Conflict in the Middle East: Hamas, Israel and the broader context - Geopolitics with Alex

In this episode, Alex Stubb puts developments after last week’s attack by Hamas on Israel in a broader geopolitical context.
#israel #hamasattack #palestine #war #conflict #alexstubb
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We train current and future leaders in governance beyond the state. The Florence School of Transnational Governance was established in 2017 as part of the European University Institute. In the cradle of the Renaissance, we teach, train and learn by providing a platform where transnational policy actors across politics, business, civil society, media and academia meet. We are here for anyone with an open and independent mind, for thinkers and for doers. We bring together some of the best teachers, trainers and policy-makers from around the world. We believe the goal of public policy is to bring out the best in people.
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[@ohrosberg]

I've missed these, welcome back, and thank you for your explanation.

[@Bailiol]

Disappointed with this analysis to be honest - was looking forward to hearing Stubb speak on this topic after providing such great analyses on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but this just seems like he has more of a politician's hat on here rather than an educator's, dodging the difficult/contentious questions of the history of the conflict, the causes of the war, and the legal and moral dilemmas involved with the right to self-defence. Given all the partisan-led misinformation saturating social media, I really do hope educators will rise to the occasion and do what they're supposed to do: provide balanced, nuanced, and impartial takes to help the rest of us genuinely understand what is going on and to help inform realistic solutions to these awful situations.

[@Yannakis1999]

Totally agree, his other lectures were full of knowledge and insight, here is just a politician speaking and not telling anything of substance. So disappointing

[@conanbaldin403]

Guys, he is running for President at the moment - and the video is 13 minutes. He doesn't have the time to go in depth - and any answer that short to the current situation would be incomplete at best and inaccurate at worst. It is definitely more "airy" though.

[@malin5468]

Yes, this was a weak analysis. As others have pointed out the present explosion of violence has historical roots, and until both sides are forced or persuaded to recognize the injustices perpetrated by both sides, there will never be peace. A first step would be the formation of an editorial commission of Israelis, non-Israeli Jews, Arabs, both Christian and Muslim, to work together to compile an objective and authoritative history of the region, including demographics and language and politics/conflicts, from ancient times to the present. This would have to be a multi-volume series and would take a number of years, but it is essential to establish a generally agreed narrative that cannot be dismissed by either side. There are a number of vlogs on KZbin that purport to present the facts, but most of them include their own biases. One would not expect Israeli and Arab historians to agree on everything, but as historians dedicated to the truth, they would more likely be open to uncomfortable facts than politicians. Of course a publication is not going to solve the problem at a stroke, but it could lay the groundwork for eventual reconciliation, rather like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that helped heal the emotional and psychological wounds of apartheid in South Africa.

[@bcanuck]

@@conanbaldin403 Agreed, it would likely take a video marathon to cover the historical context.

[@aarnehalen1686]

I think this channel is now drastically different as Stubb has announced his presidential bid. Is what it is.

[@Jacob-df5hr]

Thank you for your thoughts Alex. I hope all is well with you.

[@NedAndre]

It's super refreshing to hear someone recognizing that this is a nuanced, possibly intractable problem, and not an absolutist good-vs-evil situation (whichever side you pick as 'good', whatever the heck good is these days). I did laugh at the 'it's important these kinds of hotspots don't continue to multiply'. Yeah, I think we're all really hoping that as well. Thank you for consistently posting interesting content.

[@prst99]

The solution is that Palestinians need to accept the borders and Israel’s existence. Then they can develop and maybe in two hundred years, they can fight again.

[@dave23720]

yes not so black and white.. just remeber one side started it by commited isis like attrocities - raping, beheading, burning, shooring, children and parents and even 2 weeks later there are still 200 unrecognized bodies (and after the bus bombings of early 00s israel became a world class expert it such tragic deallings) they also killed and kidnapped Israeli arabs by the way. then fires 7k missiles including hospitals without any ability to aim consistanatly killing israeli arabs and gazan arabs along side jews..

[@dba..curiousslipperyscissors]

Hope: ie begging other ppl to clean up ur shite. Another baby raping boomer

[@ahmedopone4080]

@prst99 yes but Israel doesn't accept those borders. Why would they, since they are still expanding. They won't stop, despite numerous UN resolutions asking them to do so.

[@teslastellar]

​@@prst99It's Israel that doesn't recognize even it's own borders.

[@eliseleonard3477]

Thanks for this overview Alex! In some ways, the most destabilizing thing that the US has done over the years is failing to push back on Israel’s settlement push in the West Bank. At this point there isn’t a place left for a 2-state solution unless many settlements are handed over to Palestinians. Such a painful mess.

[@cjwest9094]

.. well if you were invaded from a particular location, would you ever want to let your guard down again in that location? Totally understandable why they do not want to allow enemies on their doorstep.

[@amnont8724]

It's not true to claim that without the settlements there'll be 2 states & everything will be hunky dory. Israel tried negotiating in 2000 & 2008 & agreed to give 90%+ of the West Bank to the Palestinians. Their leaderships rejected the offers. Besides, Israel chose to leave Gazan ground in 2005. No Israeli lives in Gaza. Look at what happened - Hamas took over it also bc of a coup & also bc it was elected democratically by a plurality of Palestinians. Furthermore, there were attempts by Palestinians to destroy all of Israel, that explains why the Palestine Liberation Organisation was established in 1964, 3 years before the settlement project actually began. Egypt & Jordan controlled the areas designated for the Palestinian state & yet did nothing in order to help them achieve independence. I also don't think the settlements should be expanded and yet it's untrue to claim they're the main obstacle to peace as if without them there'll be 2 states.

