At least 10 of the Israeli civilians released by Hamas, both men and women, were sexually assaulted or abused while in captivity, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
In a report detailing allegations of severe and widespread sexual abuse by Hamas terrorists during their October 7 onslaught and later against hostages, a doctor who treated some of the 110 hostages released from captivity told the AP that at least 10 men and women among those freed were sexually assaulted or abused.
Original AP article that reports this where it’s buried in the last section right before the end of the article.
The only people who are suffering are the civilians who don’t give a shit about this holy-land-grab-war, and are dying because two insane factions are being sold weapons.
”The common people pray for rain, healthy children, and a summer that never ends," Ser Jorah told her. “It is no matter to them if the high lords play their game of thrones, so long as they are left in peace.” He gave a shrug. "They never are.”
Life imitates art, sadly
I wish this were true - that most people don’t care about this and just want peace - but I think evidence is continuing to show that the reality is a bit messier. Here’s some recent polling data from Gaza and the West Bank (though it should be strongly noted that polling in these places is very hard)
the majority of (59%) strongly supported or (16%) supported to some extent the October 7 attacks carried by the Hamas-led factions, while 16% supported to some extent [sic]. 11% reported that they neither supported nor opposed the attack, while 13% expressed opposition to the attacks. Strong support for the attacks was notably higher among Palestinians in the West Bank (68%) as compared to Gaza (47%).
The most positively appraised of all actors were the Al Qassam Brigades, Islamic Jihad, Al Aqsa Brigades, and Hamas.
It does feel disturbing to me that such a small number of Palestinians looked at the October 7th massacres and felt that they were wrong. It’s tempting to believe that most people abhor violence and support non-violent paths towards peace, but I don’t think the evidence really shows that.
I don’t know what polling looks like in Israel, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s equally depressing. I think the main takeaway is that no one is really interested in moving towards peace.
Thanks for that. Looking again, there’s one interesting stat there that I missed the first time, that only 14% support a Hamas-led government after the war, while most support a coalition with the Palestinian Authority. The PA is largely useless, but what they are not is terrorists, so that’s a small hopeful sign.
If the two countries had parity and equality, that polling would suggest that the Palestinian citizens are awful.
But I’m our reality where Palestine is an open air person where the majority of people are children because the life expectancy is so poor, that kinda changes things, doesn’t it?
I’d personally say no. Perhaps this is a privileged mindset, but I don’t think there are any circumstances that justify the intentional murder, torture, and rape of random civilians.
I can certainly understand how that mindset would evolve given the circumstances - living your whole life oppressed by a foreign government with no real opportunities could easily lead you to dehumanize anyone associated with that nation - but it doesn’t excuse it. I’m sure plenty of Jews after the Holocaust wanted to murder every German they saw, and again, while I would understand that mindset, it wouldn’t excuse the behavior.
And even on a pragmatic level, devolving down into our baser instincts just means that whoever has the most guns wins, and that certainly isn’t the Palestinians. Whether it’s just or not - and I’d generally say it’s not - there exists no path of violent resistance that leads to an independent thriving Palestine, no matter or fair or unfair one might think that is.
Hamas and IDF are one and the same.
I’d love to see your evidence that the IDF regularly employs sexual abuse as a tactic. I’ll wait.
Edit: I’m interpreting each downvote as an admission that you couldn’t find evidence, but I’d love to be proven wrong! We do care about facts and the truth here, no?
Does this count? https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67581915 https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-rights-office-seriously-concerned-about-israels-increased-arrest-palestinians-2023-12-01/
It obviously isn’t necessarily a battlefield tactic but I don’t care. No one with an adult’s understanding of the world who has condemned Israel’s response didn’t also condemn Hamas after Oct 7. This war is not Hamas v. Israel to most people. It’s far right nationalists fighting each other again and again v. Civilians trying to live there lives.
Hamas and Likud/settlers should go out to some empty desert somewhere and kill each other there so normal, sane people can work towards peace.
No one with an adult’s understanding of the world who has condemned Israel’s response didn’t also condemn Hamas after Oct 7.
This doesn’t appear to actually be true, unless you mean to imply that a majority of Palestinians don’t have an adult’s understanding of the word. Don’t get me wrong though, this in no ways provides just cause to target civilians.
The majority of (59%) strongly supported or (16%) supported to some extent the October 7 attacks carried by the Hamas-led factions, while 16% supported to some extent [sic]. 11% reported that they neither supported nor opposed the attack, while 13% expressed opposition to the attacks. Strong support for the attacks was notably higher among Palestinians in the West Bank (68%) as compared to Gaza (47%).
That said, I’m not surprised conditions in Israeli prisons are very poor, though they’re unfortunately not remotely alone in the global context in that. It’s also worth noting that the Israel Prison Service is independent from the IDF and operates under a completely different ministry. I’m not saying that it’s not horrendous, because it is, but it doesn’t rise to the same severity in my mind. I do genuinely appreciate you providing an actual source though; I certainly don’t think Israel is any angel.
The IDF’s chief Rabbi literally issued a statement directing soldiers to do it but ok bub
In 2002, which he then retracted.
He is a piece of shit, to be clear, but his words also have exactly zero legal relevance in the IDF, so, while certainly objectionable, that isn’t what I actually asked for, which was evidence the IDF actually regularly performs sexual violence.
I’m sure Hamas’ religious authorities aren’t exactly spreading love love peace peace either, not that that matters.
That is sickening, but I’d point you to what’s right below that headline.
The army has removed the commanding officer of the unit and opened an investigation
So some asshole commander committed atrocities and is facing consequences for it, because this is not an accepted practice in the IDF, which was the claim I’m asking for evidence of. Do you think Hamas officials punished anyone involved in the October 7th attacks who committed sexual assault or attacked civilians?
Why are you only asking for evidence about the IDF?
All I’ve seen were testimonies from Israelis about Hamas. History has shown that Israelis have no problem lying to make their enemies look bad.
Because the parent comment explicitly mentioned the IDF?
If you’re going to discard any evidence coming from Israelis, you’re not actually open to any evidence that might challenge your views at all. Which is fine, but don’t pretend to be looking for a rational discussion then.
