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CAIRO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - A Hamas guard who killed an Israeli hostage acted “in revenge” and against instructions after he heard news that his two children had been killed in an Israeli strike, a spokesperson for the group’s armed wing said on Thursday.

“The (Hamas) soldier assigned as a guard acted in a retaliatory manner, against instructions, after he received information that his two children were martyred in one of the massacres conducted by the enemy,” Abu Ubaida said on Telegram.

“The incident doesn’t represent our ethics and the instructions of our religion in dealing with captives. We will reinforce the instructions,” he added.

    • geneva_convenience@lemmy.mlOP
      12·
      4 months ago

      Were there no hostages Israel would never agree to a ceasefire. They would claim they need to eradicate Hamas no matter the cost. The massive demonstrations for a ceasefire inside of Israel are to get the hostages out. Not because they care for Palestinians.

        • geneva_convenience@lemmy.mlOP
          7·
          4 months ago

          So… you mean like how things are already? That’s the exact point I’m making, lmao.

          Yes but also no. The current conditions are largely the same but that is because no deal has yet been made.

          With the hostages Hamas can demand things from a deal. Like the IDF permanently withdrawing from Gaza and releasing their Palestinian hostages. Without hostages there would be no way for Hamas to have any demands.

          Hamas still holding the hostages is also physical hard evidence for the world to see how incapable the IDF is in achieving its stated objective of retrieving the hostages.

          Furthermore the reason Israelis are demonstrating for a ceasefire is because of the hostages. It causes division and turmoil within Israel.

          The hostages are the leverage Hamas have in a deal. Without them they have no leverage.

            • anarcho-tankie top@lemmygrad.ml
              4·
              4 months ago

              “You seem to be under the false assumption that the Israeli government actually cares about bringing any of the hostages home safely, when it’s pretty obvious they don’t. Their actions have shown this very clearly. The hostages can’t be useful leverage if Israel doesn’t give a shit about them in the first place.”

              Hannibal Directive

          • MeetInPotatoes@lemmy.mlEnglish
            6·
            4 months ago

            With the hostages Hamas can demand things from a deal. Like the IDF permanently withdrawing from Gaza and releasing their Palestinian hostages.

            You have not kept up to date on Israel’s statements on this. Israel wasn’t even willing to commit to continuing the cease-fire after the hostages were released, let alone pull out for good.

    • InputZero@lemmy.ml
      10·
      4 months ago

      Part of me thinks it’s propaganda not bargaining power. On several occasions the IDF has dropped bombs on or shot the hostages accidentaly wontonly. The message Hamas is maybe trying to send is that the IDF doesn’t care about saving the hostages. The IDF just want to eradicate the Palestinians. Then again I’m halfway around the world so what do I really know?