Israel’s policy of prisoners for hostages
One of Israel’s great strengths is how much it values human life. But it leads to one of its great weaknesses, at least in the tactical sense: hostage/prisoner exchanges. It’s not the only method Israel has used to bring hostages home, but it’s a major one:
In the past, Israel’s response to Hamas hostage-taking incidents has included negotiations, military operations, blockades, targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders and militants, and even larger-scale military campaigns, depending on the specific circumstances and severity of the situation. Negotiations have been used to secure the release of hostages, often involving prisoner exchanges, while military operations have been employed for rescue missions, sometimes resulting in casualties. The most notable case was of Gilad Shalit in 2011, who was released in exchange for over 1000 Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
The Shalit exchange is not the only one involving lopsided numbers, but it’s probably the most well known. In addition, some of the Palestinians released in that exchange are known to have killed more Israelis in subsequent attacks; that link mentioned six Israelis killed, and it was written in 2015, only four years after the exchange. No doubt there have been many more victims since then at the hands of the released terrorists, probably including victims of the October 7 attack.
Previous Israeli hostage situations have involved small numbers of Israelis. The present one is different; it features at least 200 hostages, according to current report. One of the hostages has been made the subject of a video in which a 21-year-old Israeli/French citizen says all is well, and that her injured arm has been medically treated but that she wants to go home:
The mother of Mia Schem, a 21-year-old French-Israeli woman being held by Hamas, appealed for her release on Tuesday, calling her detention and that of an estimated 200 hostages “a crime against humanity”.
Keren Schem told journalists in Jerusalem: “I didn’t know if she’s dead or alive until yesterday. All I knew is that she might be kidnapped. I’m begging the world to bring my baby back home. She only went to a party, to a festival party to have some fun. Now she’s in Gaza.”
Hamas had released a video of Schem, who wastaken hostage during the devastating attack on Israel. In the footage, Schem, whose injured arm is shown being treated by an unidentified medical worker, asks to be returned to her family as quickly as possible.
On Tuesday, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, described the video as “an odious act”. The Elysée said Macron, who is on an official visit to Albania, demanded her unconditional release.
“It is an ignominy to take innocent people hostage and put them on show in this odious way,” the presidential palace quoted Macron as saying.
He can “demand” all he wants, but she and the others are valuable commodities to the Gazan terrorists (as well as victims who make them feel powerful):
A top Hamas leader said on Monday the group “has what it needs” to free all Palestinians in Israel’s jails, indicating the militant group may try to use the Israelis it kidnapped as bargaining chips to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Soon after Hamas official Khaled Meshaal made the remarks on the captives, who include Israelis and non-Israelis kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, the group’s armed wing separately said the non-Israelis were “guests” who would be released “when circumstances allow”.
Schem is a sort of twofer, as are quite a few of the hostages: both an Israeli and a foreign national. She is being trotted out as a showpiece to demonstrate the great magnanimity and humanity of her captors. And probably some morally compromised people will buy it.
The larger message is that one of the main goals of Hamas in its October 7 action was not only to kill and torture, but to gain the release of the six thousand terrorists Israel has struggled so long to track down, try, and hold in its prisons. I have no idea what the Israelis will do, but what they have done in the past has – very unfortunately – encouraged the taking of more hostages.
I’ve no doubt that if a loved one of mine was being held captive I would think differently, but at this point (and I hate to say it) perhaps it would be better to consider the hostages as casualties of war. This can’t go on. It must be made clear that Hamas can no longer weasle their way out of this.
I immediately fantasized Israel possessed, or could work out, the means to surgically implant tiny, unnoticeable, permanent trackers in terrorist prisoners without them knowing it, thus rendering them tradable.
Soviet Union response to 1985 hostage-taking in Lebanon. It got them their citizens back.
