Public sentiment is markedly polarized regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with many comments expressing deep sorrow and anger for innocent Palestinian civilians suffering amidst violence. While some blame Palestinian leadership and Hamas for exacerbating the conflict, calling for accountability, a substantial portion emphasizes compassion and urgency for humanitarian relief. The discourse largely reflects a struggle between political grievances and a plea for empathy and justice for affected civilians.

Palestinian Leadership

Hamas

Israeli Government

International Community

Yeah ok great but what does Ja Rule think about Gaza?

six_six

drama about isreal/palestine is the least fun on this subreddit. i know this post and its comments are going to be a shitshow but not even in an enjoyable way :-‘) 

combine that with fantano fanboys? we’re about to see who can out enlighten one another

plsanswerme18

Screaming at an artist in the middle of a CONCERT to demand an opinion on I/P is crazy

LeResist

If I was famous, sharing my thoughts on I/P would probably be among the bottom of the bottom of the barrel on my list of things I'd do.

ItsYungCheezy

I see nothing wrong with his comments here. Free Palestine but fuck hamas

Sexyhorsegirl666

Redditors are famous for this. They accuse you of being pro-whatever and then they demand you denounce it. It's an impossible position to be in because if you refuse they will spin it as if you do in fact support that thing, and if you comply it a) looks like you only did it because you had to, and b) puts you below that person into a position where you have to defend yourself or explain yourself to them.

It's a super common manipulation tactic and Reddit is rampant with it.

Zimakov

I need to hear my favorite celebrity's thoughts on Gaza like I need a fucking bullet to my brain.

Frankenstein____

I do find it bizarre how the man has a completely reasonable pro-Peace (some would even argue pro-Palestinian) position... but the Internet still believes that he's a "rabid" Zionist.

All because he doesn't support Hamas. A tyranicañ dictatorship that has been executing their own people for decades and that was supported "indirectly" by Netanyahu since its inception as a way to decrease the power of the Palestinian Authority and Fatah inside it, a secular institution that it is in a far better place to form a Palestinian state than Hamas (even if theor current position is horrible thanks to the Israeli goverment sabotage).

Nachooolo

Someone once said "The complicated part of Israel Palestine is not is it bad that people live under occupation, controlled by a state that doesn't let them have a vote or other rights? The answer to that is yes. The complicated part is given power dynamics and competing interests how to fix it".

dweeb93

"Why aren't you saying anything about it?"

Thom: [tries to say something about it]

"You are dead to me!"

FrammaLammaDingDong

Probably the most reasonable and empathetic comment on the topic I've ever seen, so of course the usual suspects are outraged by it.

WatermelonRat

Why do people need musicians to speak out about it rather than pressing politicians who have the relevancy to maybe do something about it? That sub is giving me /r/latestagecapitalism douche chills where they're only going to press one side with their stupid purity test for their stance on the issue

WheredoesithurtRA

&gt;I think Netanyahu and his crew of extremists are totally out of control and need to be stopped, and that the international community should put all the pressure it can on them to cease. Their excuse of self-defence has long since worn thin and has been replaced by a transparent desire to take control of Gaza and the West Bank permanently.

&gt;I believe this ultra-nationalist administration has hidden itself behind a terrified &amp; grieving people and used them to deflect any criticism, using that fear and grief to further their ultra-nationalist agenda with terrible consequences, as we see now with the horrific blockade of aid to Gaza.

&gt;At the same time the unquestioning Free Palestine refrain that surrounds us all does not answer the simple question of why the hostages have still not all been returned? For what possible reason?

&gt;Why did Hamas choose the truly horrific acts of October 7th? The answer seems obvious, and I believe Hamas chooses too to hide behind the suffering of its people, in an equally cynical fashion for their own purposes.

&gt;Social media witch-hunts (nothing new) on either side pressurizing artists and whoever they feel like that week to make statements etc do very little except heighten the tension, fear and over-simplification of what are complex problems that merit proper face to face debate by people who genuinely wish the killing to stop and an understanding to be found.

&gt;This kind of deliberate polarization does not serve our fellow human beings and perpetuates a constant ‘us and them’ mentality. It destroys hope and maintains a sense of isolation, the very things that extremists use to maintain their position. We facilitate their hiding in plain sight if we assume that the extremists and the people they claim to represent are one and the same, indivisible.

What a refreshingly nuanced and emotionally intelligent response.

NightLordsPublicist

This particular topic is a fucking nightmare because 99% of online conversations about it have absolutely zero nuance. You're either fully on one side or the other to these people.

