Hostages or Prisoners? One good idea

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  • #2235708
    BaltimoreMaven
    Participant

    They aren’t hostages. They are really prisoners. How we refer to them as an impact on people’s subconscious.

    The Simon Weisenthal center suggested that Germany and Austria make every single hostage / prisoner into a dual citizen. It has been suggested that the United States and England and Czechoslovakia and France, and every other nation Also make every single prisoner – even the soldiers into dual citizens with those countries.

    #2236036
    DontMindMe
    Participant

    Huh? What would making them dual citizens accomplish? You think Hamas will care?

    #2236037
    DontMindMe
    Participant

    They aren’t really prisoners either. That would imply they’re serving a sentence for a crime.
    They are captives

    #2236102
    akuperma
    Participant

    “Hostage” implies a criminal. It suggests Hamas is an organization such as the “Mafia” (which at this point in time probably should not be capitalized). It also means that Israel can execute them after a brief trial, but can not attack civilians or infrastructure in retaliation (just as if the local drug pushers live next door, you can’t blow up the building and everyone in it).

    “Prisoner” implies a government. It suggests that Hamas is the lawful government of Gaza (they did win the last election), and its forces and the armed forces rather than a gang of terrorists. This means that their kidnapping civilians violates the Geneva Conventions (which apply to official armies, not criminals).

    If Hamas is the genuine armed forces of a largely independent state, it makes things much more awkward for almost everyone.

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