Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

Don't expect Hamas to stop firing rockets till the blockade is lifted.

Hamas are still firing rockets into Gaza so Israel hasn't made much difference except kill and injure 5000+ Palestinians.

Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

But, after all the Israeli stupidities, screw-ups, collateral damage and political/PR blunders, they have offered a cease-fire - if Hamas don't join in, who is seen as the bad guy then?

Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

So there damned if they do & damned if they dont eh!

Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

Some people don't want a equitable solution, just one where one side loses.

Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

Exactly what Israel wants to happen. They are seen as the good guys who have stopped killing Palestinians and Hamas are seen as the bad ones still firing rockets into Israel. This won be over for a while.

Far from coincidence the ceasefire has come just 3 days before Obama becomes president.

The Israelis soldiers will continue their presence in Gaza.

Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

Now is the time for Hamas to show it really wants peace through solely non-violent means, the eyes of the world are on Gaza, a new American president is about to arrive and unlike Bush Obama holds the European view that letting the Palestinian conflict just fester without resolution is a large contributing factor to extremism among Muslim youth.
The same goes for Israel in that they don't want to get off to poor start with a new president, especially with the Iranian question upcoming in Obama's program.
Lets hope both sides leaderships are fed up enough of the status quo and are prepared to compromise, my bet is that the average Israeli and Palestinian have both had an utter gut-full and want change.

Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

I hope you are right and change happens, but with all that is gone on in the past, it doesn't seem likely there will be much change. But hopefully Obama can make a difference. Time will tell.

Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

Obama will only make a difference if he has some magic eraser that can wipe out the past because right now we have way too many people holding onto the past to ever come to an accomadation both sides can live with i have my doubts being honest.

Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

They said that about Northern Ireland, which had been going on a lot longer. I notice Gordon Brown has signed up to try and stop smuggling of weapons into Gaza. I notice Gordon Brown has not signed up to try and stop export of weapons into Israel.

Hmm.

Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/7836205.stm

Let us hope THIS one holds...:erm:

Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

Amen to that.:Peaceman:

Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

Lets hope israel withdraws its troops from gaza. Let's hope that they lift the blockade allowing much needed aid into gaza. Let's hope that they allow independant reporters and inspectors in so the world can see the brutality of its aggression towards the people of gaza. Let's bear in mind that israel caused more carnage and destruction in the first minute of its bombing campaign then hamas caused in its entire history against israel.

Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

Let's walk before we run..getting a ceasefire that holds is as much as I'm hoping for at the moment..and I'm not taking sides in this issue mainly because I'm extremely angry with BOTH sides.:mad:

Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

Having seen some of the Reuters photos the place does look a bit knackered so it's not just going to be a case of getting aid in, people who once had homes or businesses will need significant assistance in getting rehomed.

Re: Scores die in Israeli air strikes
 

And this is why the ceasefire will fail - instead of looking ahead, emotive negative language will be used by both sides, raising tempers and leading to a breakdown in communications.

S_l_m, I understand you feel strongly about this, but all posts like that do is lead to posters making negative comments about Hamas, which then escalates into a ever-worsening spiral, and once again, everybody loses (imho).