QTEEP69

Can we ban posts about I/P? I had to block CummingInTheNile because he wouldn't stop posting that slop

Vinylmaster3000

why are people demanding nuanced opinions on geopolitics from rock singers?

BigHatPat

The man brings up great points about Neteyahu being a catastrophe for the situation while also saying Hamas is pretty fucking awful and cant excuse their actions.

And of *course* the left leaning subreddit has an issue with saying you can't excuse Hamas' actions.

Firecracker048

Ethiopia, Sudan, Yemen and until it wound down a few months ago Syria were all much more deadly conflicts. The hysteria over one conflict while total deafening silence over the others 

  
At least 90 000 children have died of starvation in Yemen

[Famine in Yemen (2016–present) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famine_in_Yemen_(2016%E2%80%93present))

Its one thing to care about an issue and acknowledge its like Ukraine and it affects close allies and affects your country indirectly. Its also ok to say you care and are moved because its something you know about because of the salience in the press. 

But many people frame their obsessive concern with this one issue in absolute moralistic terms. It tells me they are indifferent to world affairs unless its popular and zeitgeisty and the depth of emotion they are manufacturing in themselves over issues they have only cursory understanding off is wide open to manipulation.

IndividualSkill3432

when the guy I keep demanding gives his opinion on a complicated gives his opinion, and it’s not 100% like my opinion

tupe12

You think being a Radiohead fan is hard? Try being a Disturbed fan.

Handsprime

Why do people need to hear their favorite celebs thoughts on actual important shit again? Is this "activism" to them?

TheFlashSmurfAccount

It's amazing and tragic how [this article](https://www.thebeaverton.com/2023/10/spineless-fence-sitter-thinks-killing-children-is-bad-no-matter-who-does-it/) is still relevant and being played out in the comments on the post, and probably here too.

DemonFromtheNorthSea

Seems pretty middle of the road and reasonable. Call out Netanyahu but question why the hostages haven’t been returned. 

Perfect recipe to make a lot of people mad.

PMMEBITCOINPLZ

Outside of the I/P Conflict, is it worth it to invest our time in demanding anything from specific celebrities? I mean this sincerely, is it helping even in just bringing awareness? Am I just not seeing the benefits?

I think silence is complicity, but if someone only speaks out after being told to, I find that to be less than genuine. So what’s the point of demanding? They don’t speak out, quit giving them your money or attention.

I’m just hoping that people are at the least also contacting their representatives and boycotting where they can.

Far-Mirror3160

That guy's a creep and a weirdo. What the hell is he doing here?

heelspider

I’m glad this sub is actually seeing a nuanced take here and taking it seriously. 

I’m a Jew and I’m pro Palestine. It’s been fucking disgusting how much antisemitism, and general toxicity, is in the movement. I simply posted that I was upset that an artist Fantano openly endorsed was supporting Hezbollah and Hamas. I was met with such genuinely horrible people and comments from the Pro Palestine side. 

It’s been incredibly disappointing to see, even a lot of people in this sub, take radical stances on terrorism against Jews. 

What so many people fail to consider is why would regular Jews, and people, ever come to your side when you endorse literal fascists?

titaniumjew

Actually, incredibly adult take on the situation. 

We do not understand what to do. We don't. It was never as simple as 'Free Palestine', unfortunately, no matter how nice it feels to water things down to that. 

Yorke also correctly identified the people he was speaking to had no interest in reading his thoughts. They just needed a reaction from him. They'll push past his words &amp; and state that 'any friend to Israel is an enemy to Palestine', which further pushes this situation into Hell. You don't win anything by fighting everyone.

KiratheRenegade

What I really don't understand about the lefty defense of Hamas is that Hamas is clearly a reactionary and fascist org. In the type of revolution the left fantasizes about, they would all be eradicated, or at least they ought to be. But the left seems to think they'd stand up for workers rights?

funkyflapsack

&gt;so are they making another album or not  
  
asking the real questions here. anyways couldn't be my goat brian eno

Ky__

Sounds like he got the typical Melbourne Experience.

Spudtron98

&gt; Sometimes I’m truly worried about todays standards in litteracy

new flair?

NoSun1538

I have no idea why folk go to their favourite musician for opinions on anything except music.

It's like me asking the guy that cooks fabulous crispy shredded chicken, for his thoughts on a war.

Just stop

Scarboroughwarning

Good write up. It’s unsurprising and disappointing that certain pro-palestine fellas firstly cornered him and harassed him, then had a problem with his incredibly normal instagram post condemning Israel, with a little sprinkle of condemning Hamas. You have to, at some point, expect nothing other than this type of incessant complaining from that crowd. Nothing you say is ever enough.

