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The hospital ship RFA Argus is moored in Falmouth. She is uniquely designed for this type of situation. The petitioners request that the British Government unilaterally and rapidly deploys RFA Argus to Gaza.
You can sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/the-rt-hon-philip-hammond-mp-send-rfa-argus-hospital-ship-to-gaza?alert_id=QlfsKVgRrZ_1zAumo8gbxCwLNjIDBb47kQVYA%2FkrCnudjzLRtD2Bxk8PPaOiAgIXNZ%2BboeaAmH%2F&utm_campaign=114345&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert
I thought that this was quite a good idea, they could even offer to take Israeli casualties if the need arose. It would be great training for the crew of the ship and would show the UK in a good light.
I'm sure that some of you will shoot the idea down in flames, that's up to you, but hopefully it will get some support..........
Signed
I thought there was a navel blockade of Gaza?
Why not use our navy to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza?
I thought there was a navel blockade of Gaza?
Yes and the Israelis don't take kindly to people ignoring their illegal naval blockade of Gaza.
In 2010 Israeli special forces attacked a flotilla of unarmed Turkish civilian ships bringing aid to Gaza in international waters, killing 10 civilians and detaining the remaining civilians and ships.
Signed.
Just as long as we don't try and import any terrifying weapons of war, like medicine or cement, we'll be fine!
great idea, signed
Even if it can't get through the blockade straight away it may well embarrass the Israelis enough to get them to lift the blockade.
I don't think Israelis do "embarrassment".
UK acting alone, putting UK military forces in a single RFA in harms way not to mention the cost to tax payer for 'embarrassment' really?
So better idea one hospital ship two frigates an attack sub and top cover out of Cyprus. Petition signed.
Signed, but unfortunately can't see it happening. Would probably require a complete change of Government first.
....for 'embarrassment' really?
No, not for embarrassment. Somewhere along the line you appear to have lost sight of the purpose of the petition. It's to provide urgent medical care for the sick and injured, it's not to embarrass anyone. Read the link again.
ernie_lynch, dont dispute that but it can be done another way Im just against such a hair brained scheme.
What other way?
rene59 - same as we have done before - provide bed spaces here in the UK and expert help for those desperate cases that need highly skilled care that we can provide. The RFA Argus can do little more than patch people up. Something that is arguably already available in Israel and Gaza. But considering the blockade in reality I doubt that anything practicable can be achieved. Besides there are many countries in that region that could also provide help. Our gesture might provoke a wider response of help than parking a western military ship off the coast
That's the point I'd guess, I'd say while this is a good idea, it should only be the start of a concerted effort to break the blockade permanently.footflaps - Member
I thought there was a navel blockade of Gaza?
you'd imagine sending a hospital ship would need to be accompanied by an escort.ohnohesback - Member
Why not use our navy to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza?
it should only be the start of a concerted effort to break the blockade permanently.
I doubt that will happen whilst Israel still exists, they seem to define themselves by how much they can make the Palestinians suffer.....
Because starting a war with Israel would generally be considered a bad idea?ohnohesback - Member
Why not use our navy to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza?
i dont suppose it would be too extreme to ask hamas to stop lobbing rockets into israel.. that seems to stop the israelis chucking stuff back.. when both sides agreed a 3 day ceasefire the israelis withdrew and stopped shelling.. why did Hamas believe that the best way forward was to launch 60 missiles within minutes of the ceasefire ending..
totalshell - Memberi dont suppose it would be too extreme to ask hamas to stop lobbing rockets into israel.. that seems to stop the israelis chucking stuff back
Except in 2008, when the ceasefire got too long for Israel and they decided to invade.
Do you know for a fact those where Hamas rockets, incidentally?
same as we have done before - provide bed spaces here in the UK
We have provided medical aid for the sick and injured in Gaza in UK hospitals before ? That's surprising to say the least, have you got any links ?
The RFA Argus can do little more than patch people up. Something that is arguably already available in Israel and Gaza.
Well I don't know about Israel but according to the link Gaza has only one working x-ray machine. I suspect that due to the $billions worth of US aid that Israel gets, plus the fact that their infrastructures are completely intact, that Israel probably has more than one working x-ray. They also appear to have a lot less wounded.