[@zacharydavis4398]

Thanks for spending g time to create a share this content awareness🙏🏾

[@SteveHolland3.14]

Thank you! Missed your balanced insights and perspective.

[@cindyp5132]

Alex... I hope what is happening in your life resolves soon. I love your lectures & wish you well.🤍

[@Catinkontti]

Not sure specifically what you mean by resolves but things sorted out pretty fine being now a President of Finland.

[@JMM33RanMA]

As always, very insightful.

[@philzmusic8098]

As always, your post is illuminating.

[@goldblueranger]

With full respect: how can Israel negotiate with those who dedicate their lives to elimination of the Israel state? Also I think it is worth mentioning that there are mighty parties who are ready to invest a lot of resources into escalation. And if Israel finds somebody adequate to negotiate with - first thing which they must establish: how to deal with provocations, set by those parties which want escalation.

[@JM-if1mo]

Exactly!!

[@metju30]

Are there any UN resolutions NOT implemented?

[@epeli8458]

Refraining from actions against Palestinian civilians, like those Amnesty accuses Israel of, would be a good start. And no, this is not a justification for what Hamas has done.

[@goldblueranger]

@@epeli8458 I don't see actions against Palestinian civilians, at least from my poor educated point of view. HAMAS is launching rockets from and locates military infrastructure in dense civilian areas - are Israel to blame for that?

[@epeli8458]

@@goldblueranger sadly it looks like my answer got censored so you'll need to find the source I referred to yourself. I wasn't talking about the current events.

[@fierypickles4450]

THANK GOD i found this channel again. Forgot the name

[@londanintshangase]

One thing I’ve picked up about Alex’s analysis of geopolitics is that he fails to ever blame the USA but they are the common denominator in almost all the conflicts that are covered in this channel.

[@paolomarri1227]

Thanks, very much interesting.

[@danzwku]

Please, revise your thought processes on the PRC and ROC/ Taiwan.

[@mikebikekite1]

I'm just a casual observer but I find it odd that you don't mention that Israel has been told to stop building illegal settlements in Palestinian land by the UN but continues to do so. I understand there are now 290 such settlements with a population of 600K. They have also taken by force the water sources for the West Bank to use on their farms and turns it off for the Palestinian people when they become troublesome. Is the bombing of apartment buildings any different to terrorism? Were the people who were taken hostage, taken from illegal settlement areas?

[@nathanbanks2354]

The hostages are from the area around Gaza. Israel removed all settlements from that region around 2004, and they elected Hamas in 2006. There hasn't been another election. The settlements in the West Bank are also a significant issue, but Gaza is almost its own state. On the other hand, Israel has a blockade on Gaza that has lasted 17 years so that Hamas can't obtain weapons.

[@truthkmgmailcom]

@@nathanbanks2354h

[@nunyabusiness863]

I believe you are correct. Hamas has been lobbing rocket into Israel for decades though. Still, no one and I mean no one holds Israel responsible for its misdeeds. When that reporter (palestinian i believe) was killed by an Israeli sniper while reporting from the border region, the us especially did next to nothing. I listen to the long form state department press conferences and ned price said they will leave it to Israel to internally rectify the situation. Translation: we will do nothing to Israel. It is sad that hamas has been an extremist warlord governing body, it is sad that Israel doesn't seem to want a compromise and an approach to dignify the people of gaza, and it is even more sad that the Arab nations around will not open their borders to Gazan migrant workers, while iran(a persian nation) tries to stir up conflict to maintain its own power. Its a hot mess.

[@sharonsmiler4938]

Thank you ❤

[@peterkiviat9969]

We can work on settling this by playing the turn the clock back game, with everyone being selective about what they remember, or we can try to build a future. BTW, if we are doing the back to the past thing, you really do have to go back to Gertrude Bell, to make any real sense of this mess.

[@fabricefils-aime7142]

One of the best analyst so far . We need peace !! We can't afford Wars

[@HrSamstag]

Fiat paper money can. Both WW’s were only possible because of it.

[@DavidJBradshaw]

How does a ceasefire lead to the ending of HAMAS?

[@aleksandero7982]

It doesn’t. It’s about getting out of slaughterhouse spiral and find solution instead.

[@DavidJBradshaw]

@@aleksandero7982 political solution will only be possible after the most extreme elements have been removed from the board. It failed 30 years ago because every time the PLO got close to an agreement, the extremest would fire a rocket.

[@nunyabusiness863]

It doesn't. It's hard to hear someone when you too busy punching each other. Besides this is still an active hostage situation.

[@petra1201]

Thank you for being a bright light in the current darkness and chaos! It feels like some world leaders have gone crazy.

[@dba..curiousslipperyscissors]

Then get off ur lazy ass and DO SOMETHING

[@jackmlindi4384]

Very encouraging statement and measured indeed!

[@lapun47]

Was considering voting for Stubb in the up-coming Finnish presidential election until watching this.

