Short: Israel and the IDF's claims about the events on October 7th have now been widely debunked, some even confirmed by the IDF themselves. Allegations of rape and the claim of 40 beheaded babies were officially retracted and proven false, and the overall death toll has been revised from 1400 to 1200. Eyewitnesses, including IDF soldiers, have all stated that the IDF indiscriminately shot and bombed, killing its own civilians. We also have to question the IDF’s failure to pre-empt the attack despite being given multiple warnings, as well as its continued blocking of negotiations to free its own hostages. If we’re going to condemn child-killing and cry for the Israeli hostages, that should at the very least also include the 10,000 Palestinian hostages (including women and children) who are currently illegally imprisoned by Israel, and the 20,000 and counting innocent Palestinians who have been killed in the name of ‘defeating Hamas’. We have real war crimes being committed, real Palestinian children dying, and real hostages (on both sides) under attack due to the actions of the Israeli government and IDF. Ensuring a better future for the Palestinian people is where our focus should be.

Long: Israel and the IDF's claims about the events on October 7th have now been widely debunked, some even confirmed by the IDF themselves. The allegations of mass rape have also been dropped by the Israeli government. The 40 beheaded babies claim has been officially retracted and proven false by the US government and other independent organisations and downscaled to one dead baby, not beheaded, and killed by persons unknown. Two-thirds of Israelis killed on October 7 were military personnel.

The killers of the remaining third are revealed to have been in part, the Israeli armed forces themselves. They have also recently revised the death toll from 1400 to 1200. Several eyewitnesses, including IDF soldiers and a recent investigation, have all attested to the fact the IDF was shooting/bombing indiscriminately and was targeting its own civilians/military. They also released helicopter footage of the attack, in which they admitted they had killed their own citizens/soldiers as it was ‘too difficult to tell who was who’. There have also been several questions surrounding the fact that the most sophisticated military on earth, with the world's best surveillance system was both unable to pre-empt the Hamas attack and also unable to respond accurately.

The state of Israel also has more to gain from retaliating to an attack than preventing one, and this needs to be taken into consideration especially when we are claiming that Hamas’ actions have been ‘unjustifiable’. We know Netanyahu specifically is not on the side of preventing further harm because he has continued to block negotiations by Hamas to release the Israeli hostages in exchange for fuel, aid and a ceasefire, and he continues to bomb Gaza indiscriminately, so far resulting in the death of 8 Israeli hostages. Yet, Hamas remains the enemy and the excuse to cause further destruction. Even when the Israeli hostages have publicly spoken out about their experiences in captivity, saying they were treated very well. If we want justice for the Israeli hostages, the most immediate risk to their safety and well-being is the carpet bombing and restrictions on Gaza where many of them are located. Due to the occupation, they are also being deprived of food and water and facing imminent death alongside the remaining Palestinians.

In the same vein, if we agree that taking hostages and killing children are horrible crimes, we need to acknowledge the 10,000 Palestinians, including women and children, who currently remain illegally imprisoned and tortured by the Israeli government. Hamas captured Israeli hostages on Oct 7 in order to facilitate a hostage swap, aiming to negotiate the release of all Palestinians being held in Israeli jails. These men, women, children and elders are arrested indiscriminately and held without trial, dehumanised, stripped, urinated on, beaten, and exposed to physical and psychological torture, and whose whereabouts are often kept from their families. We have real war crimes being committed, real children dying, and real hostages under ‘attack’ all due to the Israeli occupation. Restoring Palestinian's human rights and dignity is where the focus should be.

Video: The Israeli hostages were taken for a hostage swap

Sources:

@georgegalloway

@olblueyzz

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

Short: This question, as well as saying "but Hamas", whether intended to or not, ends up being used to justify treating all Palestinians as terrorists. It is an extremely unfair and unhelpful question to ask. It also overlooks the long-standing struggles of Palestinians and the fact Hamas emerged to fight for the human rights of Palestinians as a result of a 75-year-long ethnic cleansing. Blaming all Palestinians for Hamas also ignores their fight for freedom and forces them as oppressed people, currently experiencing mass death, into a cycle of endless fault-finding that overlooks the root cause of the problem. It is also detrimental to your learning process, and in moving towards a solution.

The questions you should be asking are: why aren't Israelis asked to condemn the actions of Israel before being given a voice? Why are Jews allowed to be scared but not Muslims? Why are white people entitled to feel fear but not Arabs? Being asked to condemn Hamas distracts you from the urgent reality of ongoing Palestinian suffering and the need for meaningful action to help both the Palestinian people and Israeli hostages.

Long: This question, as well as saying "but Hamas", whether intended to or not, end up being used to justify treating all Palestinians as terrorists. It is an extremely unfair and unhelpful question to ask. People want Palestinians to condemn Hamas before even discussing the horrors they've been facing for 75 years. It's important to remember that Hamas came about only in the past 17 years and as a result of the violence Palestinians have been subjected to by the occupation. Hamas and potentially new resistance groups will continue to exist and grow unless there is global support in first liberating the Palestinian people.

Secondly, blaming all Palestinians for what Hamas does makes it easy to dismiss their struggle for freedom. Unlike Israeli officials who don't have to condemn their documented, proudly admitted to, genocidal actions before being allowed to speak - Palestinians are forced to condemn Hamas first. This puts Palestinians in a wildly unfair position. No matter what they or anyone else says, it's never enough. It is also detrimental to your learning process, and in moving towards a solution. The questions you should be asking are: why aren't Israelis asked to condemn the actions of Israel before being given a voice? Why are Jews allowed to be scared but not Muslims? Why are white people entitled to feel fear but not Arabs?

This focus on condemning Hamas distracts you from the real issue – the occupation and suffering of Palestine and its people. And by addressing questions such as these, instead of talking about any other part of what is currently happening right now, we are just repeating empty phrases that can neither bring the 1,200 Israelis or 20,000 Palestinians back to life.

Sources:

@MEE/Nicki Kattoura, Geo Maher

@theslowfactory

@key48return

Doesn’t Israel have a right to defend itself?