Israel is being held hostage by Biden and company with the intent to hamstring it and prevent victory. This half hour by Caroline Glick is just hair raising, especially with the deep penetration of the US government by Iranians.
https://youtu.be/9xwPA57xOXA?si=ZErQHdx-v-systoV
Not sure any of that matters now…
“IDF confirms Islamic Jihad failed rocket destroyed Gaza hospital;
“Rockets fired by factions in the Gaza Strip often fall short, with Palestinians killed in a number of past such incidents.”—
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-768879
“Israel says failed Islamic Jihad rocket caused devastating Gaza hospital blast;
“Hundreds said killed * Hamas, Jordan blame Israel * Abbas cancels Biden meeting * Rocket barrages deep into Israel * Earlier, Israel tells citizens to leave Turkey, Morocco”—
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-17-2023/
“Israel DENIES it was responsible for blast at Gaza hospital that ‘killed 500’: Tel Aviv blames Islamic Jihad rocket for carnage – but Palestinian leader Abbas cancels meeting with Biden”—
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12641379/At-200-killed-Israeli-strike-Gaza-hospital-Hamas-claims.html
Since Arabs are simply incapable of telling a lie…. Therefore, that hospital HAD TO HAVE BEEN HIT BY AN ISRAELI JET….
And so, have the GATES OF HELL been opened?
Will the WHIRLWIND BE REAPED?
Interesting times indeed….
On the other hand…Hamas has gotten WHAT IT HAS ALWAYS WANTED…
(…so why are they so upset?)
More:
“Israel war live updates: IDF claims Palestinians are responsible for deadly rocket launch that struck Gaza hospital”—
https://nypost.com/2023/10/17/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-and-latest-news/
If anyone is wondering why an Islamic Jihad misfired missile that lands on a Gazan hospital (and sets off a deadly chain of secondary explosions) is Israel’s fault, they should (at least try to) understand that Israel is responsible for ALL deaths when Israel fights Arabs.
This is simply because if Israel didn’t exist, there wouldn’t be any wars…and/or if there did happen to be a war (i.e., between Arab states and with Israel not existing), then no one would give a flying fig about it.
I guess it’s time for Hezbullah to step up(!)
And/or Iran(!!)
And/or Iran’s partner (in peace?), Decent Joe “Biden”….(!!!)
(IOW, now we’ll REALLY find out just why that carrier group was sent to the Eastern Med….)
Peace dividend, redux:
“Attempt to storm Israeli embassy in Jordan;
“Hundreds riot outside Israeli embassy in Jordan following blast at Gaza hospital Hamas blamed on Israel.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/378693
“…All Israelis in Turkey must leave now due to terror threat;
“Travel warning to Turkey raised to the highest possible level.”—
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/378690
Guess we’ll have to see what happens in Egypt…
…In any event, JUST another tremendous “VICTORY” for Hamas, Iran…and all of Palestine….
Related:
“Mass Protests Erupt In Arab Capitals As IDF Blames Errant Islamic Jihad Rocket For Hospital Massacre”—
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/israel-evacuates-residents-28-towns-near-lebanese-border-hezbollah-attacks-increase
Unfortunately, it looks like Lebanon will be sucked in.
(After all, Hezbullah has its principles….)
Syria too?
Iran? (Heh, Iran’s already in it…just a matter of what the consequences will be.)
File under: Consequences? What’s that?
Barry, I’ve heard (i24 tv news) a report that Israeli intel monitoring Hezbollah are seeing signs of active mobilization in South Leb and elsewhere north. Are you seeing such reports as well? I’ve only the one instance so far, and it’s not from an “official” speaking, nor have I seen printed reports in the usual sources at which I look. Yet. Thanks in advance if you respond.
Oh, and the same time there was a confirmed report that northern Israeli towns along the border are being rapidly evacuated. So.
IOW, yes.
What happens next is anyone’s guess…but that shouldn’t be too hard to do.
(Revenge would seem to be the name of the game…as per usual. The questions are how, what, when, where…and whether something symbolic would assuage them… but what possibly could that “symbolic” mean.)
Will cooler heads prevail? Let’s hope so…
(Is the Pope Zoroastrian? Um, er…)
Here’s the more-than-right-of-center rag, with religious overtones:
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/
Other links:
https://www.jpost.com/ (center-left)
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ (center-left, with ameasure of diverse opinion)
To be sure, the MSM should be having a field day….
Biden will certainly try to twist Israel’s arm about going into Gaza.
No good choices for Israel.
Having two Carrier groups in the Eastern Med, and using them are two different things.
