The cost to Palestinians of Israel’s hostage rescue
JVL Introduction
Israel exults in having rescued four hostages – even though three more were probably killed in the attempt, as were more than 270 Palestinians. More than 600 were injured in the assault.
UN spokesman Jeremy Laurence said the action by Israeli forces “seriously calls into question whether the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution… were respected” and could amount to war crimes.
The pity of it all is that no hostages need to have been killed in Israeli raids, or to have died in captivity in Gaza.
A peace deal involving a prisoner exchange is on the table. Indeed in an earlier exchange on 30th November, 105 Israeli hostages were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions prohibits the taking of hostages. All of them should long since have been home, as should Palestinian prisoners in Israeli gaols held without charge and without trial.
If they were Israelis, they, too, would routinely be called hostages by our media.
But they’re not, so they’re not recognised for what they are.
Israel takes hostages too.
RK
This article was originally published by the Guardian on Tue 11 Jun 2024. Read the original here.
‘Like the horrors of judgment day’: the cost to Palestinians of Israel’s hostage rescue
Nuseirat market was crowded with civilians when a hostage rescue vehicle got stuck, and the bombing began
Loading article text…
I’ve yet to see anyone in the media mention the article in the Times of Israel that Hamas offered to release ALL the Hostages on Oct9th if Israel stopped attacking Gaza.. Israel said NO.. or that Israel signed contracts with BP for the Gaza Gas field up to 2years ago. This was never about the Hostages, its always been about wiping out Palestinians and taking possession of Palestine
There is also very little information about the hostages who got killed in the course of this ‘rescue’. Nothing new, to anyone who remembers Entebbe. We – and their families – should name these further victims of mass murder.