Blinken says cost of conflict on children far too high

[CharlieH]

 

The cost of war on Gaza's civilians is "far too high", US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.

Mr Blinken said Israel needed to remove barriers so more essential aid could be allowed into Gaza.

But he said Israel faced a huge challenge in fighting an enemy in Hamas which had embedded itself within the civilian population.

Mr Blinken was speaking after meeting Israeli leaders on his fourth trip to the country since the conflict began.

America's top diplomat told a press conference in Tel Aviv that leaders in the region shared US concerns about the "dire humanitarian situation" on the ground.

But he said he had heard a new and powerful message from Israel's neighbours over the last three days.

 

They are willing not only to live with Israel but to integrate the region in a way that makes everyone secure, including Israel, Mr Blinken said.

In other words, talk of diplomatic normalisation with Israel - which had appeared to be derailed by the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel - is on the table.

That, he said, would require some hard decisions and hard choices - which include Israel agreeing to a "clear pathway to the realisation of Palestinian political rights and a Palestinian state" which he said was vital for long-term peace.

Mr Blinken would not be drawn on whether this was something Israel would consider. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously voiced his staunch opposition to such a state, citing security concerns.

Israel launched its offensive in Gaza in response to a cross-border assault by Hamas - designated a terrorist organisation by Israel and many western nations including the US. 1,300 people were killed in the attacks.

Since then, more than 23,200 people - mostly women and children - have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

 

• Israel's border residents in fear of invasion from north
• Saudi Arabia interested in Israel deal after war

 

When asked about whether there was any evidence that Israel was de-escalating its military campaign in Gaza, Mr Blinken answered that no one in the region - including the Israelis - wanted the conflict to escalate.

That may be reassuring for many worried about the conflict spreading, but he gave no indication that Israel told him it was winding down its military operations anytime soon.

In recent weeks, Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based organisation designated a terrorist group by the US, has increased rocket fire into northern Israel.

Yemeni Houthi rebels have also attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea - one of the world's most important trading routes.

The Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas are backed by Iran.

Mr Blinken's meetings in Israel on Tuesday were not entirely without tangible results. He announced that the US and Israel agreed on a plan for the UN to conduct an "assessment mission" that would be the first step toward allowing Palestinians to return to the areas of northern Gaza that have been devastated by the Israeli offensive.

 

FULL STORY

 

[2baht]

American bombs, Tony boy. you should be totally ashamed of yourself for backing the tyrant Netahyahoo! 

[Nick Carter icp]

19 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

They are willing not only to live with Israel but to integrate the region in a way that makes everyone secure, including Israel, Mr Blinken said.

 

   THAT should be the headline news .

That story is massive , Israel's neighbours are willing to make peace with Israel .

That will infuriate Western Jew not likers 

[Morch]

23 minutes ago, 2baht said:

American bombs, Tony boy. you should be totally ashamed of yourself for backing the tyrant Netahyahoo! 

 

Tyrant how?

[2baht]

Just now, Morch said:

 

Tyrant how?

22,000 dead Palestinians including innocent women and children, is that not enough for you??? Netanyahoo is a warmongering lowlife!

[Bkk Brian]

31 minutes ago, 2baht said:

American bombs, Tony boy. you should be totally ashamed of yourself for backing the tyrant Netahyahoo! 

Should they have backed the terrorists instead?

[Morch]

7 minutes ago, 2baht said:

22,000 dead Palestinians including innocent women and children, is that not enough for you??? Netanyahoo is a warmongering lowlife!

 

I was questioning your choice of word. How is Netanyahu a 'tyrant'?

He was elected, and is very dependent on problematic political partners/rivals.

 

As for your new choice of word - 'warmongering'? How? Was it Netanyahu that started the 7/10 attack? Or do you think any country would refrain from a strong reaction to something like that? Also, considering his policy until then was to basically pay off Hamas, that doesn't quite fit either.

 

He's many bad things - but you're all over the place.