“The most notable case was of Gilad Shalit in 2011, who was released in exchange for over 1000 Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
“stupid is as stupid does…”
In a war ‘proportionality’ is to operate according to the rules that the enemy follows. Accordingly, Israel should follow the example that Mohammed set when after a Jewish tribe surrendered… he slaughtered every male. So too with Gaza. But ensure that first they are rendered ‘unclean’ before their execution. That way no paradise awaits them. Then expel the rest, let their Arab ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’ give what assistance their conscience may dictate.
Israel keeps bringing a knife to Islam’s gunfight.
And no, that would not lower Israel to the level of Hamas. Intent and the goal sought determine the morality of an action. Were that not so, a policeman shooting a crazed killer would be guilty of murder as well.
“You might as well appeal against a thunderstorm as against these terrible hardships of war. War is cruelty, there is no use trying to reform it; the crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.” William Tecumseh Sherman
As Justin Trudeau shows the trademark statesmanship for which he is justly renowned…especially in New Delhi…
“Trudeau Tries To Memory Hole His Egregious Accusation Blaming Israel For The Gaza Hospital Explosion”—
https://blazingcatfur.ca/2023/10/17/trudeau-tries-to-memory-hole-his-gaza-hospital-lie/
(But hey, it could happen to anybody…)
+ Related:
https://blazingcatfur.ca/2023/10/17/hundreds-of-people-killed-in-israeli-strike-on-a-hospital-in-gaza-hamas-claims-as-the-israeli-military-says-it-is-investigating-hamas-misfire-or-ammo-detonation/
On the hostages, many commentators have suggested that the delay in the Israeli assault on Gaza is because they have a line on where those hostages are being held and may try a rescue. I don’t have any information, but if Israel intends to invade Gaza in force, it needs to get going. I regret to say that this time, those hostages may not be rescued or survive. May God be with them.
On the hospital bombing, I am cynical enough to think it might not be an Islamic Jihad “mistake,” but a deliberate act by the jihadis to stir up worldwide opinion and direct attention away from the atrocities of 10/7.
The Hezzi “Day of Rage” set tomorow looks the spitting image of a camouflage cover act, intent on getting many tens to hundreds of thousands on the streets in the open to thwart any preemptive strikes Israel may be readying to launch. It’s what, 1:30am now over there? In the IDF’s place I’d be considering a 3am-4am all-out go at every known Hezb C&C headquarters, warehouse stores, armories, launch sites, prepared fighting postion, etc. known, devil take the hindmost. No g’damn sense in waiting to be annihilated.
Speaking of “…camouflage cover…”
“IDF lookouts say their warnings about Hamas were ignored – report”—
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-768734
Arrogance kills.
sdferr, are you suggesting that the buildup around Gaza is a feint and Israel is really going to demolish Hezbullah instead?
https://therightscoop.com/breaking-idf-releases-video-of-rocket-that-struck-the-hospital-in-gaza/
Ever notice that Hamas officials are never asked about how they intend to limit civilian casualties when they conduct their “military” (i.e., terrorist) activities?
How is it that only Israeli representatives (or Israel supporters) are asked this question?
Ever notice that Hamas officials are never asked how they intend to mount a “proportionate” response to Israeli activities? Only Israelis are asked this question.
Ever notice that Hamas officials are NEVER interviewed by “journalists.”
Ever notice that “journalists” never show Hamas officials photos of murdered Israeli women and children (and hands tied behind their backs ) and babies, and then ask these officials why the murder Hamas policies are geared to murder civilians??
And these journalists,” these execrable pieces of snake excrement, have the cohones to refer to themselves as journalists.
Unbelievable.
Some palestinian doctor in NYC just got fired from her hospital job for praising the Hamas murders of civilians.
Good.
Next step; deport the b***h to Gaza.
No kate, I don’t think the Gaza operation is a feint at all. Israel is prepared to deal with both fronts, with its greater powers reserved for the greater threat (by orders of magnitude greater), namely, Hezbollah. I don’t think Israel can abide a first strike from that direction, however. Of course, I’m just another dumb outside observer with no particularly detailed insight into Israeli knowledge of Hezb dispositions. On the other hand, I assume a high order of Israeli professionalism and discipline as to their duties to their families, communities, and people: they know what they stand to suffer if they get this wrong.
