this post was submitted on 11 May 2024
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[–] [email protected] -3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_human_shields_by_Hamas

According to a New York Times report, "Hamas has long been accused of using civilians as human shields and positioning underground bunkers, weapon depots and rocket launchers under or near schools, mosques and hospitals."[63]

DW military analyst Frank Ledwidge has said that "it's been described... as 'common knowledge' that many of the headquarters [of Hamas] are located under hospitals... [with] entries and exits in places like mosques or schools... [or even] UN facilities... that's why we've seen... so many non-combatant casualties so far".[64]

John Spencer has said that "[Hamas has] built many of their tunnel entrances and exits and passageway underneath protected sites like hospitals, schools, mosques, because it restricts the use of force that the IDF can take without going through the... laws of war calculation.[65]

According to Daphne Richemond-Barak, associate professor of counter-terrorism at Reichman University and author of the 2017 book Underground Warfare, Hamas militants operate under Al-Shifa Hospital gain "the highest level of protection available under the laws of war", as well as a "unique opportunity to operate far from surveillance drones, GPS, and other intelligence-gathering technology". She added that "in Gaza, tunnels are dug in civilian homes, pass under entire neighbourhoods, and lead into populated areas inside Israel... [which] enables Hamas to conceal entry and exit points, and facilitates undetected movement and activity."[66]

Avi Issacharoff has said that Hamas militants are "under the houses and neighborhoods of Gaza City, hoping that Israel won't attack them because they're hiding underneath human shields, and that if Israel will attack those neighborhoods, it'll kill many civilians, and the whole world is going to accuse Israel for war crimes". "The sad thing about all this", Issacharoff said, "is [that] Hamas doesn't care about their own people" and aims "not only to kill Israelis but for as many Palestinian civilians [casualties as well]".[67]

It's almost like starting a war when most of your population is children, then hiding among civilians and under schools endangers them. But I guess that's Israel's fault. Why can't they just send in soldiers without air support? They make easier targets that way.

[–] FlyingSquid 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

That information is way out of date. There are almost no schools left because Israel destroyed 90% of them.

https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/education-under-attack-gaza-nearly-90-school-buildings-damaged-or-destroyed-and-no-university-left-standing

If you're going to claim that Israel is killing children because Hamas is hiding in schools and there aren't schools, that's a really silly claim.

And if there were schools, you're claiming that Israel needs to bomb schools filled with children in self-defense. I don't know that you're going to find too many people sympathetic to that argument.

I sincerely hope you aren't a parent if you feel children are so disposable.

Also, if you have to kill children in the name of self-defense, maybe you don't have anything worth defending.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

I'm saying this is a strategy Hamas uses, and they haven't stopped. They have been launching rockets from Rafah, hospitals and other civilian areas, they told civilians not to evacuate from war zones, and since half of Gaza is children that means yes, Hamas is attacking Israel from among children.

I'm saying using such despicable tactics is not a free genocide without reprisal card, nor should it confer a tactical advantage as that just means more of this in the future.

[–] FlyingSquid 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yes. You have already made it clear that you think the murder of thousands of children is justified for the sake of Israel's self-defense.

And I have made it clear that I think that if you have to kill thousands of children in the name of self-defense, you have nothing worth defending.

Suggesting that there is anything reason to justify killing thousands of children is pretty disturbing.

I would sacrifice my own life to save one child.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

Collateral damage is not murder. I feel like a parrot having to refute all these same inaccurate characterizations over and over again. Calling it murder doesn't make it so.

Good thing you're not in charge of any defense forces. If your opponents strapped their own children to tanks I suppose you'd just let them roll in and take over.

[–] ShittyBeatlesFCPres 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It’s not a genocide because of collateral damage. It’s a genocide because they used wholly inappropriate 2000 lbs bombs on civilian targets, used starvation as a tactic, refused to let meaningful amounts of humanitarian aid in, bombed schools and hospitals, and used genocidal language that demonstrates intent.

Go ahead and defend Itamar Ben-Gvir if you want but he’s a Kahanist. Go ahead and defend Netanyahu but he’s the one who is a disgrace to Judaism and arguably the worst leader of a major power in my lifetime. War crimes have happened. Mass graves exist and torture prisons exist. Genocide requires intent and I’d argue there’s been dozens of statements by members of Israel’s cabinet that constitute a very strong case.

[–] FlyingSquid 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

If your opponents strapped their own children to tanks I suppose you’d just let them roll in and take over.

You know, I was going to answer the rest substantively, but this is the most ludicrous thing I've heard in quite some time. You are not here in good faith.

[–] [email protected] -4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

I used a somewhat satirical metaphor you don't like, so now I'm not here in good faith? Interesting reasoning.

[–] FlyingSquid 4 points 9 months ago

"Somewhat satirical" does not describe the ludicrous thing you said. So yes, you're not here in good faith.