Gordon wrote on Jan 19^th, 2025 at 3:26pm:


Hamas do not care for the people of Palestine. They're nothing more than dictators who seek the destruction of Israel. That is the sole reason for the existence of the terrorist group. They have absolutely no interest in peace with Israel. Unfortunately, it's not like the people of Palestine can vote Hamas out because they control everything and have all the guns.

Armchair_Politician wrote on Jan 20^th, 2025 at 12:33pm:


Well, it depends on who.  Remember Yahya Sinwar?  He was killed in a house inside a combat zone in Rafah, holding a rifle,

He was born in a refugee camp in Gaza in 1962.  His family was expelled from their ancestral home, which had now being renamed to an Israeli name.    He resisted the occupation, and was involved in abducting and killing Israeli soldiers.   He spent 22 years in jail for that, until a prisoner exchange during the last Israel Lebanon war.   After returning to Palestine, he used what he learned in jail, and climbed through power structure in HAMAS.   He is a terrorist, he could have just moved to Qatar, and enjoyed the luxury of billionaire.  But he remained to fight to the last second. 

Cant say the same for many of our politicians here at home, who are only too eager to send someone elses child to die in meaningless wars. 

Leroy wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2025 at 10:51am:


This is a temporary ceasefire.  The Israeli need this to restock, and reload.   They will be back bombing soon enough, after the hostages are released.

thegreatdivide wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2025 at 12:35pm:


I'd be more impressed by Muslims here protesting at the treatment of Palestinian civilians by Hamas, using them as human shields, ruling over them in their quest to destroy Israel (yeah, that's gonna happen!).

Leroy wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2025 at 10:51am:



It will not last.



After Israeli troops stood down when a ceasefire came into effect in the Gaza Strip, Hamas began sending thousands of its forces onto the streets to establish control.

The deployment – envisioned by the agreement that pauses the fighting while the combatants exchange hostages for prisoners – highlights how the US-designated terrorist group remains the dominant power in the territory.  Israel hasn’t been able to destroy the group or empower an alternative.

Hamas punctuated its authority Sunday by parading armed and uniformed militants through the streets flashing V-signs to cheering crowds.

When Hamas transferred the first Israeli hostages to the Red Cross, Arab mediators said they could see fighters from Hamas’s core Nukhba Force unit clad in full military gear and armed.

The open show of force after months of being pushed underground was a signal that aid groups and governments will need to co-operate with Hamas as reconstruction efforts get under way in the coming weeks – an outcome Israel has hoped to prevent.




This is a bit like the Afghan withdrawal - the gruesome are back in control in Gaza.

Heard on the wahless today a rally of 'nurses and midwives' which condemned the 'genocide' by Israel and suopported the 'Palestinians' (Gazans).

Not sure if that was the association/union - but they sure carried on with the usual silly statements about things happening... clearly rabid left wing anti-Israel.

All these Gazans 'returning from the south' - why didn't they evacuate to the north along the safe corridors Israel set up and protected?  well - two reasons - Hamas prevented them from doing so, and secondly - they wanted to go south and stick with 'their own' who were killing them.

There is no hope for peace in all this.... Hamas/Gaza will strike again with the support of these 'innocents' - they are rebuilding even now and the IDF will have to do it all again when these helpless Gazans attack again.  This time :-

OOPS!  Note:-  They've got a funny idea of 'victory' - they haven't been 'victorious' since they started - and all that means is they are so brainwashed there is zero hope of any peace.  They'll do it all again with Mama's blessing.  Talk about dumb!!

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/hamas-says-8-israeli-hostages-due-to-be...

"Eight of the hostages due for release in the first phase of a truce deal between Israel and Gaza are dead, Hamas has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Hamas has provided a long-awaited list of the hostages to be released during the first six-week phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, stating that 25 of 33 hostages were alive.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer confirmed the remaining eight hostages were dead.

"The families have been informed of the situation of their relatives," Mr Mencer told reporters.

That means that of the 26 hostages yet to be freed under the first phase of the agreement, only 18 are still alive.

Seven women have already been freed alive in exchange for more than 290 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails since the ceasefire began on 19 January.

Tel Aviv announced on Sunday that Hamas had agreed to release female civilian Arbel Yehud, female soldier Agam Berger and one other hostage on Thursday.

The news came as tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians streamed along the main roads leading into northern Gaza as Israel opened roadblocks after militant group Hamas agreed to hand over female Israeli hostage Arbel Yehud and two other hostages.

A mass of people, some holding infants in their arms or carrying bundles of belongings on their shoulders, headed north on foot, along a road running by the Mediterranean Sea shore.

Witnesses in northern Gaza said the first residents arrived in Gaza City on Monday morning after the first crossing point in central Gaza opened at 7am, local-time.

"It's like I was born again and we were victorious again," said Palestinian mother, Umm Mohammed Ali, part of the kilometres-long throng that processed slowly up the coastal road.

Another crossing opened around three hours later, letting in vehicles.

Children in warm jackets and carrying backpacks walked hand in hand, men pushed the elderly in wheelchairs and families posed for selfies as Hamas-hired officials in red vests directed them along the coastal road.

Hamas officials and ordinary Gazans have rejected a suggestion from US President Donald Trump that Jordan and Egypt should take in Palestinians from the war-ravaged enclave, rekindling long-standing Palestinian fears about being driven permanently from their homes.

MORE - read on.