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How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?

  • 85.2k
    LeslieG
    Voted Angry
    10/13/2023

    Haven't seen any humanitarian corridors established to provide Palestians with food, water, drugs, fuel nor safe areas designated, especially all existing hospitals.

    While Israel has a right to defend itself and the US has armed Israel over the years ($3B/year) it does not have a right to bomb Palestians civilians and infrastructure which is not only a war crime but escalatory as Hezbollah may join the fray in the north even if Lebanon and Jordan don't officially.

    Asking 1M civilians to evacuate in 24 hr is not feasible even if they all had cars, had a place to go, and roads that were not bombed. Think about the planning that goes into US evacuations for fires and hurricanes where 2-3M people are involved that happen over days, to shelters with provisions where everyone has a vehicle.

    Time to remind Israel about the rules of war, and  not destroying civilians or non-military infrastructure.

    https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/09/hurricane-ian-florida-evacuation-orders-zones/671612/

  • 6,794
    larubia
    Voted Apathetic
    10/09/2023

    I'm saddened by recent events and worried about the implications for the United States and our NATO allies. Although this attack seemingly did not make intelligence agency's radar, it's been brewing for a while & Isreal is not blameless, in my opinion. 

    This region has been fought over for centuries, because of religion. I find it ironic that the major tenet of each of these religions is, in a sense, "the Golden Rule".

     

    Here is a brief history:

    https://youtu.be/m19F4IHTVGc?si=2g7tcaPsWPsNfu-w

  • 6,309
    Bruce
    Voted Sad
    10/10/2023

    Unfortunately, the U.S. response is the same as every other time that Palestinians have lashed out against Israel for the terrible Apartheid treatment they've suffered.  

    This retaliation will not provide any positive results, but the Palestinians' suffering has reached a breaking point.  

    The U.S. must become an advocate for justice for both sides--not a cheerleader for Israel.

  • 1,754
    RoyB
    10/09/2023

    I read the whole comments.  I will look at another alternative.

    The enmity between Israel and Hamas is complex and multifaceted, butI believe that religion and claims to religious buildings certainly play a role.

    Both Israel and Hamas are religious movements with strong ties to Judaism and Islam, respectively. Jews believe that the land of Israel is promised to them by God, while Muslims believe that Jerusalem is the third holiest city in Islam. The Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem is sacred to both Jews and Muslims, and competing claims to the site have been a source of tension and violence for centuries.

    So one could say the war going on is because of religion and land grab on both sides.  

    I don't know what the solution is other than for them to grow up and realize religions are not good reasons to go war.  Historically, many wars happened because of religions.  

  • 675
    Keyless
    Voted Happy
    10/17/2023

    Biden is correct. An Israeli ground invasion of Gaza could very well prove to be a collosal mistake.

    There is a good chance of it proving counterproductive in terms of subdoing Hamas;

    A good chance of serious unintended consequences,

    A chance of it sparking a larger confilct in the region, including possible world war;

    And finally, a full scale invasion in civilian territory will likely paint Israel in a very negative light internationally.

  • 1,697
    George
    Voted Excited
    10/09/2023

    i'm so proud of President Biden and the state department for standing with israel

  • 3,820
    Jean
    Voted Angry
    10/09/2023

    CAUSES TELLS ME, THEN ASKS:  " Welcome to Monday, October 9th, nations... . Over the weekend, the Hamas militant group carried out shock attacks on Israel. Rocket attacks from Gaza continue to target Israel. Israel says it regained control of its communities near Gaza, but militant groups remain active. More than 700 people have been killed in Israel, and over 500 people have died in Gaza since Israel began retaliatory air strikes on the area. More than 120,000 Gazans have been displaced from their homes.  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday:        “We are at war and we will win it.” How do you feel about the U.S. response so far?"

    ME:  Angry, very angry. There has been absolutely NO acknowledgement on the part  of the US Government (and the West in general) of the fact that the Gaza strip is considered in international circles as "the world's biggest outdoor prison," nor has the entire West -- other than those involved in humanitarian efforts -- recognized Israel's creation of this "prison."   How many years in prison would YOU tolerate?

