Application includes a request that the Court indicate provisional measures to protect the rights invoked herein from imminent and irreparable loss.

[placeholder]

Genocide, no. But making Gaza so uninhabitable that its people will have to leave?

 

"By mid-December, Israel had dropped 29,000 bombs, munitions and shells on the strip. Nearly 70% of Gaza’s 439,000 homes and about half of its buildings have been damaged or destroyed. The bombing has damaged Byzantine churches and ancient mosques, factories and apartment buildings, shopping malls and luxury hotels, theaters and schools. Much of the water, electrical, communications and healthcare infrastructure that made Gaza function is beyond repair." 

https://archive.ph/r6pXX

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/gaza-destruction-bombing-israel-aa528542

 

Later in the article it's pointed out that the estimates of damage are probably underestimates.

 

And I know there are some who claim that the wild talk among a few right wing politicians about ethnic cleansing is not significant...

 

Israel in talks with Congo and other countries on Gaza ‘voluntary migration’ plan

The “voluntary” resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza is slowly becoming a key official policy of the government, with a senior official saying that Israel has held talks with several countries for their potential absorption.

Zman Israel, The Times of Israel’s Hebrew sister site, has learned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition is conducting secret contacts for accepting thousands of immigrants from Gaza with Congo, in addition to other nations.

“Congo will be willing to take in migrants, and we’re in talks with others,” a senior source in the security cabinet said.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-in-talks-with-congo-and-other-countries-on-gaza-voluntary-migration-plan/

 

Such folks are clearly not aware of a concept called the Overton Window:

"The Overton window is the range of policies politically acceptable to the mainstream population at a given time.[1] It is also known as the window of discourse."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window

 

 

 

[impulse]

On 1/2/2024 at 7:53 AM, bannork said:

The IDF is being sued by some of  the concert survivors

https://m.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-780328

 

From the link:

 

The lawsuit also claimed that since security forces were reportedly aware of the development of an unusual security situation on the night of October 6th and the early morning hours of the 7th, participants were still not sent home from the event. 

 

"It is incomprehensible," the court wrote, "how the defendants did not order the party to be dispersed immediately."

Despite the threat of terrorist infiltration, the party was still not dispersed nor did the security response/equipment match the extremity of the situation.

 

Almost seems like someone wanted it to happen.

[bannork]

Israel planning resettlement for the Gaza residents. 

But not to  the east, the south.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-slams-israeli-ministers-statements-resettlement-palestinians-outside-gaza-2024-01-02/#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C Jan 2 (Reuters),rhetoric "inflammatory and irresponsible."

[bannork]

13 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

From the link:

 

The lawsuit also claimed that since security forces were reportedly aware of the development of an unusual security situation on the night of October 6th and the early morning hours of the 7th, participants were still not sent home from the event. 

 

"It is incomprehensible," the court wrote, "how the defendants did not order the party to be dispersed immediately."

Despite the threat of terrorist infiltration, the party was still not dispersed nor did the security response/equipment match the extremity of the situation.

 

Almost seems like someone wanted it to happen.

Netanyahu is accused of supporting Hamas 

https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-years-netanyahu-propped-up-hamas-now-its-blown-up-in-our-faces/

[Bkk Brian]

43 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

From the link:

 

The lawsuit also claimed that since security forces were reportedly aware of the development of an unusual security situation on the night of October 6th and the early morning hours of the 7th, participants were still not sent home from the event. 

 

"It is incomprehensible," the court wrote, "how the defendants did not order the party to be dispersed immediately."

Despite the threat of terrorist infiltration, the party was still not dispersed nor did the security response/equipment match the extremity of the situation.

 

Almost seems like someone wanted it to happen.

Almost seems like someone wanted it to happen.

 

Oh the tedious conspiracy theories again...........yawn

[Morch]

46 minutes ago, placeholder said:

Genocide, no. But making Gaza so uninhabitable that its people will have to leave?