There’s a whole series of successes that Hamas—and its friends in Teheran and Washington—can take credit for…
“Arab Leaders Refuse To Meet Biden, Jordan Trip Canceled, Protesters Surround US Embassy In Beirut”—
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/israel-evacuates-residents-28-towns-near-lebanese-border-hezbollah-attacks-increase
Of course it’s always possible that they’re getting more than they bargained for….
OTOH when you “love death”, what could possibly go wrong?
Hmmm, Hamas rocket, blows up in midair and warhead hits weapons depot in hospital. Must have been an act of God.
ToI “Biden to ask ‘tough questions’ on wartime solidarity visit to Israel”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/biden-to-ask-tough-questions-as-a-friend-on-israel-solidarity-visit/
“Where’s the bathroom?”, “Has Hunter got the bag?”, “What’s your name again buddy?”, “Who cut the cheese?”, and so on. The damn jokes write themselves.
“…as a friend…”
Uh-huh!
Anyway, here’s a few more of those “friendly” queries…
1. So Bibi, why do you think I’ve been sending billions upon billions of dollars to my Mullah pals?
2. And why d’ya think I’ve been sending hundreds of millions of dollars to my Pali pals?
3. And why d’ya think we’re back on the UN Human Rights Commission or whatever it’s called—Hey Jill, whaddo they call that thing?
4. Why d’ya think I never invited you to DC until they practically twisted my arm out of its socket. Oh, and while we’re on THAT topic, why d’ya think I invited Yair Lapid BEFORE I invited you?
5. Why d’ya I’m sabotaging America’s energy sector?
6. And why dy’a think I forced you guys to fold to Hezbullah on that maritime border treaty?
7. Why d’ya think I’ve destroyed America’s southern border and am flooding my country with all kinds of NEW AMERICANS?
8. Why d’ya think I’m destroying America’s cities?
9. Why d’ya think I’ve jacked up inflation to the hilt and screwed up the lives of so many of MY citizens?
10. Why d’ya think I demanded that you send all those munitions and materiel to Ukraine?
11. Why d’ya think I’m persecuting POTUS45 relentlessly and turning my country into a banana republic?
12. Why d’ya think I’m going after all those racist, sexist parents who think they have the right to protect their kids from sexual deviants and, besides, give them a decent education? Who the hell do they think they are??
13. Why d’ya think I sent over all those big navy boats?
14. Hey, why d’ya think I’m here?
Yeah, I know. You got a lot to think about…but I’m asking all these questions as a FRIEND, as a true friend of your country. In fact, I was a friend of Israel from way back. At least from ’46 when I was four years old. Yeah, I’ve always been a good friend. I was one of the first. Bet ye didn’t know that, did you?
Anyway, think about what I said. Think about those questions. I don’t ask those questions to everyone—only to friends. Real close ones.
Yeah, you have a lot to think about, my friend….
And a few other things to think about…courtesy of those “low, dishonest [blockheads]” who have hijacked the country and are doing their damned best to destroy it—alas, if they were ONLY blockheads…
https://instapundit.com/611911/
+ a little Bonus:
“Iran’s Direct Help to Hamas’s October 7 War on Israel”—
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/20064/iran-helped-hamas-attack
(Soon, no doubt, to be followed by columns on ‘”Biden”‘s Direct Help to Iran’ and ‘”Biden”‘s Direct Help to Hezbullah’…)
Curtis the Seegarchomper Lemay — blessed be his name — dint need no stinkin Nuclar Bobs, he got along jes fine wid Conventchy Bobs plus Fire Bobs and crisped up Edo tua fairedeewell.
Ben-David did the math for proportionality & prisoners in this comment, noting that Hamas has already established the relative values of Israelis and Palestinians:
https://www.thenewneo.com/2023/10/16/roundup-90/#comment-2703248
The last time Hamas kidnapped an IDF soldier he was ransomed by releasing 1027 terrorists from jail. That’s a ‘proportional’ exchange of Pali scumbags for Israeli citizens.