Short: The Israeli state had the right to defend its people from the militants who attacked as it was happening on Oct. 7th. But that was a one-day event; they can't then follow that by spending an indefinite amount of time massacring Palestinian civilians as revenge. Plus, under international law, the Israeli government actually has a responsibility to protect civilians under its occupation, meaning Palestinians. The Israeli government declaring war on the same territory it occupies is not just contradictory, it leaves Palestinians doubly vulnerable because they are occupied and then attacked under occupation by those occupiers. The Israeli government does not have a right, morally or legally to do either of those things. The International Court of Justice has actually rejected Israel's interpretation of the right to self-defence, stating that attacks on Israel by Palestinians do not meet the criteria for invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter. The ongoing double standard in the Palestine/Israel ‘conflict’ is obvious when we start justifying Israeli violence while condemning any Palestinian response. Regardless of where you stand, it should be clear that self-defence doesn’t include killing children, bombing hospitals, bombing aid trucks, bombing schools and refugee camps, cutting off food and water and displacing millions of people.

Long: The Israeli state had the right to defend its people from the militants who attacked as it was happening on Oct. 7th. But that was a one-day event; they can't then follow that by spending an indefinite amount of time massacring Palestinian civilians as revenge. As the occupying power of the Palestinian territories, the Israeli government has an obligation to protect the civilians under its occupation. So it cannot simultaneously occupy the territory, thus taking over the self-governing powers that would otherwise belong to Palestinians, and then declaring war upon them.

These contradictory policies (occupying land and then declaring war on it) make the Palestinian population even more vulnerable. The unstable and unsafe conditions Palestinians suffer are Israel's responsibility. Israel argues that it can invoke the right to self-defence under international law as defined in Article 51 of the UN Charter. The International Court of Justice, however, rejected this. The ICJ explained that an armed attack that would trigger Article 51 must be attributable to a sovereign state - but the armed attacks by Palestinians emerge from a land which Israel controls. While Israel does have the right to defend itself against rocket attacks, it must do so in accordance with occupation law which balances military advantage, civilian suffering and proportionality. We can see that morally and legally, it is doing none of those things.

The basic double standard of the Palestine/Israel ‘conflict’ is also that any Palestinian violence justifies any Israeli violence, but no Israeli violence ever justifies any Palestinian violence. Even if you believe Israel is ‘defending’ itself after the Hamas attacks, what do you think defence looks like? Is defence collectively punishing a population of more than 2 million people, publicly calling for genocide, cutting off food, water, and power, and indiscriminately bombing them self defence? Do these really seem like the actions of a state defending itself, or is there perhaps more going on?

Sources:

@nouraerakat

@zunguzungu

@raadbarhoush

@aaronjmate

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

Short: The US supports Israel to safeguard its strategic interests in the Middle East, particularly those related to oil and gas resources. The timing of Israel's creation with the discovery of oil in the region also reinforced their partnership. Their relationship has now also extended to destabilising Middle Eastern nations like Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Lebanon. Secondly, the political lobby group AIPAC, one of the US’ largest, contributes massive political funding to US politicians. Finally the extensive multi-billion dollar US/Israel weapons partnership, which includes military aid, arms sales, police training and technological collaboration is another key factor.

Long: Israel is helping to protect America's oil and gas interests in the Middle East. The US also aims to eventually mine Gaza’s oil and gas reserves, and as such, it needs Israel's help in eradicating the Palestinians in order to make this possible. The timing of Israel's creation was similar in timing to when the Middle East first found its oil. And so, it was in the interest of the UK and US to support the Zionist state of Israel from that point forward. These nations worked together, and have continued to work together, to destabilise the Middle East - particularly Iraq, Afghanistan and now Palestine and Lebanon. The creation of a solely Israeli state would also finally serve as the first ever stable foothold in the Middle East for the United States, something which it has been yet to achieve.

Similarly, one of the largest political lobby groups in the United States is the AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) which provides billions of dollars in political funding to representatives in the US political system. This also ties into one of the most significant reasons the US backs Israel, and that is due to their longstanding and extensive weapons relationship, which is marked by military aid, arms sales, police training, and joint technological collaboration. The United States also provides Israel with substantial military and financial aid annually. The U.S. foreign assistance to Israel is one of the largest aid packages it offers, and in 2022, the U.S. signed an agreement to provide Israel with $3.8 billion in military aid. Doing this ensures they remain backed by and in Israel’s good books.

Video: What AIPAC does and who it backs

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

As the superior power, and with the help of the US, Israel signed an inequitable peace accord with the Palestinians in 1993. Despite its unfairness, the Palestinians accepted everything that the Israelis and US dictated (including being allowed to inhabit only 22% of historical Palestine), whilst Israel did not concede anything in return. It did not withdraw from the occupied territories, did not allow the return of refugees, and did not accept the substantive human right of self-determination for the Palestinians. It only furthered its takeover and occupation of Palestine. Since 1993 Israel has multiplied its illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank, expropriated land and water resources, added more than 500 checkpoints, imprisoned and tortured thousands of Palestinians including children without a trial process, and taken every step to deny the Palestinians their statehood. This behaviour obviously raises questions about the sincerity of these ‘generous offers’, and proves that Israel has always had clear ulterior motives in their dealings with Palestine. Even in this current genocide, Hamas has been willing to work on coming towards an agreement regarding a ceasefire deal. It has been Israel who has rejected the deal on multiple occasions. The ceasefire deal that was reached weeks ago and lasted for a number of days, was the exact same deal that Hamas had presented Israel some weeks prior, and Israel rejected at the time. It is abundantly clear that Hamas/Palestine is not the issue here, as well as it is clear where Israel’s interests lie - and it is not even with their own people.