Edited January 10 by Morch

[2baht]

3 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Should they have backed the terrorists instead?

Hamas terrorists killed 236 Israeli's, IDF terrorists have killed 22,000 Palestinians so far, slight imbalance. would you not agree???

[Bkk Brian]

4 minutes ago, 2baht said:

Hamas terrorists killed 236 Israeli's, IDF terrorists have killed 22,000 Palestinians so far, slight imbalance. would you not agree???

Hamas terrorists have killed far more than that, you forget Oct 7th.

 

IDF are not terrorists and how many of those 22,000 were Hamas terrorists that were killed.

[Summerinsiam]

Blinken is wasting his time. He may have good intentions but Netanyahu is clearly not listening. Indeed, the war criminal daren't stop in case he is removed from his position by the Israeli people, with whom he is now deeply unpopular, or faces a corruption trial. He is blinded by self-interest, and doesn't care if he sets the whole region on fire. Until the Americans back up their rhetoric with actions, or the war criminal is replaced, nothing sadly will change. Blinken can visit every week if it takes his fancy.

[2baht]

1 minute ago, Bkk Brian said:

Hamas terrorists have killed far more than that, you forget Oct 7th.

 

IDF are not terrorists and how many of those 22,000 were Hamas terrorists that were killed.

Oh come on, how many of those 22,000 were innocent civilians???

[ozimoron]

1 minute ago, Bkk Brian said:

Hamas terrorists have killed far more than that, you forget Oct 7th.

 

IDF are not terrorists and how many of those 22,000 were Hamas terrorists that were killed.

 

The IDF are doing their duty. Those commanding them are war criminals. Those IDF officers following illegal orders are also war criminals.

[Bkk Brian]

2 minutes ago, 2baht said:

Oh come on, how many of those 22,000 were innocent civilians???

That's not what I asked? Surely if you keep up with this then you'd know?

[ozimoron]

1 minute ago, Bkk Brian said:

That's not what I asked? Surely if you keep up with this then you'd know?

 

The quick answer is most of them.

[2baht]

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

That's not what I asked? Surely if you keep up with this then you'd know?

If you are that on top of it, you will know! 

[Bkk Brian]

2 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

 

The IDF are doing their duty. Those commanding them are war criminals. Those IDF officers following illegal orders are also war criminals.

Baseless accusations, unsubstantiated and reckless. Please provide a link to these criminals.

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, 2baht said:

If you are that on top of it, you will know! 

I do of course but obviously you don't, the latest figure is 8 - 9,000 Hamas terrorists killed. 

[ozimoron]

2 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Baseless accusations, unsubstantiated and reckless. Please provide a link to these criminals.

 

In case you missed it a country complained to the ICJ making the same accusations. They are far from baseless. The photos of kids blown apart is enough, let alone the mass bombings and the thousands of victim accounts.

[Morch]

8 minutes ago, Summerinsiam said:

Blinken is wasting his time. He may have good intentions but Netanyahu is clearly not listening. Indeed, the war criminal daren't stop in case he is removed from his position by the Israeli people, with whom he is now deeply unpopular, or faces a corruption trial. He is blinded by self-interest, and doesn't care if he sets the whole region on fire. Until the Americans back up their rhetoric with actions, or the war criminal is replaced, nothing sadly will change. Blinken can visit every week if it takes his fancy.

 

7 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

 

The IDF are doing their duty. Those commanding them are war criminals. Those IDF officers following illegal orders are also war criminals.

 

Both of you toss 'war criminals', 'war crimes' about as if these are decided things.

They are not.

[2baht]

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

I do of course but obviously you don't, the latest figure is 8 - 9,000 Hamas terrorists killed. 

So,about 13,000 - 14,000 civilians! Who are the terrorists???

[ozimoron]

3 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

I do of course but obviously you don't, the latest figure is 8 - 9,000 Hamas terrorists killed. 

 

Approximately 3 civilians killed for each terrorist. I'm guessing you think that's acceptable.

