Activists hope for nation's largest pro-Palestine protests this weekend

@32roadster
But October 7th did happen.

And as a result, approx. 1,200 innocent Israeli civilians were slaughtered by Hamas and a further 251 taken hostage. In retaliation approximately (admittedly unverified) 53,000 non-combatants – both Palestinian and international aid workers, have been killed by the IDF, with many more Gaza residents being left homeless and malnourished.

I am astonished that anyone can seriously suggest that this horendous conflict, which has simmered for decades, can be “Put simply”.

Yawn! How many times do we have to put up with this falsity? It is about trying to stop the slaughter and starvation of civilians. The majority of citizens of Gaza have no more control over the activities of Hamas than you or I do. They do not deserve to die.

Yes but large crowds were there welcoming home Hamas fighters by spitting on the hostages and hitting them with their shoes. That included children. I’m sure now they know the consequences, they regret it and I agree it’s time to stop the slaughter to give Hamas time to release the remaining hostages and when complete let Palestinians live in peace with whoever rules them.

I feel sorry that your ignorance is missing the point. These actions are about bringing attention to the fact that a genocide is occurring amongst innocent Palestinian people and not about supporting Hamas.. Lives lost due to the IDF military campaign is in excess of 62,000, including 200+ journalists and media workers, 120 academics, and over 220 humanitarian aid workers. It does not account for missing bodies such as those not yet found under the wreckage of buildings. Please show some understanding and compassion at a time when it is very much needed, no matter what side of the fence you sit on.

megsy no doubt you showed the same compassion for 1,200 Israelis – children, babies, women, men – on October 7.

Just to put your mind at rest the rally isn’t about “pledging support for a group of terrorists”. It is about the appropriate action for nations (including ours) to take for what is overwhelmingly recognised as a genocide.

Penfold, I hope you showed the same compassion for the 44,000 (approx) civilians who died – children, babies, women, men – after October 7.

Revealed: Israeli military’s own data indicates civilian death rate of 83% in Gaza war

Figures from classified IDF database listed 8,900 named fighters as dead or probably dead in May, as overall death toll reached 53,000

That apparent ratio of civilians to combatants among the dead is extremely high for modern warfare, even compared with conflicts notorious for indiscriminate killing, including the Syrian and Sudanese civil wars.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2025/aug/21/revealed-israeli-militarys-own-data-indicates-civilian-death-rate-of-83-in-gaza-war

Colditz – can’t say anything the Guardian says on the Israeli issue has any credibility, especially when they claim to be quoting from a “classified Israeli military intelligence database”.

We also know the Hamas reported casualty numbers are wildly inflated.

Not surprisingly i haven’t got access to the database but i do have access to Professor Google, something many anti-Israel commentators seem to lack.

The Hamas run Gaza Health Ministry claims over 61,000 Gazan casualties, so the likely real number is around a third of that. Every innocent death is a tragedy, especially women and children. But i wonder how many were because they were put in harms way by Hamas to protect command centres, ammunition dumps and so on.

Certainly the IDF has made mistakes as well. But ask yourself this – how many Gazan civilians would still be alive today if Hamas hadn’t attacked Israel on October 7. May i suggest the majority.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war

Penfold, I do care about the Israelis who were killed, captured or injured on October 7. What happened that day was unacceptable and I hope that if any of the people involved in the planning or implementation of that attack are still alive that they face war crime trials. However, killing innocent people who were not part of those attacks will not do anything other than breed more hatred.

megsy the death of any innocents are always a tragedy. As for the hatred though, CR made an observation the other day that until Palestinians can learn to love their children more than they hate Israelis then this conflict will never end. And let’s face it, it’s been going since at least 1967, or arguably millennia. There’s definitely something in that comment.

Hamas rejoice at every innocent death as each puts more pressure on Israel. And look at the international reaction, we’ve now got our Australian government, once a close friend of Israel, siding with and rewarding terrorists. The ignorance is palpable.

The only way this can end is if Gazans rise up against Hamas and eradicate them. Then somehow eradicate the psychology behind it all. Decades it will take you’d think. Israel will always protect itself an i fully support that right. They aren’t the aggressor here. Poor Bob Hawke must be turning in his grave seeing what Albanese has done to Israel, Australia and his beloved Labor party.

Israel has the right to defend itself. In this case, they are not defending the country – they are committing genocide, even most Israelis are aware of this now – hence the massive protests. And, for another poster on this thread to suggest the Palestinians do not love their children as others do, is both offensive and racist.

If they held an election Hamas would be voted in.

The innocent but silent majority is irrelevant when it only takes a few to do evil.

megsy i just stumbled across a report which reinforces CR’s comment and the mentality. It includes:

One of the most remarkable moments since Hamas attacked Israel, in a mission Gaza’s leaders understood would be an act of suicidal futility, was when an aide told Haniyeh in April last year that three of his sons had been killed in a bomb attack in central Gaza. He was about to attend a meeting in Doha, where he had been hiding for eight years.

He listened to the news that arrived by a mobile phone on speaker, nodded in acceptance of it and was asked by his assistant: “Shall we end this meeting?” Haniyeh calmly responded: “No. Why? Let’s continue.”

Wonder if Albo has ever heard of Neville Chamberlin.

@Penfold
You tried that “Bob Hawke must be rolling in his grave” gambit in another thread, Penfold.

I pointed out then, and will again here, Hawke, with the backing of the Howard government, met with both Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in 2003 in a new peace initiative in the Middle East.

So, even Hawke, an avowed supporter of Israel, recognised that there could not be peace in the Midddle East, without dealing with the PLO/Palestinian Authority.

So Albanese has no need to consider Neville Chamberlain, he can just emulate Bob Hawke.

Small problem JS – Hawke tried to bring both sides together. Albanese is actively taking sides and tearing apart. Consider Netanyahu’s and others words about our PM:

* “abandoned Israel”
* “abandoned Australian Jews”
* “a weak politician”
* “These comments have played straight into the hands of opponents of Israel and antisemites, to the detriment of the Australian Jewish community.”

“Emulate Bob Hawke” you say. Goodness me.

@Penfold
Australia is not taking sides – it already recognises Israel and its right to exist, Penfold. This is about evening the playing field and recognising the other side has also has a right to exist.

What you seem to be unable to counter, Penfold, is the fact that the majority of countries have recognised, or are proposing to recognise, Palestinian statehood – and that includes many of our major allies. Your argument against, is basically because Bibi is upset 😢

Well JS if you can’t recognise the difference between somebody who brings people together and someone who tears people apart, then that’s probably why you vote for “modern Labor”.

As for not taking sides, well that’s just a bizarre comment. Just ask Australian Jews, Bibi or Trump. Maybe you need to read more diverse media, one’s with different facts and opinions.

@Penfold
Seems like a lot of people came together today, Penfold … far from tearing them apart, which is just your hyperbole, they were united in support of the decision – that’s all I need to read .

Yes they were united together in their peaceful and humanitarian chants of “death to the IDF”.

Such peacemakers.