Sources:

@raadbarhoush

@propagandavstruth

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

Short: No. Hamas is not even declared as a terrorist group by the UN. It is recognized as a political organisation with a resistance armed branch, acknowledged by the UN for its right to resist illegal occupation. The group, democratically elected in 2006, faces tightening restrictions imposed by Israel, which are responsible for the current Palestinian humanitarian crisis. Hamas is labelled a terrorist organisation by Israel and some Western nations for their political gain, even though Hamas’ goal is to liberate Palestinians from a 75-year-long illegal occupation. The claim that they are a terrorist group makes even less sense when we understand that their creation was backed and funded by Israel. Regardless of what you want to believe about Hamas, the root issue is the fact that Palestinians aren’t free - a right that every one of us deserves. We also need to understand that people growing up under violent restrictions are always going to be radicalised and fight for their lives. Ending the occupation is the best and most humanitarian way to truly eradicate Hamas (if that is your ultimate goal).

Long: No. The UN has also actually never declared Hamas to be a terrorist group. They are a political organisation with an armed branch of Resistance Fighters, who have been given the right by the UN "to resist the illegal occupation by any means necessary." Hamas is a legitimate resistance group according to international law because they are made up of an occupied people.

Hamas was elected democratically in 2006, but Palestinians have yet to experience a moment of independence. Israel immediately imposed massive restrictions upon Palestinians in the Gaza Strip when Hamas won the elections, and has been tightening them ever since. These restrictions have created an ongoing "humanitarian catastrophe". Even prior to October 7, these restrictions have meant that Palestinians have had limited to no access to clean water, electricity or the ability to tend to even the most urgent medical needs.

The narrative that Hamas is a terrorist organisation came from the Israeli government and other Western nations and only began once Hamas won the election. It also makes it even more clear this labelling was done for political gain when you understand that Israel funded and helped create Hamas. In fact, Wikileaks revealed that the Israeli Intelligence Chief said that the IDF could deal with Gaza as a hostile state if Hamas ruled. And for 14 years, it has been Netanyhu’s policy to keep Hamas in power. Hamas has actually never threatened to attack any other nation. Their focus is solely on getting their freedom and land back from illegal occupiers and they have every legitimate right to do so.

If Hamas was a terrorist group it would just be a terrorist group. They would promote terror, not liberation. We also need to understand that people growing up under a blockade are going to be radicalised and fight violently for their lives. Even if the goal still remains to ‘eradicate Hamas’, we need to first eradicate the occupation. That is the most humane solution for everyone involved and gives Palestinians back their freedom - a right we all deserve.

Sources:

@nouraerakat

@phantomchasr

@olblueyzz

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

Short: Firstly, Hamas is making incursions into its own occupied territory, not 'Israel.' Israelis in that territory are considered illegal settlers under international law. We also need to remember that if Israel targets Hamas, Hamas has the right to counter attack. Recent events also suggest that the majority of the Israeli casualties on October 7th are due to their own military strategy, including the Hannibal Directive which instructs the IDF to kill its own civilians in favour of them being taken captive. Secondly, if we are to condemn the targeting of civilian deaths we need to acknowledge that Israel, one of the most advanced militaries in the world has the means to avoid them but in actuality, has repeatedly targeted civilians and is even using AI to ensure they strike the most densely populated areas. The focus should be on the tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties rather than attempting to justify war crimes and killing children based on the excuse of targeting Hamas. It is also a fact that Israel's military operations often aim for mass Palestinian death, both in the past and now, and the practice itself is considered legitimate and encouraged by the Israeli government.

Long: Firstly it’s important to understand that Hamas technically made an incursion into occupied Palestinian territory, not ‘Israel’. Israelis are illegal settlers living in occupied Palestinian territory, in violation of international law. Even if Israel was truly targeting Hamas, Palestinians have the right under international law to counter attack. Regardless, Hamas entered Israel purely to capture hostages in order to facilitate a hostage swap. The civilian casualties that resulted on the Israeli side, are increasingly appearing to be mostly IDF personnel, and mostly as a result of Israel's own military strategy. The Hannibal Directive instructs the IDF to kill their own to prevent them being taken captive. An Israeli reserve pilot, Col. Nof Erez, has recently spoken out describing the IDF’s response to the October 7th attacks as a ‘Mass Hannibal’. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly clear that many, perhaps most, of the alleged horrific crimes committed by Hamas on October 7th were caused by tanks and attack helicopters operated by the IDF.

Secondly, and most importantly, if we are going to condemn the killing of civilians, we need to acknowledge the upwards of 20,000 and growing number of Palestinian children, women and men killed at the hands of the Israeli occupation since October 7th. Targeting Hamas is not a defensible position for what Israel is currently doing to Palestine and its people, nor is it the sole reason. Even if this was, Israel also would not be any more tolerant of Hamas if it strictly targeted military objects because Israel considers Hamas and any form of its resistance, armed or otherwise, to be illegitimate.

In contrast, Israel has the eleventh most powerful military in the world and is a nuclear power. According to Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, Israel directly targeted civilians or recklessly caused civilian deaths during both during previous ‘conflicts’ and now. Far from avoiding the deaths of civilians, Israel considers them legitimate targets. In fact, Israel’s facial recognition technology is so advanced it can pick out faces in a sea of people, and follow them for miles. There is no conceivable reason as to why a military with such sophisticated tracking technology, lacks the ability to directly identify and attack ‘Hamas’, and instead has to resort to obliterating entire apartment blocks, hospitals and schools. Recent reports have also revealed the depths of Israel’s AI technology, which enables them to generate thousands of target sites within seconds. The report quotes Israeli intelligence sources who say Israel knows how many civilians it’ll kill with each strike, including children, and chooses to kill large numbers of them anyway. Israel also seeks out what it calls “power targets” to bomb. “Power targets” are non-military targets like homes and public buildings that Israel bombs for the purpose of terrorising Palestinian civilians and harming their society.

Sources:

@Tracking_Power

@nouraerakat

@olblueyzz

@theimeu

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

Can you be Jewish and anti-Zionist? (Is it antisemitic to be against Israel?)