[Morch]

1 minute ago, ozimoron said:

 

In case you missed it a country complained to the ICJ making the same accusations. They are far from baseless. The photos of kids blown apart is enough, let alone the mass bombings and the thousands of victim accounts.

 

@ozimoron

 

In case you missed it, the case was not even heard, let alone decided.

You state things as facts, where in reality they are your opinion.

[Morch]

2 minutes ago, 2baht said:

So,about 13,000 - 14,000 civilians! Who are the terrorists???

 

Hamas.

People get killed in wars. That doesn't make wars acts of terrorism.

Edited January 10 by Morch

[Summerinsiam]

According to some estimates more civilians have been killed than during the entire duration of the Russian Ukrainian conflict. But that's ok? The double standards and hypocrisy are off the scale.

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, 2baht said:

So,about 13,000 - 14,000 civilians! Who are the terrorists???

What do you mean who are the terrorist's? The ones with guns calling themselves Hamas, who else?

 

Yep, that's what happens when Hamas uses civilians as human shields:

 

Hamas’s Strategy of Human Sacrifice

While some of Hamas’s most brutal tactics, like systematic rape and beheading captives, are long-practiced atrocities for which the armies of Stalin, Hitler, and Genghis Khan are infamous, it is unprecedented for a party to adopt a war strategy to maximize civilian deaths on its own side. This is so strange and evil that it should appall any decent person. Contrary to conventional commentary, this is not a human shield strategy. It’s a human sacrifice strategy.

This is not simply a human-shield strategy, where the aim is to deter an attack by using innocent lives as a barrier. Hamas is doing something far more insidious: it’s ensuring the mass death of Palestinians. Here is Hamas official Ali Baraka summing up the difference between the two worldviews: “The Israelis are known to love life. We, on the other hand, sacrifice ourselves. We consider our dead to be martyrs.” 

https://www.hudson.org/terrorism/hamas-strategy-human-sacrifice-douglas-feith

 

[Morch]

Just now, Summerinsiam said:

According to some estimates more civilians have been killed than during the entire duration of the Russian Ukrainian conflict. But that's ok? The double standards and hypocrisy are off the scale.

 

What 'some estimates'? And are conditions similar?

[2baht]

1 minute ago, Morch said:

 

Hamas.

People get killed in wars. That doesn't make wars acts of terrorism.

Morch, opinions are like buttholes, I would assume we all have one! Maybe genocide is the correct word!

[Bkk Brian]

1 minute ago, ozimoron said:

 

Approximately 3 civilians killed for each terrorist. I'm guessing you think that's acceptable.

You guess a lot, carry on the guessing. 

[ozimoron]

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

What do you mean who are the terrorist's? The ones with guns calling themselves Hamas, who else?

 

Yep, that's what happens when Hamas uses civilians as human shields:

 

Hamas’s Strategy of Human Sacrifice

While some of Hamas’s most brutal tactics, like systematic rape and beheading captives, are long-practiced atrocities for which the armies of Stalin, Hitler, and Genghis Khan are infamous, it is unprecedented for a party to adopt a war strategy to maximize civilian deaths on its own side. This is so strange and evil that it should appall any decent person. Contrary to conventional commentary, this is not a human shield strategy. It’s a human sacrifice strategy.

This is not simply a human-shield strategy, where the aim is to deter an attack by using innocent lives as a barrier. Hamas is doing something far more insidious: it’s ensuring the mass death of Palestinians. Here is Hamas official Ali Baraka summing up the difference between the two worldviews: “The Israelis are known to love life. We, on the other hand, sacrifice ourselves. We consider our dead to be martyrs.” 

https://www.hudson.org/terrorism/hamas-strategy-human-sacrifice-douglas-feith

 

 

War criminals are terrorists too.

 

[Morch]

Just now, 2baht said:

Morch, opinions are like buttholes, I would assume we all have one! Maybe genocide is the correct word!

 

That would be you misusing yet another word.

And I wasn't offering an opinion, but facts.