[@simchalebovitch6944]

Thank you. An excellent assessment. I hope those in authority take note of you.

[@markusgreger]

Looking for tenure? Well, we all do!

[@conanbaldin403]

Well, he is running for president, and was previously the leader of one of Finland's major political parties :).

[@markusgreger]

​@@conanbaldin403Thanks for the info! I was more referring to the all too positive comments on this weak piece. Was thinking about some washed-up academics looking for a "position" in an EU institution.

[@dba..curiousslipperyscissors]

Hope the sign of laziness and pathetic greed

[@bertnijhof5413]

Alex Stubb is an optimist, we are dealing with 2 fascist governments (Israel and Hamas), applauded by their internal theocrats (Orthodox Jews and Sunni Muslims). Hamas produced the type of murderers of Jews, we only did see from the German SS In Russia during WW2. The situation in Israel also turned bad last year. As a consequence the fascist minister of defense blocked all aid to Gaza (water; food; medicines and fuel), while calling those people "animals". I see 3 positive points against a pending huge catastrofe wanted by both mobs; - Biden, potentially the best US president since Roosevelt (by the way I'm Dutch); - The integration of some non-fascist opposition members in the Israeli government and - The offer of Hamas to free the foreign hostages. I'm waiting for the next events; - Israel fires his minister of defense for incompetence, maybe he was a good bataljon commander, but he is a lousy politician with all the wrong priorities. - A power struggle in Hamas in a few weeks, they performed a great military raid, but spoiled everything by that brute inhumane massacre of civilians. Basically the Hamas leaders responsible for the massacre need a one way ticket to the UN International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague.

[@lisadhibi2795]

How can you call hamas a government ? People there have no water, no electricity..

[@deselby6669]

​@@lisadhibi2795Because the Israelis have control of water,electricity,fuel,food..etc..

[@patrickbrooks6578]

Wonderful content as always, sad to see a ceasefire agreement fail in the un, hope that changes soon

[@Madelro100]

Humanitarian truce in Gaza was approved; Finland abstained 😢😢

[@jukkaahonen6557]

Good luck for your presidential campaign, Alex! 💙

[@mrkiplingreallywasanexceed8311]

I cant see an ex Prime Minister of the UK being so approachable - moreover, in Finnish🤣🤣 The guy is a mensch, I have subscribed!

[@paulwally9007]

Blair, Johnson, Sunak -to hell with them all.

[@unggrabb]

So what do you do now Mr Stubbs?

[@alexanderthegreat5519]

Thank you for this lecture on Israel - Palestine issue. In 1948, the UN should have started discussions with Palestinians and surrounding Arab nations about the possibility and ADVANTAGES for the region to integrate Jewish people into Palestine, all of Palestine, by creating a new sovereign country called ''Israel & Palestine', a country where Jews, Muslims, and Christians live together in the utmost respect of each religion - all believing in the same God - with Jerusalem the capital. Of course, that is now impossible. The only solution left IMHO is an UN-forced separation of both Jews and Palestinians into two separate sovereign nations by going back to the pre-1968 borders! The UN should send troops to the borders to enforce PEACE! Hamas and Hezbollah have to cease to exist! Both countries have a UN promise of protection from each other or any other nation or group of people that tries to invade them.

[@FirstAnalysis]

Perhaps you don't understand the circumstances in 1948. Justice couldn't be offered to Palestinians, already occupied by British. British never wanted to include them in any decisions. Jewish population was migrated to Israel starting from 1942. Less than 80,000 jews were given a country while several million Palestinians were not included in the voting. This was a joke to the rest of the world but for British and western allies it was an easy solution to gain jewish favors (in Russia) and create a conflict (a British way of rule) in the Middle East. When they asked for their rights, they were pushed out of the remaining land and the occupation started. They were always encouraged and pushed to Jordan that would only allow them to cross border if they take Jordanian border. Obviously, Jordan was and even today is a dummy country to provide safe zone toIsrael, hence 90% of Jordan population is Palestinian. How could a single country be created by 40000 to 80000 immigrants where jewish population would be an insignificant minority? Palestinians were uprooted from Haifa and other costal cities on gun point to Jordan or areas that were harsh to live in refuge. Hamas is a direct product of decades of humiliation and imprisonment of Palestinian. In a prison, guys with the strongest muscle rules. Israelies were subject to harsh treatment in Germany but rather than learning from it, they opted to use similar but worse tactics for the genicide of Palestinian. As long as US and Europe provide Israel support on committing the crimes, they'll continue to do so. What they don't know is that these crimes may kill Palestinian nation but they would be called criminals and may lose the sympathy that everyone felt for them due to their mistreatment in Europe. They are perhaps the most educated nation but religions tend to distort the truth and logic. Hamas would not stay in control if people are given dignity of self rule and freedom. In this day and age Israel is still committing genocide and the entire world is watching it. Shame on all of us.

[@TheShacharZiv]

1) That still doesn't solve the Palestinian refugees problem 2) I don't think any country wants to sacrifice its people for us in Israel and Palestine

[@blakekeithley3400]

@@FirstAnalysis You have no idea what you are talking about. The Arabs refused a two state solution twice. There are no ethnic Palestinians. The Majority of “Palestinians “ are the descendants of Arab migrants to “Palestine” and Roman based name there is no Arabic translation. Jordan still occupies The West Bank.

