General Discussion

I only added my interpretation of what you said, which, it seems, turned out to be correct.

Now, you finally agree that Hamas plays a significant role in inflicting casualties on the Gazan civilians. Something that is so rarely acknowledged that you couldn't find a single instance of it being mentioned on DU.

You continue to associate the starving of thousands of people with Israel's attempt to release hostages. This is ridiculous. Hamas will hold hostages regardless of how many Gazans starve. They have been "martyring" civilians for nearly two years, with no concern whatsoever about how many people die. In fact, their leaders are on record welcoming civilian deaths, the more the better. Whether they starve or get killed doesn't matter to them at all. Israel is fully aware that starving civilians will not induce Hamas to release a single hostage, ever. There is no connection between one and the other. It's time you realize it too.

It will take a far more nuanced approach, in terms of both morality and legality, to determine Israel's, and Hamas', role in the starvation of Gazan civilians. There are far more variables involved in this than you are willing to consider.

But let me bring your attention to how this subthread illustrates my point: you only acknowledged, reluctantly, under pressure to do so, that Hamas has a significant, if not a crucial role in the suffering of Gazan civilians. None of your comments about Hamas were made without being prompted. none of your comments about Hamas were made without an obligatory mention of Israel. The bulk of your criticism of Israel was made without ever mentioning Hamas. In fact, you made it a point to not mention Hamas: "Repeatedly stating that Hamas is bad, terrible, evil, etc. is not an effective argument in relation to the starvation crisis in Gaza."

Yet you had no problem repeatedly stating that Israel is bad, terrible, etc.