Short: Yes! Many pro-Palestinian advocates are Jewish, such as those found in organisations like Jewish Voice for Peace which emphasise the importance of Jews condemning Israel. Antisemitism is discrimination against Jews and differs from anti-Zionism which is the rejection of a historical movement founded in 1897 which stated that Jews had exclusive rights to Indigenous Palestine, and called for their expulsion and extermination. Anti-Zionism is not antisemitic, and equating criticism of Israel with antisemitism contributes to a simplified understanding of what the word really means. This approach also reinforces harmful antisemitic cliches and dismisses nuanced discussions by treating any resemblance to these cliches as antisemitism. It’s especially harmful because it’s most often used to deflect criticism of Israel by shifting the focus to a hatred of Jews. The entire premise that it’s antisemitic to be against Israel is a massive part of Israeli government propaganda, and also insulting to a large majority of Jews who are in direct opposition to the actions of Israel and its existence full stop.

Long: Yes! In fact, many of the most vocal pro-Palestinian advocates are Jewish, including many Rabbis and Orthodox Jews. As long as Zionism existed, there were Jews standing in opposition to it. From the Jewish Labor Bund to Albert Einstein, Hannah Arendt and Judith Butler. Also, organisations like Jewish Voice for Peace demonstrate on a daily basis not only the ability of Jews to stand behind Palestine and condemn Israel but the importance of Jews doing so. Antisemitism is a form of prejudice or discrimination directed toward Jews as individuals or as a group. Zionism actually emerged as a historical movement and a political ideology in 1897 under Theodor Herzl, not a religious one. It stated that Indigenous Palestine belongs solely to the Jewish people, and called for their eradication and displacement. Anti-Zionism is the rejection of a racist and colonial movement. Anti-Zionism is NOT the rejection of Jews, nor is it antisemitic.

In fact, relating the idea that it could be considered un-Jewish or antisemitic to condemn Israel plays into the “tropeification” of antisemitism. Rather than thoughtfully considering whether something really invokes hatred of Jews or upholds systems that harm Jews, a ‘tropeified’ understanding of antisemitism compares questionable statements to a multitude of established cliches: blood libel, divided loyalty, world domination, etc. And so according to this logic, if a statement is similar to one of these cliches it’s antisemitic – regardless of the context or the truth. It essentially assumes that antisemitism is built-in to cliches, rather than expressed by them.

This mechanical understanding of antisemitism is most often used to neutralise criticism of Israel. In debates, it spurs Zionists to scan anti-Zionist arguments for cliches and then, by calling out ‘antisemitism’, shift the conversation from the other party's arguments to their ‘hatred of Jews.’ The entire premise that it’s antisemitic to be against Israel is a massive part of Israeli government propaganda, and also insulting to a large majority of Jews who are in direct opposition to the actions of Israel and its existence full stop.

Sources:

@Em Cohen

@claremontsjp

@jewishvoiceforpeace

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

Short: This situation actually has almost nothing to do with religion. It’s also not just a fight about land. Before the establishment of Israel, Palestinian Christians, Jews, and Muslims coexisted peacefully. The oldest Christian community in the world is Palestinian. Both Palestinian Christians and Jews, face oppression by Israel. Framing the suffering of Palestinians as a religious conflict is also factually inaccurate and perpetuates Islamophobia, which then contributes to the dehumanisation of Arabs around the world. The Zionist narrative also benefits from presenting this as a 'religious conflict,' by allowing Israel to spread misinformation about its colonial past and present, and evade accountability for its actions since 1948 - including the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian cities and villages, the displacement of millions, and the denial of their right to return. Saying it's a 'religious conflict' also ultimately denies Palestinians their right to liberation, freedom, and justice because this framing makes the entire thing seem trivial and primes you to look away when it's anything but and you definitely shouldn’t!

Long: This situation has almost nothing to do with religion. It’s also not just a fight about land. Before the creation of 'Israel' only 75 years ago, Palestinian Christians, Jews and Muslims all peacefully co-existed in Palestine. The Palestinian Christian community is the oldest Christian community in the world. There are Palestinian Christians and Palestinian Jews, and both are oppressed by Israel. So making the suffering of Palestinians seem like it’s a result of their religion is just factually incorrect. Also implying this is just another religious conflict in the Middle East perpetuated by Muslims, also furthers an Islamophobic narrative that is consistently used to dehumanise Arabs, and has real-world implications for their safety.

It also benefits the Zionist narrative to have you believe this is simply a conflict, and it's about religion. Israel consistently spreads misinformation about its own colonial existence in order to conceal the true extent of their harm to Palestinians, and over-inflates its ties to religion in order to justify it. They also know it is a lot easier for the majority of us to disassociate ourselves from a situation that has been wrongfully minimised to a 'religious conflict that’s happened since the beginning of time.’ Israel also hides behind this religious narrative to give weight to their ‘promises’ (and therefore right to claim) Palestinian land that stems from the Hebrew bible. Viewing Israel as a Jewish homeland also helps to distract from the fact that the state of Israel didn't even exist before 1948. In reality, the state of Israel only exists because of Zionists (who are not necessarily always Jewish, in fact, many aren't) who ethnically cleansed, massacred and destroyed over 540+ Palestinian towns and villages and made 7.2 million Palestinian refugees. In fact, the only reason Jews were even given a homeland was completely political and was a result of the UK looking to rid itself of the ‘Jewish problem’ it was left with after the holocaust.

Saying it's a 'religious conflict' also ultimately denies Palestinians their right to liberation, freedom, and justice because this framing makes the entire thing seem trivial and primes you to look away, when it's anything but and you definitely shouldn’t!

Sources:

@nouraerakat

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

The war will pass, and things will go back to normal/Israel will eventually accept a peace deal.

Short: The current "normal" for Palestinians is unsustainable, and inhumane and has resulted in their genocide. Also, assuming that there is even a normal for them to return to is meaningless when you understand the traumatic loss of life and infrastructure. Gaza will never be the same again. Israel, with the support of the U.S. and EU, refuses a ceasefire, driven by their political interests in overtaking Gaza and accessing power and resources. Also, the majority of Israelis, influenced by an alternate historical narrative and deep propaganda, lack empathy for Palestinians and view them through a dehumanised lens. On top of all of this, Israeli society is becoming more extreme and nationalistic and hell-bent on destroying Palestine to ensure Israeli ‘safety’, making Israeli-led change extremely unlikely. The path to Palestinian liberation, similar to South Africa's apartheid, lies in external pressure through things like consumer and corporate boycotts and sanctions from the political elite. Peace will not come from Israel.