[@nathanbanks2354]

@@FirstAnalysisI heard that Israel's declaration of independence included this: "We appeal in the very midst of the onslaught launched against us now for months - to the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions." How does this sentiment fit in with your narrative of the state being given to the Jews but Palestinians not being included in the voting? I thought the Palestinians rejected the invitation to help form the state, but I haven't spent a ton of time looking into it yet. Is the citation wrong?

[@Danfromthenorth]

Muslims and Christians living in peace were tried in Lebanon. Didn’t end well… civil war, Christian exodus and a country in not just decline but collapse…

[@existentialvoid]

A tried response for sure. I will say though - if a ceasefire is where it starts, then whatever it is is not going to start for awhile. The real art of negotiation here is to work the back channels while the war is going on - and making sure that it is a regional settlement.

[@thomasreilly6362]

Until the 1947 border is recognised by all parties there will be no peace. There is no military solution to this. Diplomacy is the only course left.. Bassen Youssef in his interview with Piers Morgan dismantled the notion that Isreal is only attacking Hammas and the Gaza strip but also the West Bank killing many Palestine civilians.. Deepest condolences to former President Ahtisaari's family R.I.P.🇫🇮

[@peterkiviat9969]

Well, since I cannot imagine ANYONE going back to 1947 borders, you are suggesting a military solution?

[@thomasreilly6362]

@@peterkiviat9969 There is NO military solution. The 1947 border is the starting point.

[@arjanvanbruggen4549]

Tell me something I don't know Alex

[@TheGoodShepherd117]

We need more videos like this instead of the clickbait, one-sided propaganda pieces we see too often. Good analysis of the bigger picture without gimmicks and slogans. Thanks for this video!

[@johnsjohn1]

Very interesting story.

[@peterazif7278]

# Think about it. If you individually or collectively can solve the root of a problem so be a part of the problem and create more solutions. Vise versa If you individually or collectively can't solve a problem so don't be a part of of problem or create more problem knowingly or unknowingly. Don't be reason of for more problems rather than solution

[@Chuck-mp1ji]

As I see it on the field on a daily basis, goverments and religious institutions are unable to sign a durable peace deal. This is what we see. But after having experienced it on the field, it is possible to accept and respect each other on the individual level. Bonding between people comes naturally. Why not using it? I have tried it and it works in 90% of the cases.

[@msmaryna961]

I have read dozens of books on this conflict, attended several conferences, and had personal discussions with many Palestinians and Israelis. It is a very complex issue in 2023, after decades of neglect by Western powers. The sins of 1948 are very much at the core of the issue and few are willing to address them. The Netanhyu government deliberately chose to elevate Hamas and sideline moderate Palestinians as a way to avoid establishing a Palestinian state. Netanhyu is a corrupt man with violent instincts. He has betrayed the peace movement and betrayed his own country's security.

[@paulwally9007]

He's a nasty little man. Not the sort of person we want as an ally.

[@PB2001PB]

This troll account is your typical anti-Israel content. Any comment starting with "I have read a lot of books" is BS and should be ignored.

[@paulwally9007]

@@PB2001PB Well, whether he has read a lot of books or not is open to speculation. What's indisputable is that you haven't.

[@PB2001PB]

@@paulwally9007 everything is relevant so I guess you are right. Did you just assume the troll account's gender?

[@paulwally9007]

@@PB2001PB Everything is relevant? No, your view isn't, for example. If you'd written 'everything is relative', I'd be forced to agree with you, so I'm glad you didn't, for I like utter autonomy from idiots.

[@nathanbanks2354]

Hamas' charter from 1988 includes the words of Mohammad according to Sahih al-Bukhari (3593) and Sahih Muslim (2921 & 2922): "The last hour won't come before the Muslims would fight the Jews and the Muslims will kill them so Jews would hide behind rocks and trees. Then the rocks and tree would call: oh Muslim, oh servant of God! There is a Jew behind me; come and kill him; but the Gharqad would not say, for it is the tree of the Jews." Chomsky once said the charter is terrible, and Hamas is terrible, but this doesn't mean they live by the words they say. Netanyahu says Hamas is Daesh. To me, they both seem like Sunni organizations with similar interpretations. Is Israel right to want to destroy Hamas? How can we remove Hamas from power through a ceasefire?

[@123axel123]

When you have absolutely nothing to say it is better to keep quiet

[@fuchsialady]

I like how very clear you are, even giving an outline first. I’m really trying to learn more and you are a very good teacher.

[@jamesgeorge8915]

I understand Israel has dropped 6000 bombs in Gaza in one week. I'm not sure how focused Israel is on keeping collateral to a minimum, as you suggest.

[@Jacob-df5hr]

They've killed ~3,000 people with those 6,000 bombs, in one of the most densely populated cities on earth. The allies dropped half that tonnage on Dresden. They killed 25,000. When Israel stops caring about collateral, it will be unmistakable.

