Israel’s Priority Is Killing Gazans, Not Freeing Hostages (Stephen Semler | Jacobin, 2024-05-18)
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ICYMI:
“After Netanyahu’s rejection of the latest proposal, it’s clearer than ever that Israel’s war isn’t and never was about the #hostages. Biden’s continued support for Israel demonstrates that the hostages aren’t a priority for the United States, either.”
“… Hamas has repeatedly offered to release the hostages in exchange for a cease-fire and Palestinian prisoners, including as early as October 7 and October 9. Family members of the Israeli hostages have repeatedly urged their government to accept those offers, but Israeli leaders always rebuffed them…”
"A handful of powerful businessmen pushed New York City Mayor Eric Adams to use police to crack down on pro-Palestinian student protesters at #Columbia University, donating to the politician and offering to pay for private investigators to help break up the demonstrations, based on leaked WhatsApp conversations"
#IDF says two #Thai#hostages earlier believed to be alive in #Gaza were killed in the October 7 attack and their bodies are being held in the Palestinian territory. "We informed the families of two kidnapped Thai citizens, who worked in agriculture in the plantations near Kibbutz Beeri, that they were murdered in the terrorist attack on October 7 and their bodies are being held by Hamas," said army spokesman Daniel Hagari.
Same person calling everyone they disagree with names is one that uses "Zionist" to hide their hatred for Jews. So sick of these people saying they are against hate and spreading it.
The grandson of Israeli captive Oded Lifshitz, 84, says his family has not heard anything about the condition of his grandfather in six months.
“It’s impossible that we are even speaking seven months after about the release of old people. It’s against humanity … I prefer there will be no more suffering for civilians on the Palestinian side and our side and there’s an agreement to end that.”
What's with this Israel BS about continuing the attacks until Hamas releases Israeli hostages. Hamas agreed to release the #hostages as part of the #ceasefire deal but #Israel turned down the release of hostages because that would mean they would have to stop murdering innocent men, women and children. #Netanyahu has never cared about the hostages.
Clearly, the Biden Administration is making a point that this story come out now. Netanyahu’s “glorious war” cabinet has probably already calculated they have what they need. There’s not much of Gaza left to annihilate. I can’t escape the thought this Israeli government is executing a final solution.
US paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
A final solution to annihilate Palestine, 🇵🇸 Palestinians, Gaza… any/all remaining autonomy of a people in their homeland, forever in diaspora, or dead.
I wonder how many #hostages are crushed under Israeli bombardment along with Palestinians. There are many corpses in the rubble and tunnels.
There is reporting Hamas leaders believe they have already won, even if they don’t survive. Israel’s atrocities unforgettable. Forever branded in “genocide”, victims AND executioners.
The #Biden admin paused the shipment of thousands of weapons to #Israel, including controversial 2k-pound bombs, amid mounting concern about the country’s plan to expand a military operation in southern #Gaza that could dramatically increase the conflict’s death toll, U.S. ofcls said Tues.
It's not normal to use 2000 lb bombs in the rescue of #hostages but it is normal to use 2000 lb bombs in the destruction of an enemy in a tunnel. The civilians used as human shields remain dangerously in the middle.
The priority for #Netanyahu is obvious and he will not be negotiating the future #peace.
“Israel should not launch a major ground operation in #Rafah, where more than a million people are sheltering with nowhere else to go,” said a senior administration official, explaining the #US decision to pause the #weapons shipments. “We are especially focused on the end-use of the 2,000-pound bombs and the impact they could have in dense urban settings as we have seen in other parts of #Gaza.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/05/07/biden-delays-weapons-israel-rafah/
Incredible. Read the text of the ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire mandated release of ALL Israeli hostages, a permanent & indefinite ceasefire—meaning Hamas could never offensively take up arms against Israel again—and Qatar, Egypt, USA, & the UN serving as Guarantors.
As far as I understand, all conflict stops with the release of the first #hostage.
Hamas is playing games with the negotiation, as if the #hostages are actually deceased. The #ceasefire begins when the first hostage is rescued. #genevaconventions