Based on the news articles I’m seeing I’m forced to conclude it is.

Am I allowed to say Germany is a police state?

I mean probably none of the solutions to this conflict are going to happen but it’s theoretically possible that they could. Many people across the world have dissolved their own government under certain (usually extreme) circumstances.

Did you read the definition above? None of this is relevant. At this point I can only assume this is an issue of willful ignorance.

Hamas’s actions have not been notably different towards civilians and soldiers they hold captive. Both are treated as hostages. There is really nothing further to discuss, and I already mentioned my view on Israeli hostages above as well.

It’s entirely possible to use POWs as hostages. They aren’t mutually exclusive categories. One has to look at the statements and behavior of the actors involved to assess their motivations. Is it merely to reduce enemy fighting forces or are they also used as leverage? Hamas’s actions and statements make it clear in this case that they are hostages.

Of course, Hamas also took non-combatants hostage so I don’t see why you are willing to die on this hill, it’s incontrovertible that they do take hostages.

That’s absolutely not what the word hostage means. A hostage is a prisoner used as a bargaining chip. The validity of the action has no bearing on it.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hostage

No? Maybe you should read again.

Hostages are defined by their usage as pawns by their captors. Whether they are soldiers, children, or guinea pigs has little relevance to that.

Also, I would add that imprisoning people is almost always wrong, so the distinction between hostage and prisoner isn’t as morally significant as mainstream society believes.

There’s never going to be a president that liberates us. The office itself is tyrannical in nature.

We will need to liberate ourselves.

Hamas’s negotiating tactics make the term hostage applicable, even for soldiers.

The real question is whether Palestinians held by Israel should be called hostages. I would argue yes but they aren’t as open about the threats to them and their use as pawns in negotiations.

Nah he was always an opportunist who lacked any real convictions. Californians knew this already but now the national public is learning of it.

Not really. Even republican voters are pro-renewables, they just don’t think it’s that important.

I’m not claiming he isn’t but considering I’ve not heard a word from him about this before today it doesn’t seem likely. He’s also made supportive statements of Hamas and Luigi Mangione—both very clearly not pacifists.

I mean, I don’t blame him for lying to get out of there but if he really is a pacifist that would be of interest to me since I find pacifism an interesting topic.

You don’t have to be a pacifist to not want children to be killed. Pacifism is a very strong stance against violence that very few people adopt.

Don’t expect it, demand it. Dissidents like Rumeya Ozturk have been freed after pursuing justice in the courts. What you say could happen but then it will be up t lo public pressure to force them to comply with the constitution and laws.

Is he actually a pacifist? That was not my impression.

Not true. Don’t comply in advance.

“Sustainable”. More evidence Chinese green investments are performative.

Not that other nations are any better.

Was this some kind of protest or just for fun?