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.”

  • 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.