Discussions, summarized

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• Hacker News1How Israeli actions caused famine in Gaza, visualizedA UN-backed report found that Israel's nearly two-year war in Gaza has created "man-made" famine conditions affecting over 640,000 Palestinians by September 2024. The report cited extreme food shortages, child malnutrition, and deaths from starvation, with Israel accused of using hunger as a weapon. Israel rejected the findings and denied implementing starvation policies, claiming adequate aid entry despite UN agencies reporting severe distribution obstacles and bureaucratic impediments that limit relief efforts.Netanyahu's role in creating Hamas:Discussion centers on claims that Netanyahu undermined Palestinian Authority and two-state solutions, effectively backing Palestinians into a corner and creating conditions for Hamas to flourish. Some argue Israel historically supported Hamas to weaken PLO, while others dispute Palestinian rejection of peace deals.Israel's control of aid and famine conditions:Debate over Israel blocking food aid including baby formula and Plumpy Nut, with accusations of deliberate starvation versus security concerns. Discussions include whether Hamas steals aid, Egypt's border role, and comparisons to historical famines as political tools.War crimes and collective punishment:Arguments over whether Israel's actions constitute war crimes, genocide, or legitimate warfare responses. Commenters debate civilian casualty numbers, proportionality of response, and whether "it's war" justifies the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
• Reddit science1Using scented products indoors changes the chemistry of the air, producing as much air pollution as car exhaust does outside, according to a new study. Researchers say that breathing in these nanosized particles could have serious health implications.Using scented products indoors, such as flame-free candles and wax melts, can create significant indoor air pollution comparable to car exhaust. Research by Purdue University found these products release nanosized particles that can penetrate deep into lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream, posing serious respiratory health risks.Misleading title scope:Discussion about how study only focused on wax melts but title suggests all scented products, with debate about whether findings could logically extend to other scented itemsHealth concerns from chemist:A chemist's perspective against using scented products leads to sharing of personal health impact stories, from COPD to cancer cases, and debate about necessity of artificial scentsAir purification solutions:Discussion of HEPA filters and other air purification methods as solutions, with debate about effectiveness against different types of pollutants like VOCs and nanoparticles
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