Hamas have 2 requirements for a ceasefire, namely that Israel withdraw from Gaza and that the siege tactics of Israel are lifted and the crossings opened. Which one of those is so terrifying for Israel?

Rather than agree to these it is being reported that Israel are declaring a unilateral ceasefire (whatever one of those is, is it the same as the unilateral war we've been watching?). They have said that if the rockets don't stop (at least the BBC didn't describe them as missiles this time) then they will attack with more surgical strikes. It is unclear if these will be the same surgical strikes that have hit schools, mosques, government buildings, police stations, aid relief agencies and managed to kill upwards of 500 innocent women and children.

There was also an interview with Gordon Brown where he said he has offered UK naval forces to try and help stop the smuggling of arms in to Gaza, he didn't mention whether this would include stopping the smuggling of food, fuel and medicine as well (I would guess that the answer to that would be yes). Doesn't he realise that implicates us directly in the horrible treatment of the Palestinians in Gaza? Doesn't he realise that makes us prison guards too in Gaza? I am absolutely appaled by the way the Israelis have treated the Palestinians and now our 'left wing' government is offering to lend a hand in this brutal repression!

Is Brown happy for us to become complicit in the denial of food, education, medical supplies, the right to self determination, the right to freedom of movement and other basic human rights that we are supposed to hold dear? Yes the vicious slaughter has to stop but agreeing to help keep 1.5 million people penned in the world's biggest prison is not something we should have to agree to do!

When you look at the history of Hamas you find that they were financed, by and large, by Israel themselves as a counterbalance to the PLO. They don't want any form of unity between the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, hence the 'bigging up' of Abbas (who'll do as he's told). Just what kind of democracy is it that the US and UK are trying to spread in the ME? Democracy as long as you vote for the parties that we approve of? That doesn't really fit with my understaning of the meaning of the word.

This whole affair is insane, I have become even more convinced that the people we have leading us are psychopaths, making and cutting deals with other psychopaths. They're all freaking crazy.