Why It Matters:
The United States, the European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom have all classified Hamas as a terrorist organization, yet at the time of the Israel-Hamas prisoner exchange the Israeli side received captives safe and sound as the Palestinian prisoners had a lot to talk about the tortures they endured in the Israeli prisoners.
Context:
KAN, the Israeli public broadcaster, reported allegations that Israeli women captives were given drugs or stimulants during their captivity by Hamas, but the captives say otherwise.
- Karina Ariev, Daniella Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Liri Albag expressed gratitude for the treatment they received during captivity.
- The four mentioned that they were provided with food, drinks, clothes, and protection from bombings.
The Big Picture:
The Israeli captives expressed gratitude for Hamas' good treatment, as Hamas stated that their directive was to treat Israeli prisoners humanely, following Islamic teachings. Yet, the Palestinian prisoners who have been detained have numerous accounts of being forced to strip, blindfolded, and handcuffed before being subjected to physical assaults, with others mentioned being denied necessary medications.
What They Are Saying:
- The former State Department spokesman Matthew Miller called the allegations of sexual abuse "horrific" and urged an investigation yet by the Israeli regime.
- The White House stressed humane and dignified treatment of all detainees in line with international law.
- The UN condemned the torture and abuse of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, calling for action to address widespread and systemic abuse, and urged for independent presence of human rights observers.
Zoom In:
- Yet the question raised here is why women are among the Israeli troops captured.
- Israel is a regime where military service is compulsory for all able-bodied female citizens, like in a few countries.
- The integration of women into the Israel Occupation Forces (IOF) under the pretext of gender equality.
- Women can presumably enhance combat effectiveness and versatility.
- The IOF has been opening more combat roles to women in the army.
Go Deeper:
Hamas-Israel Second Round of Prisoner Exchange