Three_Muscatoots

Good post. I would like to also mention Hamas has also publicly accused Gaza tribal families (who have recently gained power due to Israel weakening Hamas' control) for stealing aid. In fact one of their leaders of the Doghmush clan was recently assassinated by Hamas for crimes of stealing aid.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-said-to-execute-leader-of-gazas-powerful-doghmush-clan/amp/

So besides criminal gangs, there are also former Gazan tribes who have taken advantage of the situation, not Hamas.

It also isn't helping Israel has assassinated Hamas civilian and administrative personnal related with aid distribution and emergency situations simply because "they were Hamas members".

Resident1567899

I love fabricated nations, they are always so cruel. Reminds me of the time of colonialism.. oh wait.

evilanz

News article from 1943: "is the Jewish resistance in the Warsaw ghetto stealing all supplies of stale bread that we feed Jews with? "

ElectronVolt70

Mental-Importance-51

Why you make that effort, I didnt even bother to read it. If gopro videos of allahu akbar massacre wasnt enough evidence, nothing is

Brilliant_Factor6357

Do you mention in that very long post of yours that Israel is blocking food aid from entering Gaza? 

I know it's a detail for you, and the real story is how Palestinians mismanage their own starvation. But still, if you really want to know who is morally responsible for starving kids, it's Israel.

Olivier5_

TLDR. Yes , caused by Israel Occupational Force

paanrpeace1988

I think this is the only true war crime Israel is committing right now (people can shove the genocide claims and all that shit up their buts for all I care). The rest of whatever is happening is normal warfare. Starving the population, even if one commenter is rightly indicating that aid distribution is what keeps Hamas in power in the absence of a real economy and non-Hamas affiliated public institutions, is not ok under any circumstances.

Operator_Doctor

An excellent summary of the facts, thank you for this! Unfortunately, whenever I try to inform people on Reddit that Israel’s mass starvation of Gazan civilians is both immoral and illegal, the response is “well they deserve to starve!” Sad times we live in. 

SuitableTumbleweed58

So, there is a conceptual misunderstanding of what Israel's objectives are vis-à-vis aid deliveries. I posit that the complete lack of journalistic integrity in the West coupled with the role of the modern journalist as an ideological crusader rather than a purveyor of knowledge is to blame.

To understand what Israel is trying to do, you have understand the theory of what is known as "aid colonialism." A fundamental aspect of this is that by provisioning vast amounts of foreign aid to a society you actually blunt its socioeconomic development. This is logical because if you consider what the economy actually is, it is the flow of goods that enables a society to sustain itself. If a society gets everything it needs shipped in from an external party, then it has no reason to pursue a path of sustainable development. What it does allow is the formation and sustenance of a vast "warrior caste" or military composed of the vast amount of unemployed young men.

Gaza specifically is far beyond the carrying capacity of the territory it inhabits. It could not survive without cooperation with its neighbors. That would be either Egypt, Israel, or by reconciling with the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Nature's way of correcting nonviable societies (such as Hamas) is through famine but this is considered morally objectionable in the modern age. Instead massive quantities of foreign aid are provided and due to the abundance of foreign aid, Hamas can refuse to do any of the above.

Hamas is basically a moss that sits atop the aid distribution network with in the Gaza Strip. In the absence of sociopolitical institutions and anything approaching an economy this is the ultimate power in Gaza. Hamas actually originated as a nonviolent Islamic charity called Mujama al-Islamiya that was partly responsible for distributing/utilizing foreign aid. This was the institution that Israel supported when people say that they financed Hamas. Hamas as a military power has been largely defeated outside of individual sporadic attacks but without developing a solution for where Hamas derives its power, it will simply regrow as soon as Israel withdrawals. 

What Israel is currently trying to do, is to peel Hamas off the aid distribution networks in the Gaza Strip. It is a major challenge because they need to foster independent aid distribution networks that are outside of the control of Hamas. The question of more/less aid is a conundrum because the civilian population of the territory needs to be supported but there is the understanding that excess aid outside of Israel's distribution networks will fall into the hands of Hamas. What we are likely to see in the next phase of the war, is Israel moving north-to-south ousting Hamas (and quite possibly the UN) and establishing alternative aid distribution networks. At the conclusion of the war, this network will be handed off to moderate Palestinian elements and the moderate Arab states. For the record, all of them are in on Israel's plan. The UAE is planning to establish a jetty in Gaza City to directly import aid from Cyprus. Moving aid north-to-south rather than south-to-north (and having it fall into the hands of Hamas) is really essential for precluding the rise of another Hamas.

