Hamas, Israel fighting escalates even amid truce efforts

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By FARES AKRAM and JOSEPH KRAUSS

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas sent a heavy barrage of rockets deep into Israel on Thursday, and Israel pounded Gaza with more airstrikes. The relentless escalation of hostilities came even as Egyptian negotiators held in-person talks with the two sides, intensifying efforts at mediation.

Previous fighting between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers, including a devastating 2014 war, was largely confined to the impoverished and blockaded Palestinian territory and Israeli communities on the frontier. But this round seems to be rippling farther and wider than at any time since the 2000 Palestinian intifada, or uprising.

While some rocket attacks have reached the Tel Aviv area, Arab and Jewish mobs have rampaged through the streets, savagely beating people and torching cars. Flights have been canceled or diverted away from the country’s main airport.

Weary Palestinians, meanwhile, somberly marked the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on Thursday as militants fired one barrage of rockets after another and Israel carried out waves of bone-rattling airstrikes. Since the rockets began Monday, Israel has toppled three high-rise buildings that it said housed Hamas facilities after warning civilians to evacuate.



Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes on a building in Gaza City, Thursday, May 13, 2021. Weary Palestinians are somberly marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, as Hamas and Israel traded more rockets and airstrikes and Jewish-Arab violence raged across Israel. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-conflict-violence-spreads-1ad9613de6ad16c4d248da9934cf0412

[JohnSJ]

1. They have to keep trying to get a cease fire, and get Israeli's and Palestinians back to the

negotiation tables

[roamer65]

2. Netanyahu.

That’s the problem.

[former9thward]

4. The conflict predates Netanyahu by at least a generation.

None of Netanyahu's potential successors have different views on the conflict. President Biden called Netanyahu with his support for the right of self defense by Israel.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/12/world/middleeast/biden-netanyahu-israel.html

[roamer65]

5. He's pouring gas on it.

That’s how he’s staying in office.

The politics of fear.

[former9thward]

6. Since Biden has given his support then that would mean Biden is also.

I don't agree with that view.

Hamas is in a political fight with the Palestinian Liberation Authority for control of Gaza and the entire Palestinian territories for that matter. They created this particular fight to gain political points.

[roamer65]

7. Absolutely your right to disagree.

👍

[oldsoftie]

9. Hamas. Thats the problem. Wantonly killing civilians. Thats the problem.

400 rockets a day. Thats the problem. Refusing to accept peace offers for decades. Problem.
Hiding among civilians. Hamas HQ inside a hospital. Etc Etc. They've been doing thos for years & years before anyone even knew Netanyahu's name.

They've brought this on themselves. The Arab world is now tiring of them. Thats why most Arab countires are now making peace deals with Israel & even opening embassies & airports. They know Israel isnt the "problem".

[BuddhaGirl]

11. Israel is hardly blameless

Settlers...giving them confiscated Palestinian land. Built in violation of international law.

Israel is a big problem too.

[OnlinePoker]

14. When you live in a space less than half that of NYC, where would you hide?

If your land was taken, how long would you stop fighting to try and get it back?

[EX500rider]

20. Gaza has lots of empty spaces between cities they could base from.

[oldsoftie]

23. When you lose you lose. People have moved for eternity

They've been offered and given land at different times and still harbor terrorists and continue to demand all of Israel.
Too bad. Get over it. Toss the terrorists, act civilized & see what happens. Otherwise, move along.

[Jay25]

15. Who brought what, upon themselves? Are you truly saying Hamas is responsible for the all of the

actions of Israel, the steadily increasing confiscation of Palestinian land, the destruction of their livelihood?

The real problem is, those that seem to believe that some have more rights than others. Believe people that take over other people’ lands and civil rights, have the entitlement to rule and oppress said people, and when said people fight back, they are called thugs, terrorists, uncivilized,....

Palestinians being forced to uproot from their homes for no reason, forced onto less and less land, with less resources and rights, made to look like the aggressors when they fight back reminds me too much of colonization. And we are all aware of the effects of European colonization on the indigenous populations throughout the world; Native Americans, South Africans, Australian Aborigines, Mayans, Aztecs, etc.,

[BuddhaGirl]

16. +1

n/t

[oldsoftie]

21. They've had their chance. Tough.

Most of the Middle East is also tired of it. Israel has said a million times; there will be peace if you stop attacking. They never stop & still demand the destruction of all of Israel.
And why is Jordan never expected to give up any of THEIR land? Since they were formed at the same time?

[Jay25]

24. And since their formation, has Jordan continued to invade and take more and more

Palestinian land? Israel has attacked Palestine unprovoked on more than 1 occasion, and have been called out by human rights groups. Also, have you seen the map of Israel in 1948 versus Israel in 2021? How about a map of Palestine 1948 versus now?

“They've had their chance. Tough.“ After rereading my comments, I’m unsure of whose civil rights you are referencing.

[oldsoftie]

25. When you lose a war sometimes you lose land

The destruction of Israel has been promised since they were given their land back. Its up to the palestinians if they want to live how they do. They repeatedly put people in charge who want the total destruction of Israel. And Israel pushes back and I dont really care anymore. And neither does most of the Arab world anymore. Thats why so many Arab countries have peace treaties with them now. The palestinians isolate themselves with constant self imposed victimhood

[jpak]

3. The visuals of this conflict are truly horrifying

No words

[Warpy]

8. How utterly convenient for Netanyahu

Just sayin'.

[oldsoftie]

10. Convenient for Abbas; every time an election is scheduled they start shit.

Then he "postpones" the election. Happens every time. Abbas has been in "office" for 15 yrs. He'll keep doing this as long as he can

[Warpy]

13. You're right, both of them need to be kicked to the curb

and I don't know what it's going to take to dislodge Abbas unless he gets hit by a bus and even then the Fatah party will likely still win.

[Roc2020]

12. Watch this event. its not

a guarantee this...war will end as the previous ones did. It is a dangerous situation

[Behind the Aegis]

17. This should "please" certain factions...now Lebanon is getting in on the bombing.

Three rockets fired from Lebanon towards Israel, no injuries

And slightly better news...

Link to tweet

[ripcord]

18. Those brave Hamas warriors

Firing off rockets while hiding behind women and children.

[manicdem]

19. Like N korea

The plight of the Palestinians has a lot of similarities to north Korea. The Palestinian groups like Hamas brainwash and use their people as pawns to wage conflict to stay in power. Those groups would disappear and their leaders would probably be hanged if there was peace. It also gets them international aid.

[oldsoftie]

22. But unlike NK, they are exposed to the outside world

They can read the news & see what the real world is