Long: Firstly we need to ask, what ‘normal’ is that? The current normal for the Palestinians was already unsustainable, and inhumane and has resulted in their genocide. It is clear that whatever the outcome of the ‘conflict’, returning to normal is not an option for the Palestinians - nor at all possible due to the severe loss of life, trauma and decimation of homes, schools, hospitals and other essential resources. Gaza will never be the same again. Secondly, Israel will never willingly make a peace deal with Palestinians. Not only is Joe Biden actively and proudly standing alongside Netanhayu in his refusal to enact a ceasefire, but Israel and the West have a lot to gain from overtaking Gaza and eradicating Palestinians. Namely regional power, and access to abundant oil and gas reserves.

Another reason peace will not come from Israel is that the vast majority of Israelis, along with Zionists around the world, live in an alternate universe with alternate historical facts that feed more nationalism, militarism, and extremism. Also, the past 75 years of conflict have dehumanised Palestinians in the eyes of Israelis. Israelis as a collective are not able to empathise with Palestinians, they aren't able to comprehend Palestinian suffering - this phenomenon is widely documented. So when the IDF bombs Gaza and kills children, the average Israelis thinks that a) it is the Palestinian's fault for not agreeing to peace and for continuing to threaten and attack Israel, etc. and b) Israel is merely defending itself and there is simply no alternative.

Of course, there are some Israeli leftists and anti-Zionist Israelis who fight for Palestinian liberation. But it's a tiny minority. Most Israelis don't consider what it means for Palestinian freedom, dignity, and physical well-being to be systematically erased. Israel is, by every definition, an apartheid state. If a Jew and an Arab commit the exact same crime in the West Bank, they will face two different legal systems. The Jew will face a civil court, the Arab will face a military court. Two legal systems for two different groups. Things like these show us that it is near impossible for Israel to willingly end the occupation and agree to a just solution to the conflict because they are benefitting from the current state of affairs. Peace will not come from within Israel.

Israeli society is also getting more extreme, more nationalistic, more violent, and more entrenched in its own historical narrative and its own self-victimisation. At this point, it is simply delusional to expect that change will come from Israel. The only thing that can bring Palestinian liberation is if the cost of the occupation outweighs its benefits. And that requires, just like for the apartheid in South Africa, massive external pressure. That means consumer boycott of Israeli goods, corporate boycott of Israeli technology, and sanctions by Israel's main trade partner and political supporters, the US and EU. Those are the only measures that can meaningfully push Israel toward ending the occupation and achieving true peace and thankfully are pretty easy for you to do.

Video: What Israel really wants and why it won’t settle for ‘peace’

Sources:

@raphmim: we think it’s especially important to note that the majority of this answer was pulled directly from comments made by a former Zionist-Israeli

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

Short: Hamas is actually only in Gaza. Even still, Israel continues to occupy, kill and imprison Palestinians in the West Bank where there is no Hamas - with the same ‘wiping out Hamas’ justifications. Israel blaming Palestinians for their own deaths is misleading and a common tactic of the IDF designed to paint Palestinians and Arabs as terrorists, and therefore justify their killing. In fact, investigations by international human rights organisations have proven the claims that Hamas is storing weapons in UNRWA schools are false. And while Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as shields, evidence actually shows Israeli soldiers have regularly used Palestinians as human shields throughout history. Also, unlike Israel’s ‘Hamas’ claims - which it cannot verify, we can explicitly see the documented and current actions of Israel's military operation, including the demolishing of Palestinian homes, decimation of hospitals and refugee camps, and the indiscriminate killing of women and children. At least at this present moment, these actions show that Netanyahu and the IDF are the ones with no regard for civilians and civilian infrastructure, NOT Hamas.

Long: Hamas are actually only in Gaza. Even still, Israel continues to occupy, kill and imprison Palestinians in the West Bank where there is no Hamas - with the same ‘wiping out Hamas’ justifications. This is arguably one of Israel's most misleading claims because it blames Palestinians for their own death and deprives them of their victimhood. The Israeli government will say that a resistance group's existence is terrorism, therefore everyone associated with them (aka every citizen in every location in the area) is complicit, and dangerous and should be eradicated. They have used these arguments for decades, like in its attacks on Lebanon in 2006 and in Palestine in 2008. The Israeli government has yet to even prove that Hamas has used civilian infrastructure to store military weapons. In the two cases where Hamas stored weapons in UNRWA schools, the schools were empty.

In fact, only Israeli soldiers have consistently used Palestinians as human shields. Sometimes, by tying young Palestinians onto the hoods of their cars or forcing them to go into a home where a potential militant may be hiding. Israel’s definition of ‘human shields’' is also simply a combatant who may or may not be in the same general area as hundreds of civilians.’ Israel also rarely names these ‘combatants’ or provides evidence they were ever even in the area that was bombed. Even if we say that Israel's claims could be true, humanitarian law means Israel is supposed to avoid civilian casualties that would be ‘excessive’ in relation to whatever advantage could be gained. Despite what you may be led to believe are equal violations to human life, the sheer number of Palestinian civilian deaths, 10,000 children (and counting), along with the blockading of aid, indiscriminate carpet bombing, use of white phosphorus, bombing of schools, mosques, hospitals, churches, civilian homes and more horrendous violations of human rights - at least at this present moment - show Netanyahu and the IDF are the ones with no regard for civilians and civilian infrastructure, NOT Hamas.