Furthermore I also suspect that it would easier to transport an injured patient to a ship anchored off the coast of Gaza for an x-ray than to transport them to a UK hospital for x-rays. No one in Gaza is more than 7 miles from the sea.
Maybe HAMAS just need to accept defeat at some point... 😯
As the jews have the worlds best anti missile defence system, the Hamas rockets are practically useless. The only pain they cause in reality is financial as the missile defence is expensive. They have lost fsr more IDF since the illegal onslaught on Gaza jews killed in many months previous. Unfortunately Hamas are playing into their hands and giving them an excuse to continue their Holocaust. Shame on you people of Israel.
Israel would be the starting it.rusty90 - Member
ohnohesback - Member
Why not use our navy to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza?
Because starting a war with Israel would generally be considered a bad idea?
What about sending it to Afganistan, iraq ,syria all places where serious trouble has taken place and lots of people been seriously injured or africa where there is an outbreak of EBOLA, im sure they could do with some help.
The only pain they cause in reality is financial as the missile defence is expensive.
Not to the Israelis it doesn't, maybe to US taxpayers, as they appear to be paying for all the missiles used in Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system.
[url= http://www.timesofisrael.com/obama-approves-225-million-in-iron-dome-funding/ ]Obama approves $225 million in Iron Dome funding[/url]
[i][b] "The new package is intended to replenish Israel’s capabilities"[/i][/b]
I never knew that ernie thanks. Shows how deep the relationship runs then. No wonder criticism is low key.
Yes and the Israelis don't take kindly to people ignoring their illegal naval blockade of Gaza.In 2010 Israeli special forces attacked a flotilla of unarmed Turkish civilian ships bringing aid to Gaza in international waters, killing 10 civilians and detaining the remaining civilians and ships.
Signed.
@ernie, the Israeli's intercepted a boat from Turkey a couple of weeks ago, it was full of arms, this was not covered by the UK media. What was covered by the UK media was a larger ship from Iran intercepted in March which was full of weapons including long range missiles. That's why there is a blockade. It would be naive in the extreme to suggest Israel should allow free passage of weapons into Gaza.
EDIT: I suggest we keep such commentary out of this thread and keep it just to whether people wish to sign the petition or not.
Jambalaya, do you not think the Palestinians should be allowed arms to defend themselves from terrorist attacks?
Why would it be naive?, there is a US sponsored free passage of weapons into Israel - The Zionists need removed by whatever means and placed in a cage so we can poke them with sticks.
I'm not going to respond on here, this thread is about the petition.
Signed
I'm not going to respond on here, this thread is about the petition.
You should have deleted your post then, not simply add your weasily edit.
Sadly I imagine Dave won't have the balls to run this past his [s]mate[/s] puppet master in the WH. Either way, I don't see it happening.
The only way I can see things improving is if a public ground swell turns into a mini apartheid movement. But the USA would need to stop bank rolling the government of Israel.
mini apartheid movement
an anti one i hope!
Well Yeah. 🙂 Not sure what we could boycott.
Funkier jerseys?
Why can't the many Arab states in the region provide medical assistance? Why can't Egypt open its border's to Gaza? Hamas is not liked by virtually every state in the region. So instead we get to send a hospital ship into a war zone which will just raise the tension.
The conflict is so complex that it is probably too complex for us in the UK to understand. We can barely understand the troubles in NI and the Middle East is far more complex.
Why can't Egypt open its border's to Gaza?
Because the Egyptian leader who seized power in a coup is more interested in receiving the backing of the US and Israel than in helping the Palestinians. He doesn't seem much bothered by the plight of his fellow Egyptians either, judging by the amount he's had slaughtered, imprisoned, or put on death row.
And it's not simply Hamas that is not liked by virtually every US backed dictatorship in the region, it's the Palestinian people as a whole, with their irritating demand for some sort of justice.
The Western-backed despots want to concentrate on enjoying the good life, not worry about a load of poor landless Palestinians who complain when they are being slaughtered. Luckily for the US and Israel.
signed also.
😯