Israel formally declared war on Hamas on Sunday, setting the stage for a major military operation in Gaza as fighting rages on Israeli soil. The declaration comes after Hamas, an Islamist militant group, launched a surprise assault this weekend that has so far killed over 600 Israelis.

Saturday was the deadliest day in decades for Israel and came after months of surging violence between Palestinians and Israelis, with the long-running conflict now heading into uncharted and dangerous new territory. Questions remain over how the Israeli military and intelligence apparatus appeared to be caught off guard in one of the country’s worst security failures.

Over 400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as Israel responds with airstrikes in the densely-inhabited enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed retaliation, warning his country would take “mighty vengeance” and was readying for “a long and difficult war.”

He urged Palestinians living in Gaza to “leave now.”

  • Evilcoleslaw@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Okay “Bibi”? Where are they supposed to go? Are you going to let Palestinian civilians enter Israeli territory? Is the border crossing with Egypt open? Will Egypt let them in? Or do you just want to say this so the thousands of dead civilians get blamed for not leaving?

    • jscummy@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      They’ve been pushed to evacuate to shelters further south from Gaza, which is kind of the only option aside from Egypt opening up. Given that this is all caused by Palestinian terrorists entering Israel, I don’t think anyone can blame them for not opening up their border to let more in

      And obviously there’s plenty of innocent civilians who could be admitted no problem, but Hamas is still the governing party with majority support and would undeniably use that as an opportunity to sneak more militants in

    • Spzi@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Is the border crossing with Egypt open? Will Egypt let them in?

      Honestly, what’s up with Egypt? Just reading comments one could get the impression Gaza was entirely encircled by Israel. But Egypt is mostly Muslim, too? And shares a 12km border with Gaza.

      Goes on to read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt–Gaza_border

      Ok, I’m at a loss.

      Gaza was occupied by Egypt, then by Israel.

      Israel is building a steel wall near the Gaza-Egypt border and demolishing homes while fighting terrorists.

      Egypt is building a steel wall near the Egypt-Gaza border and demolishing homes while fighting terrorists.

      Either way, it seems Egypt is also not an option.

      • Evilcoleslaw@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Egypt was the first of the Arab countries to make peace with Israel (tired of getting their asses kicked). They tend to cooperate quite a lot with Israel with respect to the border checkpoints, blockade, etc. My question about it was semi-rhetorical as I know Egypt probably isn’t going to let a flood of Palestinian refugees in.

      • jscummy@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Look up Black September and what’s happened when Palestinians were allowed into Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Syria. Gaza gets called an “open air prison” and Israel gets blamed, but they are there because no one else will have them

    • flossdaily@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      If people actually cared about the Palestinian civilians, they would have been encouraging them to make peace.

      Instead, for decades people have been cheering on their terrorism as if their indiscriminate killing of Jews was justified.

      • Evilcoleslaw@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        FWIW I agree that the Palestinians haven’t been trying for peace, but at the same time, Israel hasn’t really been serious about keeping the peace either. The whole thing is a mess and each side can go on listing grievances and doling out recriminations, but more violence solves nothing.

        • flossdaily@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Historically, violence has solved a lot of things. Notably the civil war and WWII, which ended slavery and Nazis, respectively.

          And Israel kicking their aggressive neighbors’ asses as solved the problem of them worrying about their existence.

          And violence against terrorists has greatly reduced their ability to hurt Israel in the long run.

          I’d argue that history has shown that violence has been working out pretty well for the Israelis.

          Now, the Palestinians on the other hand… They never take out military targets, only civilians, which does nothing to weaken Israel, and only strengthen’s Israel’s resolve.

          I think it’s clear that the Palestinians are the ones who need to take a note from Martin Luther King or Gandhi about the benefits of passive resistance.

          • Madison420@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Just as an fyi the US has never officially ended slavery and it is in fact enshrined in the bill of rights.

            Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.