A senior Hamas official has told NBC News that Hamas is willing to release all civilian hostages in one hour if Israel stops its bombing of Gaza.
Given that it was a record turnout, particularly amongst young people, this a heartening rejection of the far right. Also strengthens the EU.
Kicking off in the West Bank with the news of the hospital airstrike Abbas has withdrawn from meeting Biden tomorrow - for Biden this is turning into political disaster
Reports say violence has erupted between protesters and Palestinian security forces in several cities in the West Bank, Reuters is reporting. In central Ramallah, tear gas and stun grenades were fired to disperse protesters throwing rocks and chanting against the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas. The news agency reported anger was boiling over after the deadly attack on a Gaza hospital on Tuesday that the authority said was a “cold-blooded massacre” by Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), meanwhile, are suggesting the strike was a failed rocket launch by Hamas. In Jordan’s capital Amman, protesters have reportedly overrun the Israeli embassy, according to video posted to X, formerly Twitter. Abbas under huge pressure, he had no option other than to walk away from meeting Biden. King Abdullah will meet Biden and give him a hard time. Jordanian opinion is well received and its telling that Sisi isn't towing the American line at all. Israel trying to pin the hospital strike on Hamas isn't going to wash, international condemnation has been swift even without any verification Biden about to stick his head in the Lions mouth - Trump will be rubbing his hands
The latest ballistics experts are blaming Hamas after the first wave of ballistics experts blamed Israel. If anything we just have too many ballistics experts on Twitter.
Whoever is responsible for the hospital bombing, and we may never know, the dye is cast in people's minds. Dislike Israel? Then they targeted a hospital. I think it was an accident whoever was responsible. Even hard line Israel would know that to target a hospital would finish any sympathy with them and this is what's happening anyway. Many people have just been waiting to forget as quickly as possible the massacre by Hamas in order to turn their hatred again onto Israel. Hamas have ignited this absolute nightmare and their plan is working perfectly. Many, many more civilians will die because that's what happens in war, as do mistakes and accidents. Everyone should maybe try to dial down the rhetoric, as we are almost certainly on the brink of another attack here and these misguided people don't need any more encouragement.
This vicious circle continues. The dilemma of the Middle East strikes again. We all know who started this particular round of action and reaction. Hamas have a lot to answer for. It shouldn’t be forgotten too that they continue to fire rockets daily at Israeli cities and settlements. Once the Hamas strike happened, my concern was always what level of restraint Israel would/wouldn’t show. I have seen their response before. They have no limits or boundaries to the retribution they dish out. Two wrongs don’t make a right. Never will. Both sides are blaming each other for the hospital strike. Everything is possible. The fog of war has certainly fallen. The bottom line for me is when is enough, enough?. Israel can’t be just allowed to bomb Gaza indiscriminately. Before the hospital strike, houses, apartments, schools, etc were all bombed. This just can’t be allowed to continue. They can’t think they are allowed to act with impunity. Friday is coming. That’s my fear. After prayers this Friday there could be carnage.
I also believe that the bombing of a hospital can have no purpose - but then again the Israelis have bombed refugee camps, schools, residential buildings and, altogether, a third of the Palestinian dead have been children so it's clear that Israel is not just targetting military targets, but rather the entire population indiscriminately.
Israel has modern satellite/Guided missile systems. While occasional missile malfunctions can happen, not to the scale that civilian targets are being hit in Gaza. It simply can’t be described as anything other than calculated.
Hamas and Hezbollah rockets in general are older generation rocket systems. Totally indiscriminate and consistently inaccurate. They can and have landed anywhere and everywhere.