    "UN human rights expert: ‘I’m horrified by the narrative’  “Like many, I’m totally petrified by what’s happening,” Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, told Al Jazeera. “Before anything else, I’m horrified by the narrative,” Albanese added. “It’s possible, and necessary, to stand with both the Palestinians and Israelis without resorting to ethical relativism, selective outrage or worse: calls for violence.” Albanese, who has been in the role as an independent UN human rights expert for 16 months, said that “violence escalating against defenceless Palestinians [is] something that has been ongoing for over six decades now. Fifty six years just in the context of the occupation,” She acknowledged that Israelis were in pain but that this needed to be put in the “context of decades of oppression imposed on the Palestinians”. “The militarized, settler-colonial occupation that Israel maintains traps both people,” she added. Politicians and policymakers “should prioritise restoring legality and accountability, using diplomacy and peace as conflict resolution methods,” said Albanese, “rather than advocating for more violence or standing with one side or another”."  [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/10/8/israel-palestine-escalation-live-israeli-forces-bombard-gaza]

    IMHO, the root causes for today's war lies directly in the thought-less decisions by the allied powers in 1948 to simply remove people who had lived in the area for hundreds, if not thousands, of years and give their land over to others. And then, repeatedly and for decades thereafter fail to condemn these new occupiers for their hostile and illegal acts against those they displaced: building illegal settlements? Tisk, tisk, you shouldn't do that. Blockading their means of support, jobs, food, medicine, electricity, water? Tisk, tisk. Again and again and again with impunity -- while providing their aggressors with the guns and ammo then, as now, used against them. DO I CONDONE HAMAS? Absolutely not.  DO I CONDEMN HAMAS? No. But IMHO it's the repeated failure by the West -- and especially the US (perhaps from some sort of guilt for its failure to accept Jewish immigrants during the Holocaust) -- to long ago take strong steps to adequately and firmly address the "Palestinian Problem," and the West's willful and blind support for Israel no matter what -- that's got us to where we are now. It doesn't, of course, help that the Palestinians are Muslims.

    Since most Americans are totally ignorant when it comes to the Middle East in general and the divided Palestinian states, I STRONGLY urge them to skip the Western propaganada for a while and read this basic guide: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/14/a-guide-to-the-gaza-strip

  • 41.3k
    Brian
    Voted Apathetic
    10/13/2023

    It sounds more and more like Israel is about to commit mass casualties, possibly genocide, in Gaza starting as soon as their morning tomorrow.

    The international community and our US leadership needs to speak out loudly and strongly that while the horrors of last weekend were abominable and terrorism cannot be accepted, the destruction of human lives in retribution and in violation of international law is completely unacceptable.

    Netanyahu has long been a right-wing extremist when it comes to treatment of the Palestinian people, and it looks like he's finally found his reason to carry out his darkest impulses. 

    May God have mercy on the people of Gaza.

  • 6,309
    Bruce
    Voted Sad
    11/09/2023

    Money talks...  

    President Biden needs to threaten to withdraw monetary support for the Israeli GENOCIDE of Palestinians  civilians in Gaza and the West Bank unless Israel accepts a Ceasefire...  

    Let the UN provide for the needs of the surviving Ppalestinians.

  • 37
    Rebecca
    Voted Happy
    10/10/2023

    The President and many advisers are working around the clock to advocate for both hostages and Israel. Palestinian people need to be heard but do not need representation by Hamas -or Iran or other outside groups.

  • 46
    Amy
    11/05/2023

    We need to use our power and influence to stop the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza Strip. Too many innocents are dying.

  • 777
    Reilly
    Voted Excited
    10/13/2023

    Good on the President for saying what he said. 

     

    President Biden called Hamas' attack on Israel "pure unadulterated evil," as he vowed, "We stand with Israel."

    "We'll make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of itself," Biden said Tuesday from the White House.

    Hamas militants attacked Israel on Saturday, killing more than 900 people, including at least 14 Americans. Israel has responded with a siege and heavy bombing of the Gaza Strip.

