So… The IDF walked back on the rape thing so setting that aside: Nobody sane is defending the deliberate murder of civilians that took place during the attack. That said, given the attack had legitimate military targets, calling the whole thing terrorism is playing right into Israel’s hands. We need to distinguish these things from each other; we have no evidence the attack had a goal of murdering civilians, and why would it? Even going by realpolitik they’re much more useful as hostages.
“Hamas soldiers shouldn’t have killed civilians” = legitimate criticism that needs to be addressed.
“Hamas shouldn’t have attacked the oh so peaceful Israel” = unabashed Israeli propaganda.
It is true that the fog of war makes it hard to know what is true, but as far as I know the rape allegations have not been walked back. If you haven’t read this BBC story, you should.
So there are two rape allegations, rape during the attack itself and rape after the attack after the hostages were taken to Gaza. The IDF walked back on the latter; the former is a fact.
Okay, thanks for the clarification. It’s pretty hard to read that BBC story. Hamas raped them, cut off body parts, and shot them in the head WHILE raping them.
Bombs are bad enough, but there is something especially vile and degrading about sexualized violence.
So… The IDF walked back on the rape thing so setting that aside: Nobody sane is defending the deliberate murder of civilians that took place during the attack. That said, given the attack had legitimate military targets, calling the whole thing terrorism is playing right into Israel’s hands. We need to distinguish these things from each other; we have no evidence the attack had a goal of murdering civilians, and why would it? Even going by realpolitik they’re much more useful as hostages.
“Hamas soldiers shouldn’t have killed civilians” = legitimate criticism that needs to be addressed.
“Hamas shouldn’t have attacked the oh so peaceful Israel” = unabashed Israeli propaganda.
It is true that the fog of war makes it hard to know what is true, but as far as I know the rape allegations have not been walked back. If you haven’t read this BBC story, you should.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67629181
However, if there is newer, credible evidence that it isn’t true, I’ll be glad to hear it.
So there are two rape allegations, rape during the attack itself and rape after the attack after the hostages were taken to Gaza. The IDF walked back on the latter; the former is a fact.
Okay, thanks for the clarification. It’s pretty hard to read that BBC story. Hamas raped them, cut off body parts, and shot them in the head WHILE raping them.
Bombs are bad enough, but there is something especially vile and degrading about sexualized violence.