timidgoat

A ceasefire comes about as an agreement between the parties. That's why it is hard to get to (Hamas won't stop defending Gaza, and the IOF doesn't want to stop shelling/infiltrating). In order for the two parties to lay down arms even for a moment is with negotiations and agreements. We saw during the ceasefire, multiple negotiations, resulting in specific numbers of hostages from both sides released. These numbers weren't decided at the time of release, they were specifics negotiated and agreed upon between parties.

Everyone that I know, that is calling for a ceasefire wants to see a permanent ceasefire. Not one that begins with Israel stating they will return to obliterating Gaza as soon as its over, but one that results in a process toward Palestinian self-determination, ALL hostages released both by Hamas and Israel. Keep in mind, Israel holds thousands of Palestinians hostage, including many without charge or trial and during the ceasefire, Israel detained more Palestinians than they released.

Israel doesn't have to be gone in order for Palestinians to be free. People are protesting because this isn't a war, this is resistance fighters standing up against an occupation and apartheid system. A free Palestine does not mean Israel and Zionists wiped off the map. It means Palestinians living with dignity, human rights, and self determination; things they are not given now, and have not been given for 75 years.

Yes, there are those in the fringe that believe Israel needs to be wiped off the map. Any political situation will breed extremists. But in order for peace to be achieved, first and foremost is the dismantling of Israel's APARTHEID SYSTEM.

this is why we rally. Our governments must understand that we are tasking them with putting pressure on Israel to change its ways. This is how apartheid fell in South Africa.

Free Palestine.

Salam and shalom to all citizens of Palestine.

Edit: forgot to add: those extremists do not represent the movement as a whole

• Reminder that multiple Palestinian villages have been ethnically cleansed in the West Bank during the assault on Gaza, by settler militias supported by the IOF.

• Reminder that Israel rejected early proposals for hostage exchanges opting instead for carnage on the Palestinian civilians.

• Reminder that Israel KNEW of the October 7 attack ahead of time and failed to do anything to stop it.

• Reminder that Israel is by all accounts a setler-colonial ethnostate imposing apartheid on the Palestinian people.

Reminder that there was a 56 year occupation and a 75 year ethnic cleansing before the 7th of October attacks

Ah, see it is lawful because Israel says so, therefore it doesn't qualify as terrorism. /s

You're absolutely right that there will be variance, and that each side has incentive to inflate death counts, etc. Other orgs will likely not produce their own numbers until after this mess is over. Check the Wiki pages or B'Tselem pages on previous assaults on Gaza to see how the numbers can vary, that'll give you an idea at least.

If it was any other country your argument would be substantive. But we are talking about Israel and Palestine. Anyone who leaves will not be able to return. That's how it's always been. And for the Palestinians, their land is their existence. They will not give it up. They know the second they leave, it's been lost.

All the supporters of Palestine that I know absolutely support the return of any hostages, including myself. However we aren't so one-sided to only demand that of Hamas. We also believe the 5000+ Palestinians held in Israeli prisons and military posts, many of which are illegally held without charges, unable to seek legal advice or see family, some of which are children, ought to be returned as well.

Don't be blind to what is happening. It isn't hard information to find.

Sorry, but I have been an advocate for Palestinian rights for years. I'm not just shilling out propaganda on the day of a massacre. As I type this, the confirmed death tolls have Israelis near 100 while Palestinian deaths are near double that. So if you want to start talking about massacres, just so far today Israel has caused more death, let alone the days, weeks, months, years and decades prior to today.

Point made. Sadly it's true. Especially today as we spend trillions on technology designed to kill.

That's okay, I'm not trying to get a response! Just trying to make sure people think about this with less bias.

Israel began its occupation in 1947 when the soon-to-be state began ethnically cleansing the lands - removing the Indigenous locals out of their homes and villages. Yes - this sparked the 1948 war, which resulted in even more land being occupied. This issue did not begin with the 1948 war.