t: Could you please confirm that now you have been convinced that all the rape cr*p has now been debunked and that in essence we are recognising that all these stories were basically hasbara? Can we agree on that?

SueC: No, I don't think we can agree that all the rape "stories were basically hasbara". Contrary to what you seem to believe, I have never stated that the Israeli claims of mass rape by Hamas were correct and should be taken as absolute truth. Rape and sexual violence, however, are, sadly, very much a part of warfare and I think it very likely that women were sexually assaulted during the events of 7th October. Systematic rape by Hamas fighters as part of their tactics? No, I think that's unlikely - isolated rapes either by Hamas or by members of Palestinian groups who followed behind Hamas primarily intent on looting, well, yes, I think that is probable. Anyone who has followed Islamist attacks on civilians in other parts of the world knows how often the mutilation of bodies, genital mutilation and the taking of body parts feature. I'm not a member of the 'Our Hamas Wouldn't Do That' club and think that some of their members might indeed be capable of such brutality.

t: Do you not also agree that you were somewhat over-cautious on joining in with Gaza genocide condemnations because .. you do .. not to trust Palestinians or should I say Hamas? .. this from the thread.

SueC; Again, unfortunately, we can't agree. I most definitely do not trust Hamas. In war, ALL sides lie. This shouldn't be a contentious statement. Hamas is, first and foremost, an Islamist movement - it advocates a highly repressive ideology and it astonishes me that people on this board seem to think it's some sort of progressive force.

Is there anything else about my views I can help you with?