The Latest: Israel To Expand Ground Operations in Southern Gaza

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

  • 84.8k
    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/

  • 6,754
    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

  • 2,303
    Martha
    Voted Happy
    10/09/2023

    To tell the truth, I'm not sure how I feel.  While, I don't condone the attack, I know that Israel is not innocent as they have launched attacks in the past that seemed unprovoked (although I don't live over there so I can't really say for sure that the past attacks on Gaza were without provocation).  All I know is that both sides have acted like spoiled toddlers and need to sit down like real adults and work out some solution that benefits both sides.  Obviously, Gaza has reasons to not like or trust Israel and likewise Israel has reasons to not like or trust Gaza, but at some point this shit has to stop to stop the senseless killing on both sides.

  • 6,269
    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.

  • 1,700
    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.  

  • 1,684
    George
    Voted Excited
    10/09/2023

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

  • 3,815
    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

  • 41.0k
    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.

  • 6,269
    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.

  • 669
    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.

  • 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.

  • 763
    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

  • 5,859
    DaveS
    Voted Apathetic
    Today at 4:19 PM

    You got two religious porxy wars, Christians nationalist orthodox Church fighting Jews in Ukraine-Russia. Now you got nationalist muslims fighting Jews in Gaza-Israel. When religion is governments and vice versa, you get religious wars with the civilian people in the middle. Dictatorship use religion to justify their suppression and action for killing and war. 

  • 2,100
    wpeckham
    Voted Sad
    Yesterday at 3:47 AM

    The Administration has done an excellent job of supporting established US policy while bringing what pressure it can on the situation to reduce loss of US lives. That said, it is a difficult situation for us.  The US has no authority in this, none whatever.  When we speak in support of Israel we are seen as supporting apartied and Zionist terrorists.  If we say anyting that support Palestinians we are seen as supproting Hamaz terrorists.  There is no way to support the innocent Jews or innocent Palestinians without being seen as supporting terrorist and war criminals because both sides are terrorists and war crimminals!  I wish we had a functional Congress that could consider this and assist the administration!

  • 2,737
    Surender
    Voted Apathetic
    last Saturday

    Harris says US will ‘under no circumstances’ permit forced relocation of Palestinians

    Which planet are you on?

    Has been happening for decades and now is in its last phase

    if you mean what you say bring them all back home 

    shame on congress

    shame on the admins 

  • 2,737
    Surender
    Voted Apathetic
    last Friday

    First day after truce 200 palestinians killed who knows how many injured with no working med facilities 

    and you expect sympathy with your expansion and illegal occupation? 

    shame on congress

    shame on the administration

    shame on the zionistas 

  • 39.7k
    Andy
    Voted Angry
    last Friday

    Adding truth to history! From The NY Times ...


    "Israel Knew Hamas’s Attack Plan More Than a Year Ago
    A blueprint reviewed by The Times laid out the attack in detail. Israeli officials dismissed it as aspirational and ignored specific warnings."

    https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/30/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-attack-intelligence.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Ck0.9lpo.BNXM7kjBm_gr&smid=url-share

    HOW!

  • 2,496
    530 East Hunt Highway
    Voted Sad
    last Friday

    Why does Causes continue to use a photo that continues play on emotion. Let Israel handle Israel's. 

  • 1,092
    Lois
    Voted Excited
    last Thursday

    Secretary Blinken has done an excellent job of negotiating the ceasefire and the hostage release.  I am so proud of the Biden administration.

  • 976
    SigmaTriz
    Voted Angry
    last Thursday

    If a truce helps with getting the hostages out fine but when it's over Israel must continue to exterminate any terrorist group that looks to harm them.  If they don't they won't have a country anymore.  Those ignorant people who support Hamas are the same people who would have supported Japan or Germany during WW2.  

     

  • 1,070
    Tammy
    Voted Apathetic
    last Thursday

    I AGREE WITH THE CEASE FIRE AND THE FUEL AND SUPPLIES TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IN GAZA, BUT ANY FUTHER ATTACKS ON GAZA CAN NOT HAPPEN ISRAELIS SAYING THAT  THEY WONT STOP ATTACKING GAZA UNTIL HAMAS IS ELIMINATED MEANS THAT EVVERY HUMAN BEING WILL BE MURDERED IN GAZA BECAUSE OF ISRAELIS DEHUMANIZATION OF THEE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WE CAN NOT SUPPORT ANY FUTHER ATTACKS ON GAZA BY ISRAELIS , THERE ISNT ANY THING LEFT THEY ATTACKED AND MURDERED WOULDED PALESTINAINS AND PREMATURE BABIES AND CHILDREN WHEN THEY ATTACK THE HOSPITAL CLAIMING THERE WERRE HOSTAGES THEREAND TUNNELS THERE WASNT ANY HOSTAGES OR SO CALLED TUNNELS THEY USED IT AS AN EXCUSE TO MURDER PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE FOR THEIR FAMILES AND TO SEEK REFUGE BECAUSE OF ISRAELIS INDISCRIMANTTE ATTACK ON NEIGHBORHOODS , SCHOOLS , MOSQUE , CHURCHES AND HOSPITALS THERE IS NOTHING LEFT IN GAZA AND THESE ATTACKS ON THE PEOPLE OF GAZA IS NOTHING MORE THAN GENOCIDE HOW MANY BABIES ,CHILDREN AND UNARMED PALESTINIAN PEOPLE HAVE TO BE MURDERED BEFORE THE UNITED STATES STANDS UP TO ISRAELIS AND SAY ENOUGH A COMPLETE CEASE FIRE IS NOW

  • 41.0k
    Brian
    Voted Apathetic
    last Thursday

    I'm glad for this pause to get more hostages out of Gaza, although there seem to be many more we've not seen yet. Hopefully this can keep extending until all hostages are freed.