    "Like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond — indeed has a duty to respond — to these vicious attacks," Biden said.

    Biden has expressed full-throated support for Israel in the wake of what he and his officials have described as terrorist attacks.

     

    https://www.npr.org/2023/10/10/1204861972/biden-will-address-the-nation-on-the-israel-attack

  • 738
    Ty
    Voted Angry
    Yesterday at 2:06 AM

    This president has spent 50 years and 8 years of job shadowing and he refuses to be a leader and encourages peace! This man is a disgrace and he is a Republican if you want my 

  • 8,656
    Charles
    Voted Sad
    last Saturday

    more humantarian supplies needed to both sides.Stop the Israeli weapons supply.

  • 467
    Thomas
    Voted Angry
    last Saturday

    Genocide is genocide, no matter who does it. "An eye for an eye" is one thing, but destroying the whole body in retribution goes beyond anything remotely (and I hate using the term) "rational".

  • 578
    Arnold
    Voted Apathetic
    last Saturday

    If you think those conditions are bad just wait,they'll get worse. When the parking lot is finished it'll be over and better.

  • 147
    Joyce
    Voted Angry
    last Saturday

    The US is enabling Israel to commit genicide by its veto if the UN Resolution to have Israel accept a cease fire on Gaza. Where is our country's commitment to International rules of War? Killing innocent civilians, women, children and non combatants; bombing hospitals, Refugee Camps and civilian residents are illegal according to Law. The danger to the Hamas captives by Israel's bombing and threatened flooding of Gaza tunnels demonstrates the absolute rage and need for retaliation rather than careful and strategic planning to rescue hostages and to capture Hamas Terrorists.

    How can we support and justify this illegal and savage attack on an entire population of civilians. How can we support Netanyahu who has worked to undermine democracy in Israel, has been indited for crimes he has committed and may be using this assault on Gaza to delay his removal from office and possible conviction for his crimes.

  • 743
    Hector
    Voted Angry
    last Saturday

    The 🇺🇸 has sponsored the genocide of the Palestinians. 🇺🇸 has sponsored the ethnic cleansing with both weapons and our tax dollars. I'm ashamed my politicians are so evil. Considering the Palestinians and Israelis share an incredible amount of DNA genes and all that seeing as how they've been neighbors all these thousands of years in shocked that America would sponsor this genocide taking place by Israel. The Israeli government boasts genocide is their goal and 🇺🇸 all pays them to do it. Ashamed! Shame! Stop the genocide!

  • 743
    Hector
    Voted Angry
    last Friday

    This is genocide fully sponsored by American funds and weapons. Stop the war propaganda. As far as DNA goes Israelis and Palestinians are extremely closely related. The war on the Muslims has gone on now for 57 years. Get a grip on reality. I denounce my tax dollars going to Israel any longer. The Israeli government cabinet and president boldly insists genocide is required for their happiness. 

  • 1,088
    Tammy
    Voted Angry
    last Friday

    we need to come to the defence of the palestinian people they dont have the jets that drop bombs on unarmed palestinians destroying their homes and murdering their children they ahvent any food water and hospitals are being destroyed which means that they r running out of medical supplies children are being murdered daily this is genocide and it needs to stop . who protects the palestinians from the israeli invasion and genocide

  • 434
    Gramto12
    Voted Angry
    last Friday

    Stop supporting the massacre of civilians! This is NOT self defense, it's an excuse to slaughter people and steal their land. And we are paying for it with cash and world standing. We are NOT on the side of the good guys, our actions are creating more terrorists.

  • 46
    Mark
    Voted Sad
    last Friday

    I don't condone Hamas attack on Israel, however, the Israeli response and civilian casualties should be condemned by the IS,

    I do not support military aid to Israel. I do not support military aid to hamas.
    I do support humanitarian air to both Israel and the Palestinians. They are the innocents. Hamas is the enemy.

