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.”

    • Cleverdawny@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      They’re going to eliminate the threat. Which is going to mean hundreds or thousands of deaths. But Hamas knew that. They hide behind civilians to try to make Israel kill them, so they can get more recruits. It’s an intentional strategy. I’m not really interested in people both sidesing this. It’s a dishonest tactic intended to excuse the actions of monsters.

      I have many criticisms of Israel, but they do not wish a genocide. Hamas does. There is no both sides. Hamas must be eradicated, and if the Palestinians won’t do it, Israel will, and the Palestinians in Gaza will have no one to blame but themselves for all the pain that process will involve.

      • Zaktor
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        1 year ago

        In the same breath you’re expecting Israel to cause thousands of civilian deaths you talk about how it’s wrong to excuse the actions of monsters. At best we can hope the “kills thousands of civilians” is bundled up in your tidy “I have criticisms”.

        • Cleverdawny@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          Hamas is ultimately causing those deaths by forcing the war and then hiding among civilians. It’s unfortunate that Israel doesn’t have magic powers and cannot eliminate these monsters without civilian casualties, but the only way for the Palestinians in Gaza to be free from threats caused by Hamas is to kick Hamas out.

          Shit sucks, I get it, but life is a bitch and if you support terrorists you can’t be surprised if the people they attack don’t just bend over and take it up the ass.

          • Zaktor
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            1 year ago

            Shit sucks, I get it, but life is a bitch and if you support terrorists you can’t be surprised if the people they attack don’t just bend over and take it up the ass.

            The exact same words could be applied to Israel.

            • Cleverdawny@lemm.ee
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              1 year ago

              Nah. They don’t support genocidal terrorists. If Israel wanted a genocide against Palestinians, it would happen.

              • Zaktor
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                1 year ago

                They’re engaged in terror and are actively engaged in ethnic cleansing. That it’s a slow grind rather than a fast act that would shock the world doesn’t change what it is.

      • Boggy@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        it doesn’t seem like you know what criteria makes something a genocide. Either that or you are just bias.