Gaza

Politically, I have always been a "floating voter"  voting for the party that best represents my views.

Whilst fully understanding the revulsion felt by Israel for the horrific acts by Hamas on October 7th and the wish by its enemies to see the destruction of the state if Israel, I am sickened by the apparent wish to destroy and drive out the people of Gaza. The Israeli government will claim their only wish is to destroy Hamas.

In the eyes of the world, Israel is seen as the aggressor in Gaza. You would think after the sheer horror of the holocaust in WW2, they would not want innocents to suffer.

The aggression and killing must stop. 

The only long-term peace will come from talking around a table. All sides will have to make some compromises.

Does Israel really believe they will defeat Hamas?  Their actions are likely to result in even more people turning against Israel.

Give peace and reconciliation a chance!

OXFAM petition

Many of my best friends are Jewish and I hope I treat every human being the same whatever their faith or none.  What happened on October 7th 2023 was despicable.

However, I cannot understand how the UK government still sells arms to Israel and is allegedly training IDF soldiers on UK soil.

I am appalled by the death and destruction in Gaza and, like many in Israel, see no point in carrying on. Hamas is no longer a threat to Israel and the longer the fighting continues the more hated the state of Israel will be around the world. 

Also, surely continued fighting will persuade many to hate Israel even more. So, continuation is self-defeating.

Also, why are no journalists allowed into Gaza? Is Israel ashamed?

Although I have doubts it will do much good, OXFAM is organising a petition aimed at stopping the UK supplying arms to Israel. I urge you to sign it.

See https://www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-oxfam/end-uk-arms-sales-to-israel/

UPDATE  0749z:  It appears over 500 people protesting against genocide in Gaza were arrested at the weekend. Their mistake was to have "I support Palestine Action" on their placards. Palestine Action is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK.  A better wording would have been "I oppose genocide in Palestine".  I hope all protesters are freed without charge.

Gaza

The dreadful situation in Gaza appals me.  The world agrees that what happened to Israel on October 7th 2023 was totally wrong, but the suffering in Gaza to innocents is on another level.

I am ashamed to be in England allegedly training IDF solders on UK soil and still selling weapons to the state of Israel.

In my view the following should happen:

• An immediate ceasefire.
• Humanitarian aid should be flooded into Gaza by UN agencies, not Israel.
• Press should be immediately allowed to go into Gaza.
• Palestine should be recognised as a country by the UK along side France irrespective of what Israel and the USA say. Enough is enough.
• Israel and its Arab neighbours should acknowledge their rights to live peacefully with their neighbours.
• Until there is a just peace, we should have nothing at all to do with the state of Israel.
• The USA should work for the good of innocents whatever their religion.

Gaza - NOT amateur radio

Apparently the BBC has removed a documentary on iPlayer as it breached editorial guidelines. 

Meanwhile in response to the horrific events of October 7th by Hamas against Israel, Israel is trying to destroy Hamas as a fighting force. It does not allow journalists into Gaza to see the destruction and over 50000 people have died. 

I am sure that the response is totally unjustified by any measure. The hate that must have built up against Israel has probably put peace back 50 years. Surely Israel 🇮🇱 must see this.

My wishes are an immediate ceasefire, a long term peace , the UK to stop all arms sales to Israel and no dealings with Israel until there is a just peaceful including IDF training.

IDF - NOT amateur radio

“In a revealing written parliamentary answer dated 11 June 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that British forces are currently training personnel from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on UK soil. The response, delivered by Labour MP Luke Pollard, stated this is part of “routine Defence engagement with Israel”.”

Many of my best friends are Jewish but I didn’t know this was allegedly happening. 

Whilst the October 7th massacre was utterly wrong, so is destroying Gaza and very many innocent people and children. 

Everyone has the right to live in peace and nobody has the right to bully others. After all, we are all human beings.

In my view we should not sell any arms to Israel or train any IDF troops until there is a just peace.

Gaza - NOT amateur radio

My long-term desire has always been for everyone to live in peace, even though we may believe in different things, or nothing. We are all different, but all human beings. We are basically all the same.

Clearly what happened in Israel on October 7th 2023 was horrific. Nobody in their right mind would think otherwise. Israel has a right to defend itself from attack.