So with the current Israeli victim count around 1350 we have:
1350×1027=1,386,450
Podhoretz dishes out a bit thicker gruel today:
https://www.commentary.org/john-podhoretz/how-the-nyt-and-others-do-hamass-dirty-work/
Reference to gruel is in this exchange of comments:
https://www.thenewneo.com/2023/10/16/middle-eastern-studies/#comment-2703236
Not The Bee raises an interesting point about the hospital destruction.
https://notthebee.com/article/update-israel-says-explosion-in-gaza-hospital-was-result-of-failed-hamas-rocket-releases-video
Musk makes a meme – the spaceman’s button dilemma.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1711601883893133772
spiked! hits the, um, spike on the head:
https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/10/16/why-wont-the-jews-just-let-themselves-be-killed/
“…Far too many are giving the wrong answer.”
“Enthusiastically embracing the wrong answer” actually…
But HEY! what’s with this “wrong answer” crap!!?
Actually:
They are “enthusiastically embracing the RIGHT answer”! …or,
– “Enthusiastically embracing what IS, what MUST BE, what WILL ALWAYS BE the right answer”…
The RIGHT ANSWER, by DEFINITION.
(And one had better get on the ball and truly understand, internalize, comprehend, viscerally FEEL, that definition.
Indeed, the very DEFINITION of Freedom, Virtue, Goodness, and Grace!)
…i.e., if one TRULY “thinks” about Hamas’s goal to destroy the Zionist Entity in the RIGHT way, the MORAL way, the TRIBAL way…
The ZERO SUM way! (Right, TF?)
If one TRULY BELIEVES that particular definition—and it most certainly helps if it’s God’s imperative!
…Even if the ZERO SUM way just might bite one on the backside, as it has a tendency, or potential, to do…one can always feel virtuous about at least trying one’s best to terrorize, murder, violently rape, behead, incinerate, stab multiple times beyond recognition…or can earnestly fantasize about performing such VIRTUES even if not actually able—alas—to perform them….)
Here’s a particularly brilliant column—brilliant, that is, in its masterful collation of the mad, mealy-mouthed, potentially violent yet VIRTUOUS hypocrisy of the current age…even if one might not particularly agree with the author’s conclusion…
“The Left’s Cognitive Dissonance Crisis Exposed In One Tweet”—
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/lefts-cognitive-dissonance-crisis-explained-one-tweet
Not that any of this will matter to THE FAITHFUL and THE VIRTUOUS, THE MORAL and THE PURE, but…
“Recording proves: Terrorists discussed the failed launch on Gaza hospital;
“Listen to the recording of a conversation between Hamas terrorists regarding the failed rocket launch on the Gaza hospital.”—
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/378716
Key exchange:
“…It’s from us?…
“…It looks like it….”
No surprises here: fake news kills…
…especially when teachers are involved…
“Fake News About 6-Year-Old Boy’s Stabbing Inspires Muslim Terrorist Attack In Brussels”—
https://blazingcatfur.ca/2023/10/18/fake-news-about-6-year-old-boys-stabbing-inspires-muslim-terrorist-attack-in-brussels/
Which is why, it would appear, that it is so important for the usual suspects to disseminate it…
So Brandon HAS to visit Israel. And so Israel is pulling police and military to guard his wretched a**. Just what they need at this time, what with the action in Gaza and Hezbollah doing crap up north. And we all know Brandon is going to ask them to lighten up — for his friends in Iran.
Take a look at this video about how they are still finding bodies at the site of that Rave in Israel, and listen as one of the people searching for and gathering up those bodies says that 80% of those killed–including children–had been tortured, they found piles of children, hands tied behind their backs, and then burned to death, etc.–a level malevolence and evil that apparently equaled or surpassed that of the Nazis.*
Here is the story of how hundreds of victims were so burnt, tortured, and mangled that pathologists are having a hard time identifying them.**
How can you make peace with such a malevolent and evil people, and an ideology like that?
How can you even live in peace and security when such malevolent and evil people live right across the border from you, and could cross that border at any moment?
The answer is, you can’t.
* See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UpClxURrSc
** See https://ussanews.com/2023/10/17/israeli-forensic-scientists-try-to-identify-bodies-left-unrecognizable-by-violent-hamas-attacks/ and https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-forensic-teams-describe-signs-torture-abuse-2023-10-15/
“…as a friend…”, continued…
“THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TRIES TO HIDE WHAT IT KNEW ABOUT AN IMPENDING MASSACRE, WHILE LEAVING U.S. BACKING FOR IRAN UNTOUCHED”—
https://instapundit.com/611931/
Indeed, as a TRUE friend….
