I am appalled by Hamas, including their taking of hostages. But what are "human shields" but hostages? Why is it OK to kill one but not the other?
Some people are going on about how it's OK because the Palestinians elected Hamas. So I checked. In 2006 Hamas got 44.45% of the vote; Fatah got 41.43%. Shortly thereafter, violence between Ham…
I am appalled by Hamas, including their taking of hostages. But what are "human shields" but hostages? Why is it OK to kill one but not the other?
Some people are going on about how it's OK because the Palestinians elected Hamas. So I checked. In 2006 Hamas got 44.45% of the vote; Fatah got 41.43%. Shortly thereafter, violence between Hamas and Fatah resulted in Fatah being thrown out and Hamas taking over. Kinda like what happens under many an authoritarian governments. One can only assume that 41.43% of Gazan voters were at least mildly pissed.
Then came the blockade of Gaza in 2007, which has been going on for 14 years. The socioeconomic effect on Gaza has been profound. It seems plausible that more Gazans support Hamas than once did. But it also seems plausible that citizens of ANY country who suffered a similar blockade because their government was authoritarian, even violent against the blockading country, would develop a sense of unity against the blockader. Even then, before the recent events, the a survey of Gazans who "supported" Hamas was at 68%, whatever "support" means. At that point, 32% were not in support DESPITE the blockade. But that 32% is being bombed and denied electricity and water just as much as the rest.
It is difficult to come up with a comparable situation elsewhere in the world, though treatment of the Kurds comes to mind, or the Armenians in whichever -Stan it is that expelled them recently. At least the Armenians were allowed to leave the country.
I hate the utter hypocrisy of so many of the GOP leaders. I am supposed to support the hypocrisy of Israel "warning" Palestinians to leave when there is no place to go? Has Israel made any attempt to find a place where evacuees could go, with the idea of a return once Hamas is obliterated? Even if it is just women and children? If they have, I'd like to hear of it. But the plight of refugees trying to escape to European countries bodes ill for finding such a place. Egypt doesn't want refugees, much as the US doesn't at the Mexican border. Would the US take women and children from Gaza? Excuse me while I choke.
I am appalled by Hamas, including their taking of hostages. But what are "human shields" but hostages? Why is it OK to kill one but not the other?
Some people are going on about how it's OK because the Palestinians elected Hamas. So I checked. In 2006 Hamas got 44.45% of the vote; Fatah got 41.43%. Shortly thereafter, violence between Hamas and Fatah resulted in Fatah being thrown out and Hamas taking over. Kinda like what happens under many an authoritarian governments. One can only assume that 41.43% of Gazan voters were at least mildly pissed.
Then came the blockade of Gaza in 2007, which has been going on for 14 years. The socioeconomic effect on Gaza has been profound. It seems plausible that more Gazans support Hamas than once did. But it also seems plausible that citizens of ANY country who suffered a similar blockade because their government was authoritarian, even violent against the blockading country, would develop a sense of unity against the blockader. Even then, before the recent events, the a survey of Gazans who "supported" Hamas was at 68%, whatever "support" means. At that point, 32% were not in support DESPITE the blockade. But that 32% is being bombed and denied electricity and water just as much as the rest.
It is difficult to come up with a comparable situation elsewhere in the world, though treatment of the Kurds comes to mind, or the Armenians in whichever -Stan it is that expelled them recently. At least the Armenians were allowed to leave the country.
I hate the utter hypocrisy of so many of the GOP leaders. I am supposed to support the hypocrisy of Israel "warning" Palestinians to leave when there is no place to go? Has Israel made any attempt to find a place where evacuees could go, with the idea of a return once Hamas is obliterated? Even if it is just women and children? If they have, I'd like to hear of it. But the plight of refugees trying to escape to European countries bodes ill for finding such a place. Egypt doesn't want refugees, much as the US doesn't at the Mexican border. Would the US take women and children from Gaza? Excuse me while I choke.
And assuming the age to vote then was 18 no one under 35 voted for Hamas then.
you are right. My idiot online calculator was stuck in 2021