    In the meantime, what is Israel's plan? If the leaders of Hamas are all truly not in Gaza, then how will they eradicate Hamas by continuing to bombard Gaza? What is the plan?

  • 2,737
    Surender
    Voted Apathetic
    last Thursday

    https://youtu.be/7wEffWJ6F7I?si=8dxVqyfB2OfJVteP

    did you see any of these kids throwing 'bombs'?

    200 palestinians released? As many or more arrested during the same period

    so far over 15,000 killed 2/3rds women & children 

    no one seems to be talking about 7 plus decades that led up to this? 

  • 66
    rhymeswithjoey
    Voted Angry
    last Thursday

    A pause only gives Palestinians a chance to catch their breath while Israel figures out how to rain further hell on them once it stops. Ceasefire and sanction Israel for war crimes 

  • 2,303
    Martha
    Voted Happy
    last Wednesday

    I think Biden is doing what he can to get hostages released and aid into Gaza, as well as helping to broker a temp s=cease fire.  If Hamas and Israel can enact these temp cease fires, then they surely can work on a way to end the war altogether.  They just have to start acting like adults and admit that both of them are wrong.

  • 405
    Dennis
    Voted Happy
    last Tuesday

    I think Biden and his team are handling the crisis about as well as possible. Thank God he's our Prez, as Trump would likely have had us in WW 3 by now.

    I recognize that Biden's robust support of Israel visa vee Hamas has not gone down well in some quarters, but as Jennifer Rubin pointed out in a brilliant column the other day, Biden's experienced enough to realize that the only way the US would have any significant leverage over Israel is to publicly support it (within the "rules" of war"), while privately urging its leaders to make every effort to minimize civilian casualties, allow aid to Gaza, agree to a pause in hostilities to allow for critical hostage exchanges and support a 2 state solution. I'm persuaded that without Biden's robust behind the scenes activity the current extended pause, significant exchange of hostages and increased aid to the innocent Palestinians in Gaza would not have occurred. That said, the tragic loss of innocent lives in Israel as well as Gaza is appalling, and the US needs to keep up the pressure to end this war as soon as possible, cripple Hamas and push all parties to embrace the long sought 2 state solution. Otherwise, many more innocent lives in Gaza and otherwise will be tragically lost and the crisis will continue to fester for at least another generation.

  • 3,085
    Steph
    Voted Sad
    last Tuesday

    It got a tad bit better, but still not enough.  And then, co course, now they want to give Israel access to all the weapons in the area with no supervision.  Just total access!

     

    Nope!  Netanyaho is not to be trusted!

  • 976
    SigmaTriz
    Voted Angry
    last Tuesday

    In the business I'm in you always look for root cause.  Unless we bring Iran to its knees nothing will change.  Until we change the leadership in this country, nothing will change.  We have a weak President that should have been impeached the day he allowed that Chinese spy balloon to fly over our bases in America.  You people in Washington keep playing politics and toss aside common sense.  I worked on the Hill years ago when it stood for something and there was integrity on both sides of the aisle.  Not any more.

  • 1,092
    Lois
    Voted Excited
    last Tuesday

    I am so pleased and proud of the Biden Administration for their diplomacy and negotiation skills in working out the details of the release of hostages, and the pause in bombing by Israel.  Much praise is due to President Biden and his administration

  • 177
    Tanya
    Voted Angry
    last Tuesday

    The US has not changed from its active support for this genocidal policy an practive of Israel.  Israel has been promoting ethnic cleansing since the late 19c when Zionism ideology was created.  1948 began this ethnic cleansing which was always barbaric .  The US has always supported it.  The US needs to stop funding this racist, genocidal State and, instead, place heavy sanctions of Israel. 

  • 1,070
    Tammy
    Voted Apathetic
    last Tuesday

    we need to do more and when this is over we need to hold netanyahu , ben gvir smtrich and other leaders accountable for war crimes and crimes agianst humanity and demand a two states solution and the removal of the israeli military from gaza west bank east jerusalem and golan heights and put an end to their invasion ,oand theft of palestinian lands and their terrorism on the palestinians

  • 658
    Lynne
    Voted Apathetic
    last Tuesday

    I wish President Biden were more free to speak his mind about the situation, but the negotiations and the broader issues of relations with the various Arab states make this impossible. I do think it would be nice if SOMEONE were talking about the more recent (since WWII) history of the region as well as the history back to biblical times and before. And most important, the role of the Arab states in creating perpetual refugees of Palestinians who chose to leave Israel after its War of Independence by refusing to allow resettlement outside of refugee camps. Instead, they have been subjected to perpetual brainwashing and limitations on life prospects. This is not to say that Israel's policies regarding settlements in occupied areas is defensible -- I think it's not, but that gets heaps of press coverage while the other issues get none.