What I do not understand is Israel's response. Very many innocent people have been killed, maimed and made homeless. Their homes have been destroyed. Many are starving. Foreign journalists are unable enter Gaza to see for themselves.

What I cannot understand is how a people that suffered so much in WW2 can be so cruel to the people of Gaza. For every bomb and killing, more people will be recruited by Hamas! 

Surely the killing and starving of a people has to stop.

What is needed is everyone to change:  Hamas and the others in the region must recognise Israel. Israel must live in peace with it's neighbours.  Israel is fast becoming a hated state.

Many of my best friends are Jewish. To me this whole thing is senseless and ultimately fruitless.

Israel, the West Bank and Gaza - NOT amateur radio

 Although I do not profess to properly understand the full history or know the whole story I know enough. 

• The October 7th attacks on innocent people in Israel was wrong.
• Taking innocent people hostage is wrong.
• Treating the people of Gaza so badly and raising much of it to rubble is wrong.
• Not allowing aid in to Gaza is wrong.
• Not allowing reporters freely into Gaza is wrong.
• Destroying homes in the West  Bank is wrong.
• Wishing to destroy the state of Israel is wrong.

Why can't people just live in peace with their neighbours? 

I am sure there are wrongs on both sides, but war rarely solve issues. We never learn from history it seems. In the end all sides have to compromise.

Two-faced? - NOT amateur radio

The USA (according to the BBC) has told congress that it wants to send $1bn in arms to Israel.  No doubt these (along with many others before) will be used to render women and children dead, maimed or homeless. 

We accuse Russia of war crimes in Ukraine, but allow Israel to do the same in Gaza with weapons we provide. 

Indeed, Israel has a perfect right to defend itself.  However, many will question the way Israel is trying to prosecute the war in Gaza.

My firm belief is everyone on the planet has a right to live in peace, be respected and worship in the way they choose.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-69013279.

Crimes against humanity? - NOT amateur radio

We know that what Hamas did on October 7th was horrific and that the people of Israel were severely shocked. 

However, in going after Hamas, Israel is treading a very dangerous path. I am unconvinced that a hospital (or many) and so many houses have to be totally destroyed or so many people left hungry and thirsty. 

The state of Israel is in great danger of losing the sympathy of the world and its leaders becoming afraid to travel abroad for fear of arrest on war crimes.

Meanwhile, 6 months on, Israeli hostages are still being held, or killed by Israeli bombing.

Even if Hamas was to completely disappear, is this a recipe for long-term peace? So much hatred has been created, surely Arab states are even more anti Israel.

Surely, the only way to lasting peace is talking.

Gaza-Israel conflict - NOT amateur radio

This conflict continues to trouble me. 

It would seem that Israel is dead set against journalists going into Gaza to see things for themselves. They continue to drive the people of Gaza (including women and children) to hunger and thirst using the horrific events of October 7th by Hamas as their reason.

I only wish peace and mutual respect. This requires compromise on both sides.  

Both Hamas and Israel have done things wrong. Both will be judged by history.

Gaza- Israel conflict - NOT amateur radio

Enough is enough.  

The fighting has to stop as too many innocent people are being killed, traumatised, injured or made homeless. Whilst I think it is entirely right for Israel to defend itself from Hamas, one could be forgiven for thinking this is now genocide.

I understand that Israel wants to prevent future incursions and massacres like October 7th, but is the fighting in Gaza the way to forge long-term peace? We now have generations that will grow up hating Israel.  OK, Hamas might be weakened, but the cycle of violence will go on.

As I have said before, my friends include Jews and Muslims. We need a just peace.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-middle-east-68358053

Gaza-Israel conflict - NOT amateur radio

Whilst I fully understand the feelings of disbelief over the events of October 7th, I am dismayed by Israel's response in Gaza and the West Bank.

As an outsider, it is hard to think Israel's actions are not war crimes.  Countless innocent women and children have been killed or maimed and made homeless. Tell me, surely this will make many people hate Israel for decades to come?

In my view, the only fair and enduring peace has to be based on justice for all and mutual recognition. I have friends who are Jewish and friends who are Muslim.

Peace..... for the sake of ordinary people, please.

Wrong side of history? - NOT amateur radio

This evening, I heard that Mr Netanyahu had rejected the truce proposals in Gaza. I am no expert on the history of the Middle East, but I am sure his response to the appalling events on October 7th will win him and Israel no friends. Until there is a fair and lasting settlement there can be no peace.