Sources:

@nouraerakat

@inthesetimesmag

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

Short: The true fair solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the decolonization of Palestine, which involves the dismantling of the Israeli state as we know it, an end to the military occupation and restrictions, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and the re-establishment of pre-1948 borders for an equal Palestine. It’s somewhat true however to say there isn’t a solution that suits both sides because the Zionist-Israeli goal is not peaceful coexistence but the permanent expulsion of Palestinians, something those in power stand by proudly. It’s also important to emphasise that this solution doesn’t in any way call for the eradication of Israelis, and in reality, it allows for the continued existence of Israelis in Palestine, given they are willing to accept its liberation. If not, Israelis have always possessed the ability to relocate and travel freely, something which Palestinians haven’t. Also, the duty for answering the question of ‘what else are we supposed to do’ should be on the people perpetrating war crimes to justify why they need to keep committing war crimes, and how the current state of affairs is absolutely necessary to ensure everyone's safety. Like many situations, we don’t even have to know the alternative to know that something is bad.

Long: This is somewhat correct. While Hamas has previously been open to a two-state solution, ultimately peaceful co-existence is not possible as long as Palestine is under occupation by Israel. The only solution is the decolonisation of Palestine. Israel as it currently stands should be dismantled, their illegal military occupation and restrictions on Palestinians should come to an end, the legal right to return be granted to all Palestinian refugees, and the re-creation of Palestinian borders pre-1948 established. One state, Palestine, Indigenous Palestine - where every citizen will be treated equally regardless of religion or race, as it was before the creation of 'Israel' and not victim to the Israeli government's current eradication plan. The reason that it is somewhat correct to say there is no solution that appeals to both sides, is because Israel's goal is not to exist peacefully alongside the Palestinians, it is to claim the entirety of Palestine and expel the people permanently. Zionism requires the state of Israel to thrive. This is something that they actively admit, have government documents stating, and are ultimately proud of. This isn’t a conspiracy.

In essence, it is also entirely plausible to fight for this solution, whilst respecting the rights of the Israelis who, whether they are against the occupation or not, have established homes, lives and communities in Palestine. And, emphasise the fact this solution does not call for the eradication of Israelis. If this solution is ever achieved, Israelis have the option to remain and accept a liberated Palestine and continue life in a land that is governed equally and humanitarian for all. Or they can leave, as they are telling and forcing the Palestinians to do. The difference in telling a Palestinian to leave to escape their circumstances, as opposed to an Israeli (apart from the fact that Palestinians are indigenous to Palestine), is that 10% of the Israeli population has dual citizenship and is also freely able to travel due to having one of the highest ranking passports in the world. Palestinians however, even when trying to flee bombing, are unable to easily acquire passports or enter another country. Even under the best circumstances, Palestinian passports are amongst the lowest-ranking passports in the world which further restricts their movement globally.

We also have to understand that asking ‘Well what else are they supposed to do?’ is misguided. Regardless of the presence of a solution, the duty should be on the people perpetrating war crimes to justify why they need to keep committing war crimes, and how the current state of affairs is absolutely necessary to ensure everyone's safety. Like many situations, we don’t even have to know the alternative to know that something is bad.

Sources:

@key48return

@timhutton

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

What is Zionism?

Zionism is a political and ideological movement that emerged in the late 19th century, advocating for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. The term is derived from "Zion," a biblical reference to Jerusalem. The Zionist movement gained momentum in response to increasing anti-Semitism in Europe. The most notable event was the publication of "Theodor Herzl's" book "Der Judenstaat" ("The Jewish State") in 1896, where he called for the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine. Zionism led to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, and the subsequent Nakba in which 800,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced, 15,000 violently killed and thousands more maimed, raped, imprisoned, abused and tortured.

What does it mean if I denounce Zionism?

It means opposing the political ideology of Zionism, which has resulted in the expulsion of millions of Indigenous Palestinians from their land and homes. It means standing against the creation of a nation-state with exclusive rights for Jews above others on the land. Anti-Zionism supports liberation and justice for the Palestinian people, including their right to return to their homes and land. Anti-Zionists believe in a future where all people on the land live in freedom, safety and equality. Opposition to the political movement of Zionism and/or the policies of the state of Israel is no different from criticism of any other political ideology or policies of any other nation-state.

Sources:

@jewishvoiceforpeace

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

If Hamas knew Israel was going to retaliate, why did they attack in the first place?

Short: The Palestinians, particularly those in Gaza, have endured this ‘war’ for decades. Efforts for peace, such as the Oslo Peace Accord in 1993, was not adhered to at all by the Israeli government, and the situation has worsened over time with continued Israeli occupation, settlement expansion, and restrictions on Palestinian life. Peaceful initiatives, like the March of Return in 2018, were met with lethal force from Israeli snipers, causing hundreds of casualties and injuring 36,000 innocent people. The Gaza Strip has been declared 'unlivable' even prior to this current genocide by the WHO due to the quality of life that is being imposed on Palestinians by the Israeli occupation. It's also crucial to understand that the reason for the recent Hamas attack was to take live hostages in order to negotiate the release of thousands of illegally imprisoned Palestinians, not to instigate harm to their own people or eradicate all Israelis and Jews.

Long: This 'war' has been going on for decades. The PLO (the governing body at the time) accepted all US and Israeli conditions for peace and signed the Oslo Peace Accord in 1993, in return for an end to Israeli occupation. 30 years have passed, and the Palestinians regained nothing. Israel actually ended up occupying more land, built more settlements, increased its military presence, and violated holy sites. Palestinians have tried to resist peacefully, they've tried everything. Each time it has only resulted in more and more deaths of the Palestinian people and stricter restrictions on their daily life, movements and access to resources.

In fact, in 2018 Palestinians in Gaza launched a peaceful initiative called the March of Return by walking to the Israeli military fence surrounding Gaza demanding an end to the suffocating blockade. Israeli snipers responded by killing hundreds of marchers, ¼ of them children and injuring over 36,000. For the Palestinians, peace treaties and peaceful marches have only exacerbated their loss and perpetuated their suffering. The current state of affairs for the past 75 years, particularly in the last 16 years, have rendered Gaza ‘unlivable’ according to the WHO. Finally, it's important to understand that the purpose of the Hamas attack was to take live hostages in order to facilitate the release of 10,000 illegally imprisoned Palestinian men, women and children - not to incite the destruction of their own people, nor the eradication of all Israelis.

