It is close to a year since the terror attacks of October 7 occurred and not a day has passed since then when its effects have not been felt around the world.
Thank you for sharing this. Too many of those demonstrating against Israel that I’ve spoken to refuse to believe the atrocities of Oct 7, 2023. Even though it was Hamas’ own cameras that recorded them. They also deny that “from the river to the sea” means “kill Jews.” The depths of their refusal to accept facts is so appalling. And it’s shameful so many “journalists” appear to be among them.
That people, such as Green Party MPs, show support for Hamas is unfathomable. We should remember that the residents of Gaza elected a Hamas government. This isn’t a criminal gang operating from within a community - it is Gaza versus Israel. War and of course there have been awful consequences. There’s an easy solution, and it applies to Lebanon too, stop attacking Israel.
Thanks for this account. Given the pro-Palestine and therefore by extension pro-Hamas leanings on the part of many New Zealanders this article is a timely reminder of the horror that was inflicted. The Greens and others who sport the black and white keffiyah are clearly anti-Semitic and must be recognised as such.
No doubt the video evidence was confronting. That only 20% of those journalists invited attended says something about our media in NZ.
The secular western mind has difficulty engaging with the reality of evil. This was an expression of the same spiritual force that built the gas chambers of Auschwitz, and slaughtered Jews on an industrial scale. Israel is in no doubt that it is involved in an existential struggle, one they must win.
Thank you very much for bearing witness and writing about it. I’ve not been able to bring myself to watch the raw footage but I have seen the recent documentary about the Nova festival. It is also an ongoing trauma given there are still over 100 hostages being held in Gaza.
Thank you for sharing this. I've been puzzled by the ferocity of Israel's attacks, but given the bias in our news, particularly TV, I can see what my mystification stems from.
What you describe is harrowing. This was an utterly barbaric attack that involved the participation of non-combatants who seem to be euphoric with this experience. I find it incomprehensible that any New Zealand demonstrates against Israel and their actions against Hamas and Hezbollah.
A more than timely reminder. Thank you! Two personal things from someone who’s had to endure (only a very small) something of the reality you describe. 1. How have you yourself managed to handle the gruesomely visual nature of some of the parts of the IDF presentation? Not wishing for a public answer but for your deep need for genuine healing. 2. I sense the sexual element of the attacks on the women - and girls - alive, wounded, or dead, is the most barbaric thing to have become public since the Balkan wars of the 1990s. You (perhaps) wisely toned down this element. What staggers me, revolts me, and downright angers me is the denial in so many ways by other women when they don’t make this foulest of crimes front and centre. This applies to not a few New Zealanders, or those who identify as living in Aotearoa. Either way, they should hang their heads in shame.
I sent your piece to a friend who agreed about the hideous barbarity and horror but at the same time said this: "I have watched interviews with retired or recently left IDF personnel and they say a cat couldn’t approach the fence without being spotted and seized, or fired at.. . . Why was the IDF stood down for 8 hours….I think there are many unanswered questions". Which does lead me to come to the same conclusion.
With respect I believe your use of the term "immediate existential threat" was a misuse of the term. In the context of "war" the term existential applies to the nation not the individual. Hamas clearly do not represent an existential threat to Israel. They'd have to have a far stronger supply of fighters and weapons than they do. US security estimated Hamas military as around 25,000 people. I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed in your use of the term.
There were two points which led me to use that phrase. First is the links to Iran and other Arab states which mean that the Hamas threat potential is greater than what it represents in Gaza alone. Secondly, it was simply my impression of the threat having reflected on what I saw and how I would evaluate it if I were in Israel. My article was very much intended to be my impressions of that day rather than any wider discussion or analysis of the politics and history behind it all. Certainly, Israeli leaders will have seen far more of the footage than has been made available and I’m sure it deeply affected them and has had an influence on how they have reacted to Hamas, and now, to Hezbollah.
Again, Israel is a country with nuclear weapons while Iran nor any Arab countries have nuclear weapons. It’s standard doctrine that such weapons would only be used when there is a real existential threat. Recent events show that Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran offer no credible threat compared with Israel backed by US, UK et al which is of course why Israel have not needed such extreme measures, extreme though their current behaviour is.
