username-hyphen's recent activity
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentI saw Biden also mention this in his plan for a ceasefire, but I'm not sure how one can measure such a thing. It's not like they officially state what they are and aren't capable of and expose...I don't think Israel at large is in danger of another October 7th type attack right now
I saw Biden also mention this in his plan for a ceasefire, but I'm not sure how one can measure such a thing. It's not like they officially state what they are and aren't capable of and expose what resources they have. We don't even really know where all their tunnels are as new ones are continuously discovered.
Provide stability and opportunity within Gaza.
I'm curious, in your opinion, do you think this is a possibility while Hamas is in power and believes Israel shouldn't be a country? If you were in Israel's shoes, does it make sense to loosen your grip over an enemy that wants to destroy you? I love the idea of Gazans and Israelis living side-by-side, and many on both sides want this to happen, but there are also those who want to target and kill Israelis no matter how much freedom they get because they fundamentally don't think Israel and Israelis should exist. How do you deal with such a problem?
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentThe snippet you are grabbing this from literally states that airstrikes were part of the mission: That being said, I am personally surprised that only 3 hostages are listed on there. I know that...The snippet you are grabbing this from literally states that airstrikes were part of the mission:
During the early morning of 12 February 2024, the IDF, Shin Bet and special police forces coupled with airstrikes, rescued two hostages with dual Israel-Argentinian nationality, 60 year-old Fernando Simon Marman and 70 year-old Louis Har, who were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on 7 October by Hamas, from a building in Rafah in southern Gaza.
That being said, I am personally surprised that only 3 hostages are listed on there. I know that the IDF has recovered other hostages, but it seems they are hostages that have passed and I don't know if the IDF went in knowing if they were already dead or not (my guess is they had no idea so it would make no difference in the outcome).
Tangential, but the air strikes targeting weapons depots are also to stop missiles coming into Israel which is constantly happening. But if you only want to focus on the hostages then we don't need to dive into that.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentKilling Hamas militants and destroying weapons depots weakens their entire operation, making it easier to recover hostages. The problem with only sending ground troops is that they would be up...If people are being killed a dozen miles from the hostages there's no specific reason that their deaths are resulting in recovering hostages, right?
Killing Hamas militants and destroying weapons depots weakens their entire operation, making it easier to recover hostages. The problem with only sending ground troops is that they would be up against the full force of Hamas, not a weakened one. Israel has lost a lot of soldiers going into Gaza, but it would probably be much more if they didn't do aerial strikes.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentSimply because when Israel attacks it's to kill Hamas militants and there are civilian casualties because of it. On October 7th, Hamas went to the music festivals to kill civilians. The music...If that’s the case then how is Hamas’ first attack not also covered under this stance you’ve taken?
Simply because when Israel attacks it's to kill Hamas militants and there are civilian casualties because of it. On October 7th, Hamas went to the music festivals to kill civilians. The music festival is not where prisoners are held. If Hamas attacked the prisons in hopes of releasing the prisoners your take would make sense but that's not what happened.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentJust because they've changed what is publically written in their charter doesn't excuse what the original one said. How can you ignore that? If changing what is written in the charter helps them...And their newer charter clarifies that they only want to see the occupation ended. Why are you ignoring that?
Just because they've changed what is publically written in their charter doesn't excuse what the original one said. How can you ignore that? If changing what is written in the charter helps them gain support from the west of course they would do that. You don't simply "change your mind" about wanting to exterminate Jews.
How does anyone in their right mind not see that this disproportionate response is only creating the next Hamas before our very eyes?
I never argued against this point. I'm saying is that it makes sense why Israel will do everything and anything they can to recover their citizens and remove Hamas from the equation.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentSure, but killing Hamas militants surely does result in recovering hostages.That Israel has been killing civilians and also recovering hostages
Sure, but killing Hamas militants surely does result in recovering hostages.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentI was asked about the current war, I'm not sure what you're talking about.I was asked about the current war, I'm not sure what you're talking about.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentThat's a good point and points out a big difference between my hypothetical and what has happened in Gaza. Israel doesn't knowingly bomb an area thinking "this will kill 143 people and will save 1...At that scale it starts to look like it. If there was a hostage situation and the police killed 143 people that could maybe be tangentially related to the hostage takers, I doubt many will see that as within reason.
That's a good point and points out a big difference between my hypothetical and what has happened in Gaza. Israel doesn't knowingly bomb an area thinking "this will kill 143 people and will save 1 of our hostages". There's so much unknown in war that it's impossible to make those kinds of conclusions.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentIsrael has been recovering hostages, so it is at least somewhat effective. Whether it's the most effective I have no idea that's far from my expertise.How do these deaths get back the hostages, though?
Israel has been recovering hostages, so it is at least somewhat effective. Whether it's the most effective I have no idea that's far from my expertise.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentI feel that 100%. My main point with the hypothetical was around saving the hostage, not to inflict pain for revenge. I think that's a very fair point and something that is of concern for the...Just highlighting and trying to take a step back and try not to go into internet argument mode.
I feel that 100%.
My answer would be, I'm not going to kill a whole bunch of innocent people to hope that I might kill one that hurt or kidnapped my loved ones. We don't tolerate that sort of thing as a society.
My main point with the hypothetical was around saving the hostage, not to inflict pain for revenge.
To your own point, those deaths will radicalize the entire families of all of those killed.
I think that's a very fair point and something that is of concern for the future.