[@compassrise]

"When the cat is chasing another mouse, it's time for mice to attempt to steal cheese." ~ Sin Tzu

[@BaibaZiga]

Considering that this video was released a week after Oct 7th, at the time for the majority of the (somewhat intelectually disengaged) West this may have come across as a balanced, nuanced, neutral analysis. I appreciated the mention of ceasefire, naming the US as the key agent here and recognising that Hamas are not a state or state representatives. However, equally, I find this analysis somewhat lazy. Especially considering the in dept videos of Ukraine, Russia and other actors in current world events. I would be curious to have a part 2 for this, after 6 months of what we have witnessed to see if such terms as “collateral damage” when speaking of civilian casualties, “terrorism” only when speaking of Hamas or other Arab organisations (and not Israel) and Israel’s “right to protect itself” even though it never had that right form legal point of view, considering it “protected itself” from occupied territories. I have faith in you Alex to come back and do these events justice.

[@tatianamurin7583]

Thank you. Well analised, but not UN

[@afahmid]

This was a very diplomatic, substance-less statement rather than explaining the background of this crisis.

[@NotTheEx]

Our history lessons don't go far enough back when speaking on this matter. This actually began when Sarah sent the slave and her son packing, and it won't end until Ismael loves his children more than he hates Isaac.

[@deselby6669]

That's the fiction that keeps getting people killed..

[@zoranazanoskar5400]

American stability meant Gaza was a concentration camp. And West Bank was reducing in size almost daily. Not to say anything about Amerucan support for Islamists in Syria, and their illegal occupation in Syria. Some stabilisation.

[@eduardoquirino8131]

In the Piers Morgan interview of the Palestine Ambassador, every time he brought up the brutality of Hamas, immediately the face of the Ambassador was filled wit fear. He deflected the question and put blame on Israel, he kept refusing to say the name Hamas. Obviously Hamas is the defacto dictatorial government/military ruler of Palestine.

[@effexon]

so put them to same category as russia,iran,china. btw not all countries have acknowledged presence of palestine, similar way taiwan is in shade of gray.

[@humanraceisonefamily.7944]

Well Here's a point for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p37TfnewgrSdh5I kzbin.info/www/bejne/n17Kg4ecqcd2nNE

[@norbertbarankai2150]

"he brought up the brutality of Hamas, immediately the face of the Ambassador was filled wit fear" Hamas is a terrorist organization. Means they have a specific understanding of the people around them. Either you agree with their cause or you are considered as enemy. This is not surprising. Various violent movements in the past of the West thinked rather alike or thought that neutral population can be exploited for goods and resources. What is surprising is that only a minority in the West thinks that Hamas is as violent to their own as to Israelis.

[@user-hm5mw9er3y]

Thats obviously false and only true in your sick imagination.

[@l-oiseau]

Who in the hell gave Britain the right to partition Palestine in the first place ? Who???

[@lapun47]

The League of Nations after WWI. So the British mandate had international support. This was after the defeat of the Ottoman Empire, which had earlier ruled the area.

[@martinboyadgian1]

Alex, you seem to be living in a bubble: frozen Nagorno Karabakh conflict ? You seem to have missed that the "frozen" conflict has not been frozen anymore since Azerbaijan decided to resolve it through military means in 2020 with a dramatic followup few weeks ago which resulted in the exodus of the entire ethnic Armenian population of Karabakh in front of the complicit eyes of Russian peacekeepers and the indifference of the international community. 100000 forcibly displaced people seems to be too insignificant for you to have noticed, Alex !

[@misterhill5598]

Not a conflict, it's genocide.

[@JoseGomes-yl1xu]

Condemning and denouncing the countless crimes committed by the State of Israel does not mean being anti-Zionist, but rather being a defender of human rights and humanity.

[@keli4068]

I won't call US veto Brazil's proposal in security counsil finding a solution

[@IbrahimH10]

I commend you for your call for a ceasefire. Israel may not achieve much from this war and seems to be primarily acting out of desperation and anger to restore some of its lost deterrence and reputation in the Middle East. Hamas's attack has inflicted significant damage on Israel. One outcome might be the reversal of the normalization deals between Israel and the autocratic Arab regimes due to massive pressure from people.

[@hellerase]

Alex Hamas was preparing these attack for more than a year and it is about actions of Netanyahu with legal system

[@miguellasa759]

Don't understand why everyone avoids the term COLONIALISM...which....it is what it is....

[@paulwally9007]

Very astute take. When leaders like Biden and Sunak state 'We stand with Israel', what are the Palestinians supposed to think? Unless culpability is shared, and responsibility for moving forward shared, nothing will get better.

[@mightyrighty1]

Wow i didnt think he come down on the side of let hamas get away with what they done.

[@lukestables708]

But what is the 'long term solution'? Seems just incredibly difficult/impossible, two state settlement is more or less dead.

[@twelvecatsinatrenchcoat]

"Sort of, the eye on the ball has been moved." I love how scandewegians choose to speak english.

[@AndrewWeitzen]

Fill the tunnels with seawater

[@yoooyoyooo]

Tunnels are built in such a way that there is no way to do anything except go in and clear them manualy.

[@AndrewWeitzen]

@@yoooyoyooo If a person can go into a tunnel, water can go into a tunnel more easily. Pumping water is cheap. There is an endless, free supply of water. The water will force people out of the tunnels. The water will ruin the munitions. Even if there were doors, like in a submarine to seal off parts of the tunnels, you could identify where they were with ground-penetrating imagery.

