# Discussion for the Israel-Hamas War: A thread in the Pit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** israel-hamas-war\ **Created:** [November 5, 2023, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653 "2023-11-05T21:57:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 138
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2741 "2026-04-27T12:48:06Z")
Damn, I needed a “Blood Libel” not an “(((anti-Semite)))” for a Bingo… ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2742 "2026-04-27T12:50:58Z")
It’s remarkable that Babs is incapable of conceiving that someone might be honestly and genuinely opposed to starting wars, killing civilians, and rape, in all circumstances. He just doesn’t even see it as possible. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2743 "2026-04-27T12:52:31Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > But I also don’t believe that you, or Andy, or Banquet Bear, or any of the rest of the anti-(((Zionist))) movement gives a single flying fuck about a single Palestinian life except for insofar as you can use it to attack Israel. Why do you believe that? None of those posters have given me any reason to believe they are antisemitic, something you charge them with over and over again. Is it possible, just possible, that Israel has offended people for reasons other than them hating Jews? At the start of his Rosh Hashanah service, my rabbi talked about some of the emails he got on the subject of Gaza. Let’s just say my congregation is divided, with people having extremely strong feelings on both sides. And to be clear, neither of those sides is “pro Hamas”; I’m pretty sure the whole temple is united in opposing Hamas. The sides are, “we must defend Israel no matter what” and “it’s our responsibility as fellow Jews to speak out against the atrocities being perpetrated by Israel”. So he gave a sermon on finding common ground, and coming together as a community. Because this issue _is_ dividing our community. That is to say, the community of American Jews. If Jews who grew up sending money to Israel are now upset about what Israel has been doing, why is it remarkable that others are, too? Why do you assume they are antisemitic? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2744 "2026-04-27T12:59:36Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Why do you believe that? None of those posters have given me any reason to believe they are antisemitic, something you charge them with over and over again. Their obsession with Israel that’s out of all proportion to reality is quite telling. Yes, they have a billion and one excuses as to why _this_ is the only conflict they feel the need to speak up on; none of them are remotely convincing. And I don’t believe that they are personally antisemitic. They’ve just swallowed obvious antisemitic propaganda hook, line, and sinker. Which, to be clear, is pretty much a distinction without a difference. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > Is it possible, just possible, that Israel has offended people for reasons other than them hating Jews? Yes, I know plenty of people who are critical of Israel in proportion to the reality of the situation. That’s clearly not what is going on here. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > If Jews who grew up sending money to Israel are now upset about what Israel has been doing, why is it remarkable that others are, too? Why do you assume they are antisemitic? Those Jews also swallowed antisemitic propaganda hook, line, and sinker. Jews are certainly not immune to that. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2745 "2026-04-27T13:12:39Z")
There it is, _Israel is The Jews_ and _The Jews are Israel_. That’s the same kind of anti-Semitism that folks like Trump spew out when they say that The (American) Jews owe an allegiance to Israel so they should vote accordingly. It’s the anti-Semitic “_divided loyalty_” trope Jews have been accused of from antiquity, through the Dreyfus Affair, and to modern times. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2746 "2026-04-27T13:20:42Z")
Keep Whitesplaining my own liberation movement to me, by all means. How Colonialist of you. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2747 "2026-04-27T13:25:13Z")
And you know I’m not a Jew how exactly, you anti-Semite? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2748 "2026-04-27T13:33:57Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > And you know I’m not a Jew how exactly, you anti-Semite?. Obviously, I wouldn’t know - to know anything about you, you’d have to make a post that actually productively contributes to a thread, and I don’t think I’ve _ever_ seen that from you; you’re purely a drive by snark poster. To each their own. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2749 "2026-04-27T13:36:56Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > you’d have to make a post that actually productively contributes to a thread I’ll happily leave that opinion to the rest of the board, not you. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2750 "2026-04-27T13:37:26Z")
👍 😃 👍 ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2751 "2026-04-27T14:52:13Z")
I suspect you two post in different places outside the pit. @Babale is often a constructive, interesting poster outside the pit, too. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2752 "2026-04-27T14:53:48Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > And you know I’m not a Jew how exactly, you anti-Semite? I kinda thought the avatar gave it away… ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2753 "2026-04-27T14:58:45Z")
