summary by brave leo :
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Israeli forces carried out a military operation in the central Gaza Strip on June 8, 2024, resulting in the death of at least 210 Palestinians and injury of 400 others.
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The operation was reportedly aimed at rescuing four Israeli captives held in Gaza, who were subsequently rescued and reunited with their families.
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The operation was launched in Nuseirat and Deir al-Balah areas, with Israeli forces using artillery fire and reportedly infiltrating the Nuseirat refugee camp using trucks disguised as humanitarian aid vehicles.
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The incident has resulted in criticism and outrage, with reports of U.S. involvement in the operation, including alleged support from the U.S. hostage cell in Israel and the use of a U.S.-built humanitarian pier off the Gaza coast.
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The U.S. National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, confirmed U.S. support for efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
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The incident has sparked intense criticism and debate, with Hamas claiming that the release of the four captives does not change the strategic failure in Gaza and that the resistance still holds a larger number of captives.
That’s a fair point. Was that an option? I thought the only conditions of release were a ceasefire?
My understanding is a hostage exchange was Hamas’s original demand at the start of Operation Al-aqsa Flood and that it still stands. I don’t think that can happen even as a practical matter without a ceasefire.
Interesting. I remember there being some cease fire but only a few hostages were released. I do remember hearing a mention that it may be part of Hamas’s strategy to very slowly release hostages and keep some as bargaining chips because once the hostages were free they wouldn’t be have any leverage. This would be in contrast to an offering a full swap from day one, I don’t feel like that would have been likely but happy to be wrong. I also wouldn’t consider a deal like releasing 5000 Hamas militants in exchange for 50 or even all of the hostages to be fair or even a path to peace. If Hamas militants were freed they would likely (based on doing so time and time again) continue firing rockets into Israel.
That is a gross mischaracterization. The 5200 Palestinians in Israeli captivity as of October 2023 included men, women, and children held under a variety of pretexts including prohibited speech.
Regardless, I hope you will agree that trading 5200 or so Palestinian captives of any type in exchange for all of the Israeli hostages is fairer than trading the lives of ~15,000 children for only some of the Israeli hostages.