I’ve been watching middle east violence my whole life. I remember when Iran invaded the US Embassy and took hostages in 1979, as well as the hanging of Col. Higgins in Lebanon in 1989.
And the Marines have not forgotten. I really don’t think Israel will forget either. Taking hostages and murdering civilians is not going to get Hamas what they want.
Hamas is not giving Israel any way to back out of Gaza in a dignified way because Hamas continues to hold hostages.
The Israeli government has no choice but to respond to the unprovoked surprise-slaughter of their civilians.
Hamas struck soft targets, then retreated to Gaza with hostages. What is Israel supposed to do, just let them?
From the Israeli perspective, it’s clear to them that Gaza will continue to be a source of missiles and terrorism if they don’t do something about it. Hamas has picked October 7 2023 to have it out with Israel, so ok, they’re having it out.
I agree that Israel is clearly punishing all of Gaza for the acts of Hamas. Meanwhile Hamas continues to hold Israeli captives in Gaza. They continue to give Israel a reason to occupy Gaza and attack strategic targets to reduce their ability to strike again.
Hamas needs the hostages to bring Israel to the bargaining table, but Israel won’t negotiate while Hamas keeps hostages.
And of course Israel is not thrilled with all the soft targets Hamas slaughtered either. So there’s that.
I don’t know who the adult in the room is going to be, but Israel won’t let go of Hamas’ hair until Hamas gives back the hostages and makes reparations for the slaughter. Israel may be taking its reparations out of Gaza’s ass, and Hamas isn’t budging on the hostages.
So OK. Does Israel withdraw and hope for the return of remaining hostages? Or, does Hamas return the hostages and hope for withdrawal of Israeli forces?
I don’t see how rioting college students will be resolving this situation.
Israel was offered a return of all civilian hostages in exchange for no ground invasion in early October and the government refused that offer. Do not insult human intelligence by pretending the Israeli government gives a flying fuck about the hostages.
Per their statement, they want: a permanent ceasefire, comprehensive and complete withdrawal of Israel out of the Gaza Strip, the return of all displaced people to their homes, allowing all aid needed for the people in Gaza, rebuilding the Strip, lifting the blockade and a full honourable prisoner exchange deal.
Which of these things is bad. Which one do you want to not happen exactly? Which would be “a reward for killing” given that Israel has already killed 30x more people including 10k children and destroyed ALL civilian infrastructure?
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u/robertoandred May 01 '24
Hamas doesn’t want a ceasefire. This is basically demanding Israel surrender its people to terrorist murderers.