For the record, Hamas is entirely aware of what is going on. This is why the impasse in the ceasefire negotiations is in regards to returning citizens from the south to the north. Hamas would like to smuggle operatives back from the south to reestablish control in the north which Israel cannot allow. I suspect that we will see more provocations regarding aid; real, alleged, or embellished; as the war drags on.

HoxG3

danknadoflex

Your TLDR is incorrect. It should read like this:

Israel says they are limiting aid and not all aid is reaching civilians because its going to Hamas. We don't know if that's true or not, all we know is that Hamas members were certainly directly involved in the transport of aid in the Gaza Strip.

Then the stuff you actually wrote in your tldr.

And then at the end of your list when you write "no aid was allowed into Northern Gaza"? You should have added "-that being the area Israel specifically said civilians should leave in order to save themselves".

avicohen123

Hamas doesn’t care one bit for the people of Gaza.

Livingsimply_Rob

Bro is doing a whole lot of mental gymnastics

The reality is there is nowhere near enough aid coming into the strip and thats the main problem. Not conspiracy theories about KHAMAS!

[deleted]

At what point in this mile of text did OP mention Palestinians attacking aid delivery drivers, including the Egyptian aid delivery driver who was murdered?

https://bnnbreaking.com/world/egypt/tragic-end-for-egyptian-aid-driver-in-gaza-global-outcry-over-humanitarian-crisis-deepens

since weapons &amp; ammunition smuggling is a huge concern, and a legitimate reason for the bottleneck, does anyone know if it's possible for the US or EU to directly administer &amp; transport the aid through the checkpoints using their own military logistics teams? Would the help to get more basic foodstuffs through? Or is the distribution network once it reaches Gaza so much in chaos that half of it would be stolen by Hamas agents anyway?

wip30ut

Thanks a lot for this good write up and collection of sources. I feel like going mad when on the other side we have all the independent and neutral observers, aid organisations, envoys from allies like US, on the ground screaming that "Israel is deliberately blocking aid from reaching Gazan civilians", and on the other hand we have Israel alone without any demonstrable proof saying "no actually, it's Hamas stealing all the food and the aid organisations being incompetent". And for some reason, for way too many people that's enough to believe the Israeli version of the story. 

One other quite considerable artificially created bottleneck is that Israel completely closed all other crossings to Gaza but the Rafah crossing at the Egyptian border in 10/7, only opening the Kerem Shalom crossing in later December under international pressure. This is largely (as you said) why the Northern Gaza is facing the worst of the famine, there's zero crossings at the border to the North; all food that does get in overwhelmingly stays in the South, because it's become almost impossible and too dangerous transport anything through the whole Strip. 

Whatever anyone thinks of the war and the nature of the Israeli armed offensive itself, there really is *absolutely no justification* for starving two million civilians. Like, what even could be the argument to justify it as part of some legit stratistical concern - can't let in enough food, or Hamas will make rockets out of bread?

mythoplokos

One thing that should also be mentioned (and should be obvious but people glaze over it) is that food shortage is often, if not always, a byproduct of war.

aqulushly

Thank you for this measured and evidence based analysis and links.

The "humanitarian crisis" has many contributing factors on both sides, no doubt. However the chief contributor is the elected government of Gaza deciding to start a war.

JamesJosephMeeker

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If the Chinese navy tried to deliver food aid to Gaza by sea, would the Israelis dare to stop them?

Marmots4Peace

If China starts to deliver aid to Gaza that would be a blessing for gazans and an immense risk for a global conflict.

At this point, seen how the West still isn't doing anything to help the Palestinians, I'm rooting for China to get involved may happen what will.

We're in a period of big uncertainty and global powers are shifting and in my opinion a big open conflict is not far away. 

So, the sooner it starts the sooner it ends.

pibanot

Meanwhile that moron POTUS is crying about a fake genocide in South Africa. Racism at its finest!

The media has been saying there's starvation in Gaza for years and years, and this is the first time that humanitarian aid actually hasn't gotten into Gaza for a significant amount of time and that it's true. Aid is coming back in, but not soon enough to prevent starvation. A big part of the reason is because Trump gutted USAID, and it should also be pointed out that Hamas often steals this aid, withholding it from citizens, on top of fighting in plain clothes out of civilian infrastructure. Remember that when pro-Palestinian people are spreading propaganda to get you to hate Israel that they absolutely do not want you to know that Palestinians have been protesting Hamas.

Azihayya

The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has led to severe violence and food insecurity in Gaza, with Israeli troops opening fire on civilians attempting to access aid distribution, resulting in numerous casualties.

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

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