  • 250
    Cynthia
    Voted Apathetic
    last Friday

    We have turned a blind eye to the apartheid-like machinations of the State of Israel for far too long. What Netanyahu is doing is genocide regarding the people in Gaza. Yes, I agree that Hamas is a terrorist group and wants to destroy Israel just as much as Israel wants to destroy Hamas. They are fighting over land that both claim is rightfully theirs, but there is no wise King Solomon to settle it. An eye for an eye makes both sides blind.

     

    We must do more to stop both sides

  • 2,505
    530 East Hunt Highway
    Voted Apathetic
    last Friday

    You're worried about pictures of men in their underwear.... where is your concern for the women who were raped or the children beheaded? Shame on this blog for having such screwed up priorities! 

  • 167
    Robert
    Voted Angry
    last Friday

    This war will end poorly for Israel in every aspect. Our price to pay will come in the form of hostility to U.S. policy aims throughout the region, and a revival of terrorism events in the west.

  • 1,298
    John
    Voted Apathetic
    last Friday

    The Israeli/Hamas war is troubling and frustrating.  The US has done quite a lot in working behind the scenes for the pause in conflict and releasing of many hostages.  However, there is not much the US can do outside of pressuring Israel into do everything it can to hold down civilian casualties. 

    The fact that there is now talk in Congress of adding conditions to any aid package for Israel is a positive step.  We need to continue to insist that there ultiamtely be a two state solution.

    However, what is troubling are many of the protests here and abroad that simply take the side of Palestinians and call for retribution on Jews.  This is totally wrong.  There are too many outcries that sound like 1936 Germany. 

    America, as Lincoln called it, the last best hope for the world, needs to exercise compasion for both sides.

    The horrible sexual violence atrocities that Hamas inflicted on people at the music festival and kibuttzs that are coming to light now is a reason to take a deep breath and exercise level headed judgement of the conflict.  It is difficult for folks, on both sides, who have experienced tragedy and seemingly senseless violence to not want revenge.  Those of us not involved in the conflict need to call for reason and recognize that revenge never solves anything, except set the stage for more violence.

  • 49
    Chrissa
    Voted Angry
    last Wednesday

    CEASEFIRE NOW! Stop sending out tax dollars to Israel, a lawless, far right regime!

  • 99
    Jan
    Voted Angry
    last Thursday

    Israel's treatment of Palestinians is that of the Nazis. Israel is not a democracy. Israel should not receive aid. Palestinians are not all Hamas - however because Irael's treatment for decades and the current mass killings Hamas will grow. When will humans learn? 

  • 3,395
    Adel
    last Thursday

    I thought it was odd when the fighting in the North stopped and Sharron told all the Palestinians to go to South Gaza.  I knew it was a trap and it was!  It was a perfect place to go to be massacred by Hamas!  Now the Israelis only have a few left to rape and murder.  It makes me sick.  

  • 43
    Alex
    Voted Angry
    last Wednesday

    I am a firm supporter of the Military and International organizations but I have to say as the worlds strongest military what Is the our stance on this? Especially when compared to what Russia is doing to Ukraine. I know it not exactly the same but think of it this way; to my knowledge (which I admit is little compared to Ukraine) most of the citizens in Gaza either are just regular people or have no interest in the conflict, of course like any sentient creature you "push it into a corner it will fight back" to put it in blunt terms Gaza is Ukraine and Israel is Russia we can't support Ukraine and condemn Gaza.

  • 578
    Arnold
    Voted Apathetic
    last Thursday

    Is Causes an arm of hamas?

  • 738
    Robert
    Voted Apathetic
    last Thursday

    This is such a multifaceted issue that a quick response seems insufficient. 
    There is no "correct side" in this conflict. Hamas and the government of Israel are both culpable in the deaths of Palestinians, and Hamas is directly to blame for the atrocities (terror attack) on Israel. 
    The Israeli government has been an apartheid structure since 1948. Hamas has been a terrorist organization since its' rise to power.
    I believe we should support the people of Israel in the drive to at least reduce Hamas to a manageable nuisance, and Netenyaho must have conditions applied to military and monetary support.