Sources:

@raadbarhoush

@phantomchasr

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

Short: Palestine is among the earliest sites of human habitation in the world and Palestinian people descended directly from the ancestral inhabitants of the land. The Zionist claim over the land is rooted in the Hebrew bible, and is under questioning by scholars who suggest that myths like the Abraham story (which claims Abraham descended from Palestine) were written after the fact in an attempt to give Jews in captivity in Babylon land rights. The Moses Exodus story (where God promised the Israelites Palestine) is another myth used to justify the establishment of Israel. That, and for many other reasons, relying on ancient texts with questionable historical accuracy to justify the harm being done to Palestinians is dangerous. Until 1947, Jews and Palestinians coexisted in harmony, but the majority of today's global Jewish population, including those in Israel, have European roots. Zionism, as a European settler-colonial movement, denies Palestinian existence, and falsely emphasises Jewish ties to the land. At the end of the day, regardless of the evidence for or against the claims of Jewish presence 2000 years ago, it does not justify the current theft of land and harm inflicted on Palestinians.

Long: Palestine is among the earliest sites of human habitation in the world. Palestinian people descended directly from the ancestral inhabitants of the land. The reason Jewish Zionists feel they have a claim to the land is based on what is written in the Hebrew bible. However, scholars now suggest that the Abraham myth - which claims Abraham was born in Palestine - was composed centuries later in late 600 BCE by landowners while in captivity in Babylon, who were attempting to trace their rights to the land through their father Abraham. These captives upon their return from Babylon, then based their claim to what is now Palestine on another myth – the Moses Exodus story, which claims God gifted the Israelites the ‘promised land’ (Palestine). It is also worth questioning why a book written centuries ago and believed only by those who follow the religion, and is historically proven at the very least questionable in its factual accounts - is being used as a justification to exterminate Palestinians and occupy the land.

In actuality, Jews and Palestians lived in harmony in Palestine until 1947. Jews are also largely a diaspora, with several Jews and Israeli Jews in particular, having no genetic or Middle Eastern heritage tying them to the region. In fact, European/Ashkenazi Jews make up 80% of the world's Jewish population. Meaning the majority of Jews globally - and in Israel - have European roots and are not Indigenous to Palestine. Genetic testing is also conveniently banned in Israel, likely in an attempt to cover up this fact.

To justify the appropriation of land, and the expulsion and elimination of its people, Zionism as a European settler-colonial movement has tried to deny the existence of the Palestinians altogether and falsely inflate Jews ancestral ties to the land. Before the British Mandate on Palestine and the Balfour declaration, Jews in Palestine made up only 4% of the population. Jewish claims that they inhabited Palestine 2000 years ago are irrelevant in the current context, and definitely do not justify the theft of land and the killing and expulsion of the Palestinians.

Sources:

@key48return

@raadbarhoush

welcometopalestine.com

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

Because it is not controlled by them. The 75 year long Israeli occupation of Gaza, with increasingly strict sanctions since Hamas came into power, means that the state of Israel entirely controls Palestinians water, fuel, food, medicine, electricity, imports, exports, fishing rights, and all human movement inside and out of the territory and it encircles it militarily. Currently Israel is committing war crimes by shutting off electricity, water and fuel. As a result 95% of the water in Palestine is currently contaminated. In normal circumstances, the citizens of occupied Palestine are still only given access to electricity for less than 12 hours a day.

Sources:

@paliroots

@adamjohnsonCHI

@depechesmode

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

Short: In the late 1980s, Palestinians in Gaza engaged in non-violent protests, strikes, and boycotts. No Israelis were killed as a result of any of these actions. But in response, Israel killed 214 Palestinians and injured thousands. The 2005 non-violent BDS movement was accused of wanting to destroy Israel, with Israel labelling BDS supporters as antisemitic. Then, tens of thousands of unarmed Palestinian civilians marched in 2018 for the right of return, resulting in 223 killed and over 6,000 left with life-changing wounds. Palestinian non-violent resistance consistently meets deadly and disproportionate violence from Israel, even for the most tiny actions like social media engagement. This is authoritarianism. And how should we expect people to fight back against authoritarianism? When even your seemingly harmless actions, such as liking an Instagram post, can result in your imprisonment or death, there is no amount of peaceful resistance possible that will have any meaningful impact on changing the situation happening around you. Violent resistance as a result of occupation is also protected under international law. Any violent resistance from a Palestinian is clearly the justifiable result of being backed into a corner for 75 years.

Long: From late 1987 to 1988, Palestinians in Gaza rose up in a series of non-violent demonstrations, strikes, boycotts and protests. They killed 0 Israelis. They were unarmed. In response, Israel killed 214 Palestinians in Gaza and injured thousands more. In 2005, Palestinians organised a non-violent movement, Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) In response, Israel a) said the movement's true goal is to destroy Israel, b) called BDS supporters antisemitic, and c) punished its founder by threatening to expel him from his home. Then, in March 2018 tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians marched to the fence illegally built by Israel, unarmed, demanding the right of return. Israel killed 223 Palestinians, and Israeli snipers left 6,106 Palestinians with life-changing wounds and 30,000 more injured. Not a single Israeli experienced any major physical harm, nor were any killed.

In the vast majority of cases of Palestinian non-violent resistance, Israel has responded and continues to respond with deadly and disproportionate violence. Even when Palestinians are not taking to the streets, Israel punshines, kills, imprisons and sanctions Palestinians for their existence on a daily basis. Palestinians are also treated most violently when they display or engage in even the smallest resistance behaviours, such as following pro-Palestine accounts on social media. This kind of surveillance and political repression is a fixture of daily life for Palestinians. But this is also authoritarianism. And how should we expect people to fight back against authoritarianism? Israeli soldiers are showing up to Palestinian homes and businesses, sometimes in the middle of the night, and arresting those who share posts condemning the bombing of innocent Palestinians in Gaza online. What are they expected to do? Share more posts that will also get them arrested or killed.