[@lapun47]

This is why Hamas is keeping the hostages below ground. They have a long history of using peoplle as human shields.

[@prst99]

Why can’t Palestinians be moved to West Bank?

[@ahmedopone4080]

Currently Israelis are moved to the West Bank and Palestinians moved out. Why move millions of Arabs to Devine Jewish land.

[@jcliu]

Let’s think of all the peoples dispossessed and ethnically-or politically-cleansed in the late 1940s. (Won’t even mention the Holocaust.) The bloodiest was surely Muslim refugees to Pakistan, and Hindu/Sikh refugees to India after another shambolic British partition. But also, millions of Poles were moved out of today’s Ukraine-and vice versa-with Poland itself moving west to take over ethnically cleansed parts of old Prussian Germany; all in all, 20 million ethnic Germans were expelled from Eastern Europe. Roughly a million nationalist Chinese fled to Taiwan after losing a civil war; similar numbers moved with the partition of Korea. In this sense, the 1948 conflict over Palestine was par for the historical course. So, sadly, was the Nakhba. What’s unique about the Palestinian tragedy is the serial failures of political leadership at every stage of the still-unfolding disaster. Rejecting the UN-partition plan was one thing. But quite successful rump Palestinian states could have still be built out of Gaza and especially the West Bank in its pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem fully Arab. But the Palestinians had the misfortune of becoming geopolitical footballs to two occupying powers, Egypt and Jordan-who annexed them only to trade them away as Cold War chips after two lost wars to Israel. Israeli behavior has been often reprehensible, but the problem is that’s *how all countries that win wars* behave. Ask Azerbaijan how magnanimously it’s being after finally wining its 30-year with the Armenians. Palestine, uniquely, had off ramps that would have meant settling for 1/2 or 1/4 or 1/8 of the loaf. The rejection of these offers for the chimera of pan-Arab nationalism or Western campus solidarity has been a failed bet every time. Israel keeps winning the wars, and behaving how victorious powers behave, and it’s ridiculous to expect moral suasion to make a difference. Are there any realists in the Palestinian cause? I would love to support them.

[@ChilledfishStick]

Calling for a ceasefire would make sense if this was a slugging match; it isn't. All it serves in this conflict, is to color politicians as "reasonable". A ceasefire was where we were before October 7, and Israel has no will to return to that state.

[@SianaGearz]

How do you negotiate peace with an organisation not interested in peace? With one not known to hold down agreements? Like i understand that people who happen to live there would choose peace and comfort any day if they had the choice, so long term there is a solution there somewhere, but it's not really a choice that they have. Negotiation with Hamas and ceasefire might as well just lead to strengthening of Hamas and even bigger terror attacks on their part. When you say "why didn't Hamas pace itself and stop at the fence and just grab some IDF fair and square like a real fight between armed forces and be done with it" well it's got no brakes, it is not acting in what we perceive as tangible sensible interests. This is the reality that we have to contend with, not the ideal that well if we could all just sit at a round table and resolve the differences. How's your desire to negotiate with Putin btw, presumably not all that high?

[@jukkakalliosaari6368]

Concise analysis

[@youssef27334]

I'm not a Finnish voter so i think that you will not be paying any attention to my comment but i'm going to write it any way: First of all as an Arab citizen, the war in the middle east is mainly caused by the Palestinian Israeli conflict, ever since it started after the second world war, there was never a just peace in this region, and the presence of the us was always to kill any resistance, now as we see the us drowning back, the situation is going to escalate, until there will be a just solution under the United nations umbrella, so don't try to add to the problem by backing up Israelis, because this will never end

[@AdEve-co7be]

Speaking rationally, yes, but the situation is irrational

[@gooner72]

We all know that Israel hasn't exactly done itself any favours over the years with its treatment of the Palestinian people, what's lead to this is them treating the non combatants the same as the anti Israeli terrorist groups but as the PLO, Hamas and Hezbollah don't wear recognisable uniforms when carrying out their atrocities its almost impossible. This, I can understand as I was a British soldier in my younger days and we had to deal with the IRA, INLA etc in Ulster, on Mainland Britain and also in Europe..... so its not always easy to separate terrorists from peaceful civilians. Israel, itself, is actually totally surrounded by states that would rather it not be there so its had to fiercely defend itself on numerous occasions against combined Arab/Muslim States ever since its existence way back in 1948. In my own opinion, Israel has a right to be there and keep its people safe but there has to be a solution where both peoples can live next to each other in peace. The problem is, we also have Countries like Iran and Syria who have the ability to keep causing problems.......

[@davidlangford1165]

release the hostages.

[@aesop1451]

Best Peace Plan: 1) United States ends $5 billion annual aid to Israel and Egypt 2) The Golan Heights is returned to Syria and is demilitarized. Demilitarization means no fighter aircraft, no artillery, no missiles, no mortars and no tanks 3) Two-state solution where Palestine gets a flag, Gaza, and the West Bank. Palestine will be demilitarized. The capital will be in East Jerusalem and administered by the Vatican. 4) Israel will have permanent access to US technology to maintain its security edge, but Israel has to stop sharing American tech secrets with China

[@engyn0]

Dude's Garmin is sweet though, right?

