- Hamas fighting force reduced by half - US officials
- Group relying on ambushes, improvised bombs, they say
- Such tactics could sustain a lengthy insurgency
- ‘There is no quick fix,’ says Israeli military
WASHINGTON, June 6 (Reuters) - Hamas has seen about half its forces wiped out in eight months of war and is relying on hit-and-run insurgent tactics to frustrate Israel’s attempts to take control of Gaza, U.S. and Israeli officials told Reuters. The enclave’s ruling group has been reduced to between 9,000 and 12,000 fighters, according to three senior U.S. officials familiar with battlefield developments, down from American estimates , opens new tab of 20,000-25,000 before the conflict. By contrast, Israel says it has lost almost 300 troops in the Gaza campaign. Hamas fighters are now largely avoiding sustained skirmishes with Israeli forces closing in on the southernmost city of Rafah, instead relying on ambushes and improvised bombs to hit targets often behind enemy lines, one of the officials said.
I like reading your posts because you are highly intelligent and include sources in them.
However, I am not sure if these documents mean that they wouldn’t destroy Israel if they could. If all the Jewish adults and children of Israel were on an Island and each Hamas leader had a button that would destroy the island and everyone on it if pressed, I think all the Hamas leaders would probably press their buttons.
I am also still scared of Sharia law because I am part of the LGBT community and that makes me scared of Muslims because sometimes when they get a majority, Sharia law ensues. I am scared enough that I can’t have rational views on this topic.
In all honesty, you are one of the smartest and most knowledgeable people posting on here. Have you ever thought of creating a post just putting forward what you personally think should happen in this situation, with specific ideas for the various government leaders to follow, like an actual specific plan for multiple countries to follow that would be politically feasible? And possibly address concerns that people could have and just reply to them in advance so it would be politically feasible?
Perhaps other people have done this, I don’t know. I’m still too biased to feel like I can have an accurate opinion on this. I know your posts have been more critical that offering suggestions, but I think you are so smart you could actually craft a suggestion on how to solve this whole mess in a politically feasible way that would perhaps appeal to people, laying out specific solutions, time-tables, etc, keeping in mind political feasibility (and addressing concerns of LGBT people and women if you want).
You seem so smart. Are you a journalist or have a doctorate? I can sense your intelligence is formidable. I am not joking when I am saying that, you seem brilliant to me in the little I’ve read, which doesn’t mean I agree with your positions. A hard part of change is not just convincing people but also political feasibility. I am still very scared of a Muslim or more Muslim word. I don’t honestly think as a LGBT person my rights will be preserved if Muslims become a larger percent of the population. It shouldn’t affect discussions like this, people should have rights no matter what, but it’s hard to sympathize with a group of people who would potentially drop me off a building.
I am an advocate for a Bi-National One-State Solution, where Palestinians and Israelis have equal rights, including right of return. Where Historic Palestine can be a safe haven for all Jewish, Christian, and Islamic people from persecution. A Two-State Solution is no longer viable due to the land grabbing of Israel, that has divided the West Bank into hundreds of isolated enclaves surrounded by military checkpoints and violent settlers.
I do not think Hamas nor Fatah should govern the Palestinian people, both are corrupt for different reasons. However I don’t think any meaningful change in governance can happen until an end to the Apartheid/Occupation, for the same reason of how Fatah and Hamas are corrupt. A free and fair election cannot happen under an Apartheid State.
Your fear is understandable, however I think it is misplaced. Anti-LGBT+ is shared between all conservative reactionary governments, regardless of religion. American conservatives are just as anti-LGBT+ as any middle eastern conservatives for the most part. Neither Muslims or Arabs are monolithic, there are still advocates for LGBT+ rights in middle eastern countries. In Palestine, for example, there is ASWAT and JOH. Israel is a little better for LGBT, however there has been some pinkwashing.
Right now, no Palestinians in the Occupied Territories have rights, neither basic human rights nor civil rights. I’m an advocate for all people to have those kinds of rights, regardless of whether they agree with all my views or not. So, even if the majority of Palestinians are anti-LGBT, I will still advocate for them to have those rights. I will also advocate for LGBT+ rights within Palestine.
I do have a Bachelor’s in STEM, however I’m not a historian. A year ago I had no idea about the situation in Palestine/Israel, nor the history. The best resource I’ve found by far for extensive research on the history and on-the-ground investigations are New Historians and Human Rights Organizations respectively. Here’s a list of the ones I recommend.
List of Books by New Historians:
If you don’t have access to a library or want to view these for free first, they can all be found on the Library Genesis. I believe a few are on audible too
The Concept of Transfer 1882-1948 - Nur Masalha
A History of Modern Palestine - Ilan Pappe
The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine - Ilan Pappe
The Biggest Prison on Earth: A History of the Occupied Territories - Ilan Pappe
The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine - Rashid Khalidi
The 1967 Arab-Israeli War: Origins and Consequences - Avi Shlaim
The Gaza Strip: The Political Economy of De-development - Sara Roy
New Historian Aricles on One vs. Two State Solution:
How Avi Shlaim moved from two-state solution to one-state solution
‘One state is a game changer’: A conversation with Ilan Pappe
I don’t think conservative Christians want to throw gay people off roofs, so although both hate gay people, I don’t think they are equivalent
You stated your position, but I have no idea if it’s politically viable
I am asking if there a path to have people stop fighting that is politically feasible, not just something that is right according to various beliefs.
I don’t really see a plan here on how to change things, just a position. Is your position politically feasible? Would anyone agree to it?
I have a hard time reading books because get bored with facts and reading stuff that’s long and don’t like history. I am sure that Palestinian civilians are enduring horrors I can’t totally fathom. I have read enough at this point to know how bad it has been for many civilians there. I believe you are very knowledgeable and you keep supporting your positions with data so you’ve gained enough credibility with me that I take a lot of what you are saying as having a historical basis.
Not sure where you’re getting the idea that Christian conservatives don’t want LGBT people dead, because that’s not the reality.
How the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ hate and violence is impacting the community
Christian Right
Similar to Apartheid South Africa, internal and external pressure is necessary. But unlike Apartheid South Africa, Israel is committing Genocide. So significantly more external pressure and hopefully intervention will be necessary to stop the genocide and begin the process of emancipation.
World politics explainer: the end of Apartheid
Again, there are audiobooks available (free with an audible membership too) if you don’t want to physically read. I believe you can find some on Spotify too.