 

"By mid-December, Israel had dropped 29,000 bombs, munitions and shells on the strip. Nearly 70% of Gaza’s 439,000 homes and about half of its buildings have been damaged or destroyed. The bombing has damaged Byzantine churches and ancient mosques, factories and apartment buildings, shopping malls and luxury hotels, theaters and schools. Much of the water, electrical, communications and healthcare infrastructure that made Gaza function is beyond repair." 

https://archive.ph/r6pXX

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/gaza-destruction-bombing-israel-aa528542

 

Later in the article it's pointed out that the estimates of damage are probably underestimates.

 

And I know there are some who claim that the wild talk among a few right wing politicians about ethnic cleansing is not significant...

 

Israel in talks with Congo and other countries on Gaza ‘voluntary migration’ plan

The “voluntary” resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza is slowly becoming a key official policy of the government, with a senior official saying that Israel has held talks with several countries for their potential absorption.

Zman Israel, The Times of Israel’s Hebrew sister site, has learned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition is conducting secret contacts for accepting thousands of immigrants from Gaza with Congo, in addition to other nations.

“Congo will be willing to take in migrants, and we’re in talks with others,” a senior source in the security cabinet said.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-in-talks-with-congo-and-other-countries-on-gaza-voluntary-migration-plan/

 

Such folks are clearly not aware of a concept called the Overton Window:

"The Overton window is the range of policies politically acceptable to the mainstream population at a given time.[1] It is also known as the window of discourse."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window

 

 

 

 

Henry Kissinger once said that Israel has no foreign policy, only domestic policy. The current situation and the reports linked are another example of such.

 

Politically, Netanyahu cannot accept the obvious solution, which would be the PA stepping in and taking charge. This would not only be an embodiment of the failure of all his efforts to foster Hamas as counterweight and foe to the PA, but would raise the obvious public question of why this wasn't the path taken to begin with. So Netanyahu does was he usually does, play for time (discussions on 'the day after' delayed for weeks now), and hope some diversion, 'magic solution' or a politically 'marketable' option would come up. When the time is up, he often chooses what's in front of him, driven by panic and pressure from extreme right-wing elements (including family).

 

The religious right wing elements in the coalition see this whole thing as an opportunity to further their policies and ideology. On top of that, the two parties involved often try to outdo each other with extreme comments, playing out their own internal struggles.

 

These dynamics lead to such nonsense 'ideas', which cannot even be called policy, given how little thought goes into them. The minute this seems to get minimal traction with Netanyahu, all of the usual sycophants jump in and the circus is on. By then the 'thing' (whatever it is) gets it's own 'life' and momentum, which either end up with some daft move that goes nowhere (or causes damage), or there's some clumsy about face managed.

 

So no, not so much a policy as nonsense, and given that this is War Cabinet level stuff, the opposition members will have a veto right, or can opt to leave the government (as they said they would once the main fighting is over). This might be what Netanyahu is after, though - painting potential rivals as 'pro Gaza' or something, or spinning it as their fault when the whole thing crushes down.

 

Given the reports this seems to be a very far fetched notion - negotiations about maybe tens of thousands to be accepted? How does that change the situation? Saudi Arabia absorbing Palestinians? Palestinians who were indoctrinated by Hamas who's a designated terrorist organization down there? Doesn't sound like an option, never mind SA unlikely to paint itself as 'betraying' the Palestinians this way.

 

And Africa? Seriously? Palestinians are many things - racially open minded is not one of them. There are numerous slur terms like the N-word, there's a general bias against darker people (including Palestinians and Arabs). Plus, it doesn't take much to guess that moving to a third world country where they won't be necessarily welcome, will mean no real aid or attention in a relatively short span.

 

For those following American politics - think Trump with ideological/religious undercurrents, that kind of 'policy'.

[placeholder]

8 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

Henry Kissinger once said that Israel has no foreign policy, only domestic policy. The current situation and the reports linked are another example of such.

 

Politically, Netanyahu cannot accept the obvious solution, which would be the PA stepping in and taking charge. This would not only be an embodiment of the failure of all his efforts to foster Hamas as counterweight and foe to the PA, but would raise the obvious public question of why this wasn't the path taken to begin with. So Netanyahu does was he usually does, play for time (discussions on 'the day after' delayed for weeks now), and hope some diversion, 'magic solution' or a politically 'marketable' option would come up. When the time is up, he often chooses what's in front of him, driven by panic and pressure from extreme right-wing elements (including family).