[@cnordegren]

One aspect I don't understand about Islam is If that religion claims to be compassionate then why GCC countries (with supermajority populations being foreigners) refuse to accept Palestinian migrants? They can't even be bothered to help Gaza.

[@msmaryna961]

The Gulf countries provided millions of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in both Gaza and WB. Since 1948, millions of Palestinian refugees have flooded Arab states creating huge economic and social upheaval. The Palestinians who left have no right to return to their ancestral homes and are refugees worldwide. Arab states clearly don't want to create more refugees but instead, work to create a Palestinian state.

[@jattikuukunen]

Evacuating the Gaza strip means the end of Palestinians in the area since Israel would never allow them to return. How would you feel if your neighbouring country was forcing you to evacuate away from your homeland with the implication that you may never return?

[@lisadhibi2795]

It’s their right to stay in their homeland. Why should Palestinians leave their land for Israelis to occupy it ?

[@johnspiridis8624]

Professor Ilan Pappe's book, ''The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine'' reveals critical information that is not part of today's narrative that is discussed on the main stream media. What precedence has Israel made to other countries looking to ethnically cleanse people.

[@momenwaly6767]

Based on your four points, you provided a very poor overview of the background. Then you did not provide an accurate description of the actors roles. You stated Israel have the right to defend itself, and it will defend itself hard instead of saying it is committing genocide and war crimes while claiming it defend itself and finally you came up with a solution, you admitted that it’s not gonna work, which is requesting cease-fire. very disappointed especially comparing this video to previous videos on Ukraine.

[@davidlangford1165]

us should pump oil to drive down price.

[@davidvita]

11:16 while in agreement till now I am waiting for the end to see if you have any solution for Hamas (or hizballah) because you suddenly seem to “forgive them” as “simple palestinians”. 😢..

[@PeakyBlinderMo]

Acknowledge the genocide

[@eskokauppila1327]

"...käsillä voi vielä puhua tasavertaisesti ei muuten

[@anonnimus]

There are at least 3 layers I believe that make this a difficult problem. 1. Spoilers: China, Russia, Iran, Syria, others?, Actors who benefit from causing trouble and keeping the conflict going. Those who would be obstructionists or counterproductive to resolving the problem. 2.This isn't a problem that can be solved by Israel and Palestinians alone. Many actors need to be brought to the table to solve the problem and negotiate a long term solution. On the other hand see point #1 3. There is no one who has clean hands in this case. Everyone who can be part of the solution is also part of the problem. There are no honest brokers, there's no neutral parties. No one trusts anyone and many of the partners in solutions are in conflict with each other. So as you stated, start with a cease fire, and begin multi lateral negotiations. Try to isolate the problem and remove externalities as much as possible. However, like the humanitarian funds that were initially released by the US to Iran, there maybe uncomfortable deals that will have to be made. It will be up to each player to make the deals palatable to their home audience. (Some will have a harder time than others in this effort) On the other hand, making these deals may lead to a de-escalation of tension, that can lead to progress in other areas. The Iran nuclear deal, would have been such a de-escalation deal, had not "spoilers" ruined it and eroded trust.

[@costaskarseras7876]

"Netanyahu's fascist government bears full responsibility for the dangerous escalation" : Communist Party of Israel and Hadash In a statement concerning rapid escalation of military confrontation between Hamas and Israeli forces, the #Communist Party of Israel (MAKI) and Hadash blame the criminal occupation policy of the far-right Netanyahu government, underlining the grave dangers that it poses for the peace in the region. "The fascist right-wing government's crimes to perpetuate the occupation are leading to a regional war that must be stopped. Even in difficult days like this - we repeat and voice an unequivocal condemnation of any harm to innocent civilians, and call for their removal from the bloodshed. We send our condolences to all the families of the victims of the occupation, Arabs and Jews alike", the statement reads. MKI and Hadash put the full responsibility on the fascist right-wing government for the sharp and dangerous escalation of the last few hours, that costed the lives of many innocent citizens. "At the end of a shocking week in which the settlers ran amok throughout the occupied territories under the auspices of their government, desecrated the Al-Aqsa Mosque and carried out another pogrom in Huara, we woke up this morning to a very serious escalation, which endangers the entire region in a regional and dangerous war - which the right-wing government has been fueling since its first day...

[@davidrogers1938]

If my analysis was as banal and superficial as this, I’d probably keep it to myself.

[@davisthedavis]

Every video I watch makes me feel like Alex knows less and less about the world 😂

[@amnont8724]

Hey Alex, I'd like to know why do you think there should be a ceasefire as long as Hamas is in place, instead of an unconditional surrender like the case of Nazi Germany in WWII.

[@teosto1384]

It's somehow quite absurd to have presidential candidate doing KZbin content. In a sense it's like Donald Trump being known for his other endeavours before the election, but also the comparison in narrow point of view could be considered an insult, which it's not, if you really read the sentence word by word. In my opinion (as a Finn (and having followed the channel for quite a while)) this venue is very beneficial in running for presidential candidate, no matter the political party affiliation. What I'm saying is the channel as a whole portrays a very strong view/opinion on things, mostly on the things that are global and not as much local (which can be argued is the thing a president of a country is concentrated on (or not)). As for the actual opinion on the video in question, I'll have to go and re-listen it again before trying to accommodate it all. Edit: As a situation it's a huge gamble for all parties involved. Do this, do that, you never know how it evolves and who ends up being on the winning side and who on the losing side. From a "bystander" point of view if I were to imagine myself being in one corner or another I'd have to flip a coin and hope it ends up on the edge as I couldn't really count either side as a clear win. But just like with many things you just gotta do decisions according to what you believe is right in the long run.

