[Edward64]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

WTF are you talking about? Most of Gaza is refugees and refugee-descendants who had their land stolen from them. Their homeland is on the other side of the wall. They were forced into this prison.

Specifically re: your tangent of travelling out of country. If Hamas was to live in peace with Israel and not stir up problems in Egypt (and Jordan), there would be no blockade, there would be no wall, there would not be this current war.

Unfortunately, neither Israel nor Egypt nor Jordan trust Hamas enough to believe they will keep their promises. Hence ... walls.

Egypt isn't a friendly country since the coup.

The Rafah wall crossing was built in 2009. Tensions existed before even then.

They can't fly out since Israel destroyed their airport 20 years ago. They can't leave via boat since there is a naval blockade by Israel. And getting to the Rafah Crossing is easier said than done even if it was open. Israel just bombed a convoy of ambulances heading there the other day and routinely targets roads and highways that lead there.

As for the West Bank, what does that have to do with anything? Why are you even bringing those who live there up?

So Israel stops Palestinians from getting to Rafah Crossing?

If talking about pre-Oct 7, I'd think it's more Hamas and Egyptians.

If talking about now, see below on where the bombing is concentrated at. Yes, some Southern parts got bombed but definitely safer than Gaza city.

And before you say there are no safer places in Gaza strip, see link below. About 3 weeks out of date but you get the idea, lots of places that are "safer" than Gaza city (e.g. South).

Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - Israeli-Hamas War (Oct 2023)

So tell me again, why does Hamas have children & grandma's as hostages?