Thank you for sharing this. Too many of those demonstrating against Israel that I’ve spoken to refuse to believe the atrocities of Oct 7, 2023. Even though it was Hamas’ own cameras that recorded them. They also deny that “from the river to the sea” means “kill Jews.” The depths of their refusal to accept facts is so appalling. And it’s shameful so many “journalists” appear to be among them.
That people, such as Green Party MPs, show support for Hamas is unfathomable. We should remember that the residents of Gaza elected a Hamas government. This isn’t a criminal gang operating from within a community - it is Gaza versus Israel. War and of course there have been awful consequences. There’s an easy solution, and it applies to Lebanon too, stop attacking Israel.
Thanks for this account. Given the pro-Palestine and therefore by extension pro-Hamas leanings on the part of many New Zealanders this article is a timely reminder of the horror that was inflicted. The Greens and others who sport the black and white keffiyah are clearly anti-Semitic and must be recognised as such.
No doubt the video evidence was confronting. That only 20% of those journalists invited attended says something about our media in NZ.
The secular western mind has difficulty engaging with the reality of evil. This was an expression of the same spiritual force that built the gas chambers of Auschwitz, and slaughtered Jews on an industrial scale. Israel is in no doubt that it is involved in an existential struggle, one they must win.
Thank you very much for bearing witness and writing about it. I’ve not been able to bring myself to watch the raw footage but I have seen the recent documentary about the Nova festival. It is also an ongoing trauma given there are still over 100 hostages being held in Gaza.
Thank you for sharing this. I've been puzzled by the ferocity of Israel's attacks, but given the bias in our news, particularly TV, I can see what my mystification stems from.
What you describe is harrowing. This was an utterly barbaric attack that involved the participation of non-combatants who seem to be euphoric with this experience. I find it incomprehensible that any New Zealand demonstrates against Israel and their actions against Hamas and Hezbollah.
A more than timely reminder. Thank you! Two personal things from someone who’s had to endure (only a very small) something of the reality you describe. 1. How have you yourself managed to handle the gruesomely visual nature of some of the parts of the IDF presentation? Not wishing for a public answer but for your deep need for genuine healing. 2. I sense the sexual element of the attacks on the women - and girls - alive, wounded, or dead, is the most barbaric thing to have become public since the Balkan wars of the 1990s. You (perhaps) wisely toned down this element. What staggers me, revolts me, and downright angers me is the denial in so many ways by other women when they don’t make this foulest of crimes front and centre. This applies to not a few New Zealanders, or those who identify as living in Aotearoa. Either way, they should hang their heads in shame.
I sent your piece to a friend who agreed about the hideous barbarity and horror but at the same time said this: "I have watched interviews with retired or recently left IDF personnel and they say a cat couldn’t approach the fence without being spotted and seized, or fired at.. . . Why was the IDF stood down for 8 hours….I think there are many unanswered questions". Which does lead me to come to the same conclusion.
Your comments?
With respect I believe your use of the term "immediate existential threat" was a misuse of the term. In the context of "war" the term existential applies to the nation not the individual. Hamas clearly do not represent an existential threat to Israel. They'd have to have a far stronger supply of fighters and weapons than they do. US security estimated Hamas military as around 25,000 people. I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed in your use of the term.
There were two points which led me to use that phrase. First is the links to Iran and other Arab states which mean that the Hamas threat potential is greater than what it represents in Gaza alone. Secondly, it was simply my impression of the threat having reflected on what I saw and how I would evaluate it if I were in Israel. My article was very much intended to be my impressions of that day rather than any wider discussion or analysis of the politics and history behind it all. Certainly, Israeli leaders will have seen far more of the footage than has been made available and I’m sure it deeply affected them and has had an influence on how they have reacted to Hamas, and now, to Hezbollah.
Again, Israel is a country with nuclear weapons while Iran nor any Arab countries have nuclear weapons. It’s standard doctrine that such weapons would only be used when there is a real existential threat. Recent events show that Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran offer no credible threat compared with Israel backed by US, UK et al which is of course why Israel have not needed such extreme measures, extreme though their current behaviour is.
Seems like you might be missing the point of the article. Hamas are crazed jihadists who follow a death cult. Israelis are not.