Obama says people need to acknowledge complexity of Israel-Palestinian conflict to move forward | CNN Politics
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Former President Barack Obama weighed in on the violence in Gaza, saying any constructive action would require acknowledging the complexity of the situation.

Former President Barack Obama said a way forward for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is only possible if people acknowledge the “complexity” of the situation.

“If there’s any chance of us being able to act constructively to do something, it will require an admission of complexity and maintaining what on the surface may seem contradictory ideas that what Hamas did was horrific, and there’s no justification for it. And … that the occupation and what’s happening to Palestinians is unbearable,” Obama said in an interview on the podcast “Pod Save America.”

The former president’s comments come as the Israeli military focuses its offensive against Hamas in Gaza City and northern parts of the enclave.

  • stevehobbes@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    11 months ago

    The government of Gaza is Hamas, elected in 2007.

    Israeli civilians have also been caught in the crossfire. You know from the terrorist attack they committed 3 weeks ago that killed 1,400 and then the 200 innocent people they kidnapped and imprisoned as hostages somewhere in Gaza, which is what this is all about?

    If Hamas freed the hostages, Israel would have a much harder time conducting this war in the way they are, but you can’t literally kidnap someone’s citizens and expect anything less.

    • rhizophonic@lemmy.zipEnglish
      0·
      11 months ago

      What about Netanyahus relationship with the PLO before Hamas. He’s been playing both sides using the fear of Palestinian militants as a political football, just trying to stay elected and ignoring the views of the average secular Israeli.

      Israel is being led by a group of religious extremists.

      It’s complicated, and both sides have committed unbelievable atrocities, but Israeli leadership have overplayed their card. Their crimes over the last few weeks will echo for decades to come.

      My guess it will have the opposite effect than they intended, Israel will lose out in the long term.

      • stevehobbes@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        11 months ago

        Time will tell.

        You’re right that both sides have been awful.

        While Israel may be led by a group of religious extremists, so is Palestine and Gaza specifically by extremist terrorists.

        This round of tit for tat will echo like all the previous rounds over the last 70 years.

        Until Hamas frees the hostages, it’s virtually impossible to overplay the hand.

        This will just be another footnote of ugly killing on both sides in a long history of ugly killings.