[@paulforbes1217]

At the conclusion, Alex seems to imply that the US must stay in the international policing role to ensure some level of peace/stability. Well, from the perspective of many Americans, we're tired of paying the costs: military personnel dying, massive amounts of $$, and any number of other burdens. And what do we get in return: endless criticism and hate, often from the very countries being protected. And don't forget how the European and other countries are happy to step aside to let America take the heat. "Yankee go home!" Careful what you wish for because it is coming.

[@frodobaggins9474]

@paulforbes i think if the US steps aside from these roles it may be displaced by the next country that's eagerly struggling to attain such roles and you know the negative impart on the US and it's globally accepted currency. For the criticism, that's one of the human nature, not always satisfied and hate. The US has done a lot since after the second world war, if not the world would have gone through many world wars by now.

[@conanbaldin403]

Regarding this, I think there's a lot of foolishness on both sides. Yes, the US role as "world police" costs the US significant financial resources, and some military casualties (as well as "effort", both diplomatically and when it comes to governance). However, it isn't like the US gains nothing from its role. The role has gone hand-in-hand with the US acting as the worlds economic center, enabled immense brain-drain towards the US, given the dollar the position as the world reserve currency, and provided some other benefits as well. Others "stepping aside" to let the US take the heat is often quite fair - although not always, of course. US statements post 9/11 and the tremendous diplomatic influence of the US often leaves the US as the primary party responsible. The US is often criticized - both fairly and unfairly. But trying to state that all the US gets in return is only criticism and hate is just blatantly incorrect.

[@henrycunha8379]

There's a fair number of underlying things Mr Stubb doesn't want to get into, perhaps for obvious reasons. One, for instance, is the US's focus on China, which leads it to try to shoehorn Israel and Saudi Arabia some kind of security system while shunting to the back of the line any issues re Palestinians. Well, Hamas was going to have none of that. There's something here about conflict resolution through order of local and immediate precedence. The grand strategy centered on US needs can prove pretty hollow when it tries to go top down.

[@michalperach984]

Hamas is a terrorist organization that wants to create a theocratic state. They wouldn't accept any peace deal. They want all Israelis dead.

[@sharonhearne5014]

The Israeli settler situation is a further aggravation where the small remaining parts of Palestinian land is being invaded in blatant fashion.

[@amerchex]

"I am sure that Israel is mindful (about the death of innocent civilians)."... I am gutted that prominent academic and political figures publicly speak such absolute, disgraceful nonsense. How can the death of thousands of children seeking shelter in schools and hospitals be "collateral damage"? Since when have war crimes become "collateral damage"? Your analyses of the Ukraine invasion and the "state of the world" were horrendous last year, now this - I have lost the respect I had for you, Mr. Stubb.

[@robertbarta2793]

Tiresome self references.

[@collintrytsman3353]

FROZEN CONFLICT NAGORNO-KARABAKH.............EEERRR................. THERE IS NO NAGORNO-KARABAKH ANYMORE!!!...........MUST DO BETTER

[@jattikuukunen]

Seems like this was recorded quite a bit before release. I'm not convinced the timing adds up anyway.

[@ephilippos]

All frozen conflicts have to be resolved sometime. Its up to us to choose the way & not allow them to remain frozen, many times in a shroud of most unfairness for 1 of the teo parties: similar conflicts are: Taiwan-China, China - EEZ 6 countries conflict, Iran-US & the world, Turkey-Cyprus, GR-Turkey, Serbia-Albania/Kosovo, Yemen, Syria are the most obvious for destabilization, without forgetting many other conflicts around the world…

[@happeningnow24]

The Gaza Strip has been in siege and under a blockade for over 10 years Minister, the West Bank too is on constant military and provocative attacks from the Israeli government, if we to learn anything from history is that no colonial state or settlers can last and go on with abusing the indigenous people. Moreover, Israel does not want the Two State Solution according to the Oslo agreements, Israel does not want the formation of an independent state in Palestine. Mind you, all the Middle Eastern and Arab governments and the West know the only solution and way out of the constant crisis is the formation of the Palestinian state with complete sovereignty over its territory. The question is why Israel does not want it.

[@gongboom]

It's time the world stops dancing around the real problem but begins a discussion about the Tyrannosaurus Rex in the room, Islam. Waiting too long to face the actual cause of jihad may prove to be fatal for Western European civilization.

[@timfify]

talking about and not saying anything

[@Mickey5070]

@MohammedHijab you literally manipulate. You're from Egypt, by you prefer to be silent about Egypt doesn't open Rafah bordercross for years. You say it's about Palestinians, but you prefer even not to mention what HAMAS does of it's own citizens. Yoj just hyping on the topic, not even closely trying to analyze it.

[@tortseyina1684]

Think you have said nothing real serious

[@eymeeraosaka2954]

Why HAMAS and not Palestinian? Isn't HAMAS the elected government of the Palestinian in the GAZA of 2 million?

[@mabuhayproductionltd3627]

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