What are your thoughts on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas?

"The only issue at hand right now should be what Israel should do in response to the attack by Hamas. Israel has a right to fight back as well as defend itself. this is not a time to discuss a 2 state solution ‘/ settler state. This is not a discussion as to whether the Palestinians have a right to the Gaza Strip. The actions of several days ago are from Hamas. Israel has a right to fight to get back the hostages, fight back and to defend themselves."

• "I appreciate the "ongoing conflict" part of this question because it begins to frame the situation correctly. This has been ongoing since the end of WWII. And for both sides it's a fight to the death of the other. The current battle making the news is just one example of the many battles fought in this war these past 70 years. You spoil the question, however, by framing the conflict as one between Isreal and Hamas. Most of Palestine can't stomach the brutality Hamas is willing to inflict on its enemy to achieve the goal. But make no mistake, all Palestinians have the same goal."

"Israel has discriminated, evicted, murdered, and tortured Palestinians for decades while both Israel and Egypt refused to allow the safe transfer of Palestinians out of the country. What did Israel expect would happen when disenfranchised peoples were given no other option other than fighting back?"

• "Palestinians, who are trapped in an open air prison, are having whole blocks leveled with no regard to who is killed. UN agency says 447 children have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, in addition to war crimes such as white phosphorus being used by the Israeli govt. The conflict is horrible for all innocent civilians, but I fear most for the innocent Palestinians and I feel their devastation is being under-represented in the media. Hamas is horrible and should be taken care of, but they were not created in a vacuum. They were created out of desperation of people living in a brutal apartheid state. We must change this. It will benefit everyone, and Hamas would not be able to radicalize members to join them as easily. It would not be a quick and easy solution, and it would take time, but this has gone on for far too long."

"Hamas stated their goal is to “end Israel” while Israel’s goal is to have peaceful relations. If the Arab world lays down their arms, there will be peace but if Israel does, there will be no Israel. There are thousands of Arabs living in Israel as citizens, participating in politics, running businesses & raising their families in peace. Do other religions have those same freedoms in the Arab countries? Anyone who supports Hamas is supporting terrorism- the world should stand up to evil and side with Israel to complete destroy Hamas- who do you think they would target after they destroy Israel?"

• "This conflict will never end until Palestinians have their own Land and authority apart from the Israelis. Some nearby country should donate land to move 2 million Palestinians to establish their own state. I recognize that they have holy sites in Israel that they would not want to leave but what is their price for freedom to attain peace and prosperity for their people?"

"Hamas is a terrorist organization, but it doesn’t represent the majority of Palestians. Steps must be taken to protect and save innocent civilians, on both sides. Peace talks must be conducted including all parties involved."

• "Hamas are terrorist, but the majority of Palestinians aren’t. I feel that here in America we especially struggle to grasp that concept. I understand that Palestinians and Israelis are in a long standing conflict, and Palestinians have been oppressed, but that does not the actions of Hamas, which have only unnecessarily harmed both Israelis and Palestinians."