Explained [here](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-deportation-news-thread/1013404/988). ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2754 "2026-04-27T15:11:02Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Their obsession with Israel that’s out of all proportion to reality is quite telling. Tens of thousands of civilians are dead. Many more have had all their property destroyed, and now live essentially as homeless refugees. And then, of course, there are the multiple incidents (like gang rape) which are the absolute worst of the worst in terms of how humans can treat other humans. I get that unfortunately atrocities like all of this are relatively common in this world, but what kind of posts could possibly be “out of proportion” with the above? This is another example of the dividing line, ISTM. Some people see all of these dead and suffering as full human beings, and the suffering is just unimaginable. And moreover, it’s accomplishing nothing but death and destruction – and guaranteeing future bloodshed. No one is being defeated but those who want long-term peace. I can’t possibly understand what you’re trying to say unless you really don’t see these tens of thousands dead and undergoing terrible suffering as full human beings. Truly. > [@Babale](#): > > Yes, they have a billion and one excuses as to why _this_ is the only conflict they feel the need to speak up on; none of them are remotely convincing. This is just bullshit whataboutism. Firstly, I do participate plenty in discussions about other conflicts. Secondly, this is the main world conflict that actually has two sides debating on this board (plus surrounding/neighboring conflicts like the war in Iran). Most other conflicts don’t have two sides actually disagreeing on anything, at least on this board. What would be the point of a discussion in which everyone agrees “yes, this genocide is bad!”? And thirdly, suppose I did start a thread on every world conflict, decrying genocide and atrocities. How would that change anything at all in this discussion? ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2755 "2026-04-27T15:13:50Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Not to mention _in Gaza_. Here are some of the things Banquet Bear’s Heroes are up to as part of their “rEsIsTaNcE”, but you’ll never hear about this from his side: …firstly, child molesters _are not on my side_. I’m constantly astounded at just how mean and petty you can be. We’ve had our many arguments. But I’ve never accused you of anything as disgusting as this. It’s like you are trying to outdo yourself. How much more sick can you get? Now you are using _molested children_ as a tool to attack me. What the fuck is wrong with you? Secondly: while your source, like everything you share these days, is utter rubbish (I mean the Daily Mail? Seriously?), the primary sourcing seems legit. So here’s something that we will never hear from you: I 100% condemn everything that was described in the articles you posted. The actions of the clerics AND the people that defend them are disgusting. I think its great that Jusoor News was able to break this story and I hope that those responsible are held to account. I can’t comment on the second story because it’s a video link only and I’m not clicking a video link on the Daily Mail. Thirdly: just to reiterate what I’ve told you in the past, I 100% condemn the atrocities and warcrimes committed by Hamas on October the 7th 2023. Terrorists and warcriminals are _not on my side_. And I have no problem disavowing them no matter who they are. And that will always be the difference between me and you. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2756 "2026-04-27T15:20:11Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > So here’s something that we will never hear from you: You will probably never hear that from me because we are communicating over a text-based medium. Unless you use text to speech to consume written content online. You could easily _read_ it from me if you simply scrolled up a bit to where I quoted my earlier post where I said: > [@Fuck all you warmongering pieces of shit](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fuck-all-you-warmongering-pieces-of-shit/1019962/1363): > > How do you _think_ I feel about them? They should be in jail But you’ll pretend not to be able to do that because you’re a dishonest piece of shit lying scumbag. And that will always be the difference between you and me. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2757 "2026-04-27T15:22:41Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > You will probably never hear that from me because we are communicating over a text-based medium JFC are you 6 years old? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2758 "2026-04-27T15:23:31Z")
So you think they should be in jail – great. Why aren’t they? What does Israel’s failure to prosecute say about the Israeli justice system? What other crimes and atrocities have been committed, with far less evidence, that the Israeli government has ignored or hidden? ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2759 "2026-04-27T15:26:23Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > But you’ll pretend not to be able to do that because you’re a dishonest piece of shit lying scumbag. …so you condemn the network of torture camps that Isreal has set up? You condemn the targeted killing of Dr. Refaat Alareer? Do you condemn the murder of the fifteen paramedics on the 23rd of March 2025? Do you condemn the total blockade of Gaza that lasted between 22 August 2025 and 19 December 2025 that resulted in a famine? Do you condemn the killing of Hind Rajab? Do you demand the release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, held in custody without charge or trial since December 2024? Do you condemn the killing of 15-year-old son, Ibrahim, in an Israeli drone strike while he was sheltering in hosptial grounds? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653/2760 "2026-04-27T15:28:48Z")
Do you condemn Al Jazeera claiming that the terrorist Anas Al-Sharif was a journalist? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653.md?page=137) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-for-the-israel-hamas-war-a-thread-in-the-pit/992653.md?page=139)