 

The religious right wing elements in the coalition see this whole thing as an opportunity to further their policies and ideology. On top of that, the two parties involved often try to outdo each other with extreme comments, playing out their own internal struggles.

 

These dynamics lead to such nonsense 'ideas', which cannot even be called policy, given how little thought goes into them. The minute this seems to get minimal traction with Netanyahu, all of the usual sycophants jump in and the circus is on. By then the 'thing' (whatever it is) gets it's own 'life' and momentum, which either end up with some daft move that goes nowhere (or causes damage), or there's some clumsy about face managed.

 

So no, not so much a policy as nonsense, and given that this is War Cabinet level stuff, the opposition members will have a veto right, or can opt to leave the government (as they said they would once the main fighting is over). This might be what Netanyahu is after, though - painting potential rivals as 'pro Gaza' or something, or spinning it as their fault when the whole thing crushes down.

 

Given the reports this seems to be a very far fetched notion - negotiations about maybe tens of thousands to be accepted? How does that change the situation? Saudi Arabia absorbing Palestinians? Palestinians who were indoctrinated by Hamas who's a designated terrorist organization down there? Doesn't sound like an option, never mind SA unlikely to paint itself as 'betraying' the Palestinians this way.

 

And Africa? Seriously? Palestinians are many things - racially open minded is not one of them. There are numerous slur terms like the N-word, there's a general bias against darker people (including Palestinians and Arabs). Plus, it doesn't take much to guess that moving to a third world country where they won't be necessarily welcome, will mean no real aid or attention in a relatively short span.

 

For those following American politics - think Trump with ideological/religious undercurrents, that kind of 'policy'.

Given that Gaza has basically been rendered uninhabitable, certainly for all 2 million of its people, the desire to survive is a powerful incentive. And who says that the opposition would oppose this "voluntary" expatriation?

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, placeholder said:

Genocide, no. But making Gaza so uninhabitable that its people will have to leave?

 

"By mid-December, Israel had dropped 29,000 bombs, munitions and shells on the strip. Nearly 70% of Gaza’s 439,000 homes and about half of its buildings have been damaged or destroyed. The bombing has damaged Byzantine churches and ancient mosques, factories and apartment buildings, shopping malls and luxury hotels, theaters and schools. Much of the water, electrical, communications and healthcare infrastructure that made Gaza function is beyond repair." 

https://archive.ph/r6pXX

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/gaza-destruction-bombing-israel-aa528542

 

Later in the article it's pointed out that the estimates of damage are probably underestimates.

 

And I know there are some who claim that the wild talk among a few right wing politicians about ethnic cleansing is not significant...

 

Israel in talks with Congo and other countries on Gaza ‘voluntary migration’ plan

The “voluntary” resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza is slowly becoming a key official policy of the government, with a senior official saying that Israel has held talks with several countries for their potential absorption.

Zman Israel, The Times of Israel’s Hebrew sister site, has learned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition is conducting secret contacts for accepting thousands of immigrants from Gaza with Congo, in addition to other nations.

“Congo will be willing to take in migrants, and we’re in talks with others,” a senior source in the security cabinet said.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-in-talks-with-congo-and-other-countries-on-gaza-voluntary-migration-plan/

 

Such folks are clearly not aware of a concept called the Overton Window:

"The Overton window is the range of policies politically acceptable to the mainstream population at a given time.[1] It is also known as the window of discourse."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window

 

 

 

The bombing has damaged Byzantine churches and ancient mosques, factories and apartment buildings, shopping malls and luxury hotels, theaters and schools. Much of the water, electrical, communications and healthcare infrastructure that made Gaza function is beyond repair."

 

So it wasnt quite the open air prison that so many said it was then? Luxury hotels, theaters..................I've seen some of those beachside hotels, had Hams used its money for Gaza instead of tunnels, military equipment and enriching itself Gaza could have begun to prosper.

 

Terrible about the water infrastructure too but then Hamas never really cared for it, instead it stole the water pipes to make rockets and proudly boasted about it in videos.