In the meantime innocents are killed or maimed. Sadness goes on. Surely the only fair outcome cannot be won by bullets and weapons. 

What I find puzzling is why the USA and UK seem so pro Israel and passive about the people of Gaza. Surely the USA and UK should be working overtime to seek a just peace, or Israel never ever gets support in the future.  Recognising Palestine would be a start.

Time to stop - NOT amateur radio

What happened in Israel on October 7th was appalling. It was understandable that the people of Israel and its government were angry. It is clear they want to stop such attacks in future.

However, I am unsure of the real motives of Israel in Gaza.  

There were lots of people killed or taken hostage on October 7th, but the destruction and deaths in Gaza are surely out of proportion. Many there are starving, and you can understand why many are calling the actions of Israel genocide. 

If, as was the declared intention of Israel, they want to decimate Hamas, then surely there are more clinical ways of going about it? I am not impressed from a population that was so badly impacted in WW2.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68004449 .

And so it goes on - NOT amateur radio

The BBC reports that more people in Gaza have been told to avoid the difficult fighting at the centre of Khan Younis. I am ashamed of the USA and UK governments. 

Yes Hamas has done evil things, but innocents continue to be badly impacted. All that results is a generation to come that hates Israel.  This is sheer madness. Hamas may be defeated. What then?

Jaw, jaw not war, war. Do we never learn?

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67672759 .

War crimes? - NOT amateur radio

When Israel was attacked last week, many were (rightly) horrified. They are in a difficult position. They want to stop future attacks, which is fully understandable.

What I question is the ethics of their recent plans. They have asked 1 million people to leave northern Gaza. This is extremely difficult if you are old or disabled. As a person who was in intensive care 10 years ago, I know leaving would be impossible.

Starving innocent people, no water, no fuel?

So the cycle of hatred goes up again.

In my view, the long-term bad feeling created works against Israel.  

I have no idea what the answer is, but punishing the ordinary folk of Gaza cannot be the right one.

War crimes - NOT amateur radio

The recent barbaric attacks by Hamas in southern Israel were terrible and I can understand the anger. 

However, taking revenge on the (largely) totally innocent men, women and children of Gaza is surely not the right course of action. 

By attacking Gaza they may weaken Hamas, but innocent people will be harmed. Israel will be guilty of war crimes itself! 

The only solution, in the end, is peaceful co-existence and mutual respect of differences. People the world over are different, and rarely, if ever, do wars really solve issues. All they do is create yet more hatred and bitterness, as well as many innocents killed or maimed. All it does is increase the coffers of arms manufacturers the world over, when this wasted money could be far better spent solving the existential threats that call into question of the very survival of the whole human race.

In my view the UK should keep out and the USA should put pressure on all sides to negotiate a fair and just peace that respects everyone.

We live in dangerous times.

Israel, Gaza and war crimes

I don't like getting political on this blog but feel the actions of Israel overnight attacking a school designated a UN safe area, is nothing short of a war crime.  15 innocents killed and dozens injured - disgraceful in any language. There is absolutely no excuse for this slaughter. Even if rockets were fired from the local area it is no excuse to kill already traumatised children. Slaughter of the innocents.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28558433 .
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28559537 .

For years, the state of Israel has treated the Palestinian people like scum. They deserve to be treated as full humans and accorded the full rights all humans deserve. No more settlements on Palestinian land. After the horrors to the Jews in WW2 you would think Israel would want to help build a kinder world. Not a bit of it! They seem to want to spread hate.  I know Hamas must stop firing rockets at Israel and I know there are good Jewish people, but the war on Gaza is fostering hate and yet more resentment.

What is needed are real substantive talks leading to a comprehensive and fair peace for all in the region. Now is the time for jaw, jaw not war, war. Will Israel never learn? If you treat the Palestinian people as less than human what do you expect?

At the moment, Israel, supported by the USA and the UK amongst others, is not even seriously trying to get a lasting peace. I am embarrassed by my government.   An eye for an eye seems to be all Israel understands.

I am sorry, but I get increasingly frustrated by the continued violence.   Now is the time for real love and kindness to be shared and long-term peace to be given a real chance.   People of  Israel - wake up! USA and UK - support the Palestinians at the same level as Israel.   Give peace a chance!