(But then, “Biden” is as much of a friend to America as he is to the Zionist Entity…)
+ Bonus:
“As it harbored Hamas, Qatar spent $1 billion-plus trying to influence U.S. education, politics;
“Lobbying, university reports detail a vast influence campaign by Arab states on U.S. soil, dwarfing the paid efforts of long-time ally Israel.”—
https://justthenews.com/world/middle-east/qatar-has-almost-30-registered-lobbyists-dc-continues-shelter-hamas-leadership
Key grafs:
“The Persian Gulf state of Qatar, which has reportedly given support and safe haven to Hamas leaders and empowered Web sites to flourish that promote anti-Israel sentiments, has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years shaping U.S. opinion and the American education curriculum, according to lobbying and donation records review by Just the News.
“Since at least 2016, Qatar has spent $77 million hiring 29 foreign registered agents to influence U.S. policy – one of the largest lobbying fleets among Middle Eastern countries, according to the Justice Department Foreign Agent Registration Act database. That database shows some of Washington D.C.’s most powerful and influential law firms and Public Relations outfits have taken millions of dollars to promote Qatar’s interests, including Holland & Knight and Mercury Public Affairs, LLC.
“The country also has handed out about $1.6 billion since June 2020, and $5.4 billion in total under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, in donations and contacts to American universities ranging from Harvard to George Washington University, according to the Higher Education Gifts and Contracts database maintained by the U.S. Department of Education.
“The massive outlays, experts say, help to explain how a new generation of young Americans have developed decidedly pro-Palestinian sympathies after generations of staunch U.S. support for Israel….”
I am struck by how Gaza, with all of that oceanfront, could have been developed into a real travel destination but, instead, has been turned into and remains a shit hole.
Where does all of the international aid go? Apparently a lot of it is misappropriated and goes into politician’s packets, and a lot of the rest of it goes to terrorist organizations.
As well, here, for instance, are stories about how Hamas grabbed food and medications intended for the citizens of Gaza for itself, and also how Hamas dug up water pipes which were given to Gaza to improve their water/sewer situation but were, instead, “repurposed” to make rockets.
See https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/un-agency-accuses-hamas-of-stealing-fuel-medications-from-its-gaza-premises
and https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/eu-funded-water-pipelines-despite-hamas-boast-it-could-turn-them-into-rockets/ar-AA1i09SX
and see also https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/other/video-shows-hamas-building-rockets-using-pipes-taken-from-sewage-infrastructure/ar-AA1i6mph
https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1714572125137252830
one has to conclude that the likes of borell, intentionally fund hamas for that purpose,
who founded mercury partners, steve schmidt, dr evil, in my parlance, they hired vin weber to lobby for the same ukrainian partners that manafort went to jail for, for holding their money in reserve,
Hudson Institute, Marshall Kosloff hosts Michael Doran, “Israel ar War”, premiere ongoing (24 mins so far): https://youtu.be/o2DfHPiwgxE?si=EXn8Zgb6V-1dhd5X
P.S. Of course to have a successful beachfront destination you have to have welcoming staff for the hotels, restaurants, and other resort type venues.
Somehow, I’m not picturing the residents of Gaza as an ideal fit for these “hospitality” type jobs.
I’m reminded of a tour we took several years ago, which included an overnight stop in Northern Ireland, and, boy, was the hostility to Americans evident.
This was the only place we were warned not to get out of the tour bus and look around, at our hotel the person who brought up our bags threw them into our room and walked off, we were warned to only walk across the street to one bar which had a couple of very tough looking bouncers stationed outside—one, a small guy, black leather jacket, his head shaved, and lots of visible scars, and many of the houses we passed featured pro-Palestinian and anti-U.S. murals covering one whole side of each building.
We were certainly not welcome there, and I can imagine that that would be the kind of reception any potential tourists to Gaza might receive.
yes there is a resort on the end of the red sea, name escapes me now, they dont want guests from gaza either,
https://revolver.news/2023/10/top-biden-intel-official-outed-as-palestinian-activist-has-some-very-dark-associates/
miguel, if you mean in Egypt, it’s Sharm el Sheikh.
thats the one
What would Stephen Decatur do?