To that end he Israeli government isn't 'protecting' their citizens by conducting this invasion, particularly in the total war fashion they are proceeding in. I think this is a cut off my nose to spite my face situation that will come back to bite Israel quite hard in terms of general support and stoking the flames of extremism within Gaza. This is where I would ask you to rethink your perspective on the invasion. That this isn't a case of familial vigilantism, that the majority of the folks being killed within these limits are innocent, and that the damage being done is only forwarding the cause of the perpetrators of October 7th.
On this point, I think it's also important to flip the point-of-view. It's easy to say Israel is doing too much causing all these deaths, but I'd argue Hamas has just as much to blame for all the death. Obviously they poked the bear which caused Israel to go into Gaza. But beyond that, they maintain control of the hostages despite what Israel is doing. If they wanted to stop the casualties, they could release the hostages. Instead of building infrastructure for shelters, like Israel has for their own citizens, they funnel their money into weapons and tunnels. I know that Israel is far more wealthier than Hamas, but Hamas prioritizing attacking Israel (and spending lots of money doing it) over protecting its citizens makes it clear that a lot of these deaths could have been avoided based on their actions alone.
I've mentioned this a few times in various threads on this post, it's fair to criticize Israel for how they are dealing with this insanely complex situation. But all I see is what Israel is doing wrong and not what Hamas is doing wrong which to me is the crux of all these issues. And that's why Israel's commitment to removing Hamas isn't so confusing to me.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentIt's not "revenge" if they are trying to get back hostages.It's not "revenge" if they are trying to get back hostages.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentI'm curious to know as a theoretical exercise, if someone came into your house and took a family member hostage, what would your limits be? I'll take Wikipedia's hostage to death ratio for this:...I'm curious to know as a theoretical exercise, if someone came into your house and took a family member hostage, what would your limits be?
I'll take Wikipedia's hostage to death ratio for this:
252 hostages taken from Israel
36,171 deaths in GazaThat means 143 Gazan deaths per hostage.
Would you be okay with 143 deaths to save your family member? Keep in mind some of them are Hamas militants, and some of them are civilians.
I don't think you're wrong to say 143 deaths are not worth your family member, but I also think it's unfair to say that the latter is completely unreasonable.
Israel wanting to protect its citizens and wanting to get back its citizens understanding that there will be causalities isn't a completely asinine decision.
If there were no hostages in Gaza and they were actively bombing civilian areas I would understand your take more. But that's simply not the case.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentThese are prisoners who have committed active crimes against or in Israel. The hostages Hamas holds are civilians who were in Israel, most attending a music festival. There's a massive distinction...Israel holds more hostages than Hamas
These are prisoners who have committed active crimes against or in Israel. The hostages Hamas holds are civilians who were in Israel, most attending a music festival. There's a massive distinction between the two.
If they were attempting to stop the conflict, like actually negotiating in good faith I might be open to it.
There have been countless times in the history of Israel where negotiations between Hamas and Israel fell through because Hamas wants Israel to completely no longer exist. Hamas's original charter explains this, they don't think any Jews belong in the area.
I think criticizing Israel's approach, especially in hindsight, is fair. But making it seem like Hamas is a reasonable party that wants peaceful negotiations is very far from the truth. And yet Israel has made efforts to try to do that, usually ending up with it biting them in the ass.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentI'm not sure how that's logical while living hostages are still in Rafa and all over Gazathat it's odd that we're still accepting that as an answer to why Israel is still there
I'm not sure how that's logical while living hostages are still in Rafa and all over Gaza
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link Parenthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Hamas_war_hostage_crisis I can't answer your specific question on when does it end, but if Israel believes there are still living hostages they will...As of 24 May 2024, according to Israeli information, Hamas holds 86 hostages believed to be alive and 39 bodies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel%E2%80%93Hamas_war_hostage_crisis
I can't answer your specific question on when does it end, but if Israel believes there are still living hostages they will obviously continue to do whatever they can to retrieve them.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentHamas occasionally releases sketchy videos of them but it's impossible to know their actual condition. There have been times when Hamas has released videos of hostages as if they were alive but...That’s a rather specific number. Maybe this is a dumb question, but do we know they’re still alive? Is there any recent information about them at all?
Hamas occasionally releases sketchy videos of them but it's impossible to know their actual condition. There have been times when Hamas has released videos of hostages as if they were alive but were found already dead.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link ParentIf Israel was deliberately attacking citizen for no reason I would find that inexcusable. But from my perspective that isn't what's happening. To be clear, it doesn't bring me joy to hear about...If Israel was deliberately attacking citizen for no reason I would find that inexcusable. But from my perspective that isn't what's happening. To be clear, it doesn't bring me joy to hear about civilians in Gaza being casualties of war, but I refuse to ignore the circumstances that has brought on the situation in Gaza.
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Comment on Weekly Israel-Hamas war megathread - week of May 27 in ~news
username-hyphen Link Parent124 hostages are still in Gaza. Israel isn't going to stop until Hamas is gone. Casualties are truly a tragedy, but they aren't conducting military operations for no reason. Hamas knew this would...124 hostages are still in Gaza. Israel isn't going to stop until Hamas is gone. Casualties are truly a tragedy, but they aren't conducting military operations for no reason. Hamas knew this would happen, but they truly don't care about the people of Gaza. They're all martyrs to their "cause".
I see that makes sense. I do think that it's impossible at this point to fully understand the effectiveness of airstikes on hostage recovery because:
But I concede, at this current point in time, when it comes specifically to living hostage recovery, it's fair to say there isn't a lot of concrete evidence that airstrikes are helping.