When even your seemingly harmless actions, such as liking an Instagram post, can result in your imprisonment or death, there is no amount of peaceful resistance possible that will have any meaningful impact on changing the situation happening around you. Violent resistance as a result of occupation is also protected under international law. Any violent resistance from a Palestinian is clearly the justifiable result of being backed into a corner for 75 years.

Video: Did you know Israel arms its civilians?

Video: It’s better to lose your life than live under occupation

Sources: @_ZachFoster

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

Short: Palestinians cannot simply leave Palestine as it’s their homeland and deeply tied to their historic, ethnic, and cultural identity. They also have a legal right to live, work, create, farm and enjoy the land. Leaving is not a practical solution, nor is it fair to suggest to people who are facing violent displacement from their own homes. But this is especially so when all would-be exit points are sealed off by Israel. They quite literally have nowhere to go. Attempts for civilians to flee towards Egypt are met with attacks from the IDF, making escape impossible and just as dangerous as staying put. Expecting Palestinians to flee to other countries also overlooks the burden placed on neighbouring countries, like Lebanon, which is economically strained and already hosting large refugee populations. It also assumes that all Arabs are the same, and will easily assimilate to other areas in the Middle East, ignoring the differences in dialect, culture and more that pose even more challenges for both the Palestinians and the people of the host nations. Palestinians have a right to live in their homeland with dignity and respect and also have a deeply vital connection to their land that sustains their communities, culture, and means of survival. Suggesting they up and leave is inhumane and something we would never ask of ourselves in the same circumstances. Palestinians aren’t asking for anything more than me or you would in the same situation, and I know you can understand why they have a right to have those needs met.

Long: Palestinians can't simply leave Palestine because it's their homeland. Palestinians are indigenous to Palestine, a land where they have historic, ethnic and cultural ties, as well as a legal right to inhabit. Palestinians have lived in Palestine for hundreds of years, and their connection to the land is an essential part of their identity. Leaving is also not a practical or just solution for people at the mercy of violent displacement and occupation. It also ignores the fact that there are currently no ways to exit Palestine, as all exit points have been sealed off, particularly the one leading to Egypt where Israel is currently trying to herd the Palestinians. Not only are Palestinians physically unable to leave, but the ‘safe’ corridors created to force them closer to the Egyptian border are patrolled and bombed by the IDF, and hundreds of Palestinians are being killed as they attempt to ‘flee’. Similarly, the neighbouring countries such as Lebanon, are unfairly expected to take on hundreds of thousands more refugees, despite facing near-economic collapse, and also already hosting millions of Palestinian and Syrian refugees in overflowing refugee camps. It also assumes that all Arabs are the same, and will easily assimilate to other areas in the Middle East, ignoring the differences in dialect, culture and more that pose even more challenges for both the Palestinians and the people of the host nations.

Expecting Palestinians to leave their homeland is an expectation that needs to be challenged. To put yourself in their shoes, it would be wholly unreasonable to expect that you should leave your belongings, family, pets and life behind to submit to an oppressive regime. You also wouldn’t ask Indigenous Australians to up and leave, and make other countries foot the bill of their displacement. Asking Palestinians to leave is an ethnic cleansing. Palestinians aspire to and have the right to live in their homeland with their rights and dignity respected, just like people in any other part of the world. Palestinians are also historically a farming society, with 65% of Palestinians being farmers or from farming families. Palestinian communities rely directly on their land for material sustenance. Without it, they would lose their communities, culture and their means for survival. Israel is acutely aware of this, and this is partly why Zionist settlers uproot Palestinians' olive trees and other crops as a means to erase their identity and belonging. Suggesting they up and leave is inhumane and something we would never ask of ourselves in the same circumstances. Palestinians aren’t asking for anything more than me or you would be in the same situation, and I know you can understand why they have a right to have those needs met.

Sources:

@letstalkpalestine

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

Short: The Hamas charter explicitly states that their war is against Zionism, the occupation, and the settler colonial project, not the Jewish people. The claim that "Hamas wants to kill all Jews" is misleading and pits together two unrelated concepts. Hamas is fighting for the liberation of the Palestinian people and an end to the occupation, not the eradication of Jews. They have also agreed to a two-state solution, which Israel rejected. The narrative suggesting otherwise is used for political gain and to justify genocide under the claim of eradicating a 'terrorist' group.

Long: The Hamas charter explicitly states that they have no problem with the Jewish people. They also clearly state that their war is against Zionism, the occupation, and the settler colonial project. It’s also important to understand that settler-colonialism is a dynamic of power and resources, and is the reality of the situation, not just a justification being used by Hamas to ‘kill all the Jews’. Israel is a settler colony because its creation necessitated the violent displacement of the land's inhabitants and in order to exist, it must perpetually police and populate stolen homes to maintain power, as well as eradicate those that stand in their way.

The “Hamas wants to kill all Jews” argument is also similar to the one that states it is anti-semitic to be anti-zionist, in that it is falsely equating two unrelated concepts. Hamas wanting liberation for the Palestinian people, and the end to the occupation so they can live freely and rightfully on their own land, is not equivalent to calling for the death of all Jews - in theory nor in their own writings. Hamas has also agreed to a two-state solution, which Israel rejected. This narrative is perpetuated for political gain, and to justify genocide in the name of eradicating a ‘terrorist’ group.

Video: See this same question answered by a Jew

Sources:

@k.w.bogen

@agelender

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.

Why can’t I rely on news from sources like the BBC, ABC, New York Times, The Guardian etc?

Due to the billions of dollars spent by the Israeli government on marketing and the spreading of propaganda and misinformation, not only is it misguided to suggest that people seek out information from the news sources cited above, but actively harmful. These organisations are notoriously Zionist and anti-Palestine, backed and funded by the West and Israel, some even owned by Zionists. So, they feed the imperialist propaganda machine. There are several independent news sources reporting real-time, on-the-ground information that is integral to 'uncomplicating' a lot of the confusion people are having around this issue such as the following:

• Al Jazeera

• Middle East Eye

• IMEU

• AJ+

• shaunking

This answer is taken from the document Palestine: in Conversation Document.