An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed that there were “hostage situations” in the southern city of Ofakim and the nearby kibbutz of Beeri.

An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed that there were “hostage situations” in the southern city of Ofakim and the nearby kibbutz of Beeri.

Hamas said it had taken “dozens” of Israeli soldiers hostage and moved them to the Gaza Strip as footage emerged appearing to show gunmen in military fatigues leading a group of mostly barefoot women down a street in Israel.

The announcement and video verified by NBC News came hours after Hamas launched a deadly land, air and sea attack and fired a huge barrage of rockets at Israel.

    • danhakimi@kbin.social
      45·
      1 year ago

      Are ethnic homelands homelands?

      What counts as a homeland, to you? Where are we allowed to engage in self-determination?

      • dannoffs@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
        4·
        1 year ago

        You know what, you're right. My family fled Lithuania when the Soviets took over, so I'm on the next flight to Vilnius and I'm going to move into the first house I find owned by an ethnic Russian.

        • danhakimi@kbin.social
          13·
          1 year ago

          I would not recommend or condone that, personally, but I am happy that you are once again welcome in Lithuania. If you did find and reclaim your own family's home through some procedure under Lithuanian law, that would be nice.

          My family fled Iran during the revolution. We are not welcome there. We still own property there, in theory. Many Jews are unwelcome in many of the places they spent hundreds or thousands of years. We have frequently been expelled from our various homelands. You can see why we don't want to be expelled from our own. I do hope you understand.

          • NoneOfUrBusiness@kbin.social
            11·
            1 year ago

            If you did find and reclaim your own family's home through some procedure under Lithuanian law, that would be nice.

            Oh trust me, some of the things Jews did for that land were not lawful. See Benny Morris's 4-stage analysis of the Palestinian diaspora.

      • amanneedsamaid@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        21·
        1 year ago

        Yes, ethnic homelands are homelands because their ancestors have been living there. Being a member of the same religion does not entitle you or your people to land any more than shouting an incantation.

        • danhakimi@kbin.social
          14·
          1 year ago

          The Jewish people are an ethnic group, not only a religion. Our ancestors lived in Israel. No matter how hard the various colonizers tried to keep us over the millennia, we maintained some Jewish presence there the entire time. Now, we once again control a portion of our ethnic homeland and are not willing to give it up.

          Is there something you're still confused about?

          • amanneedsamaid@sopuli.xyzEnglish
            22·
            1 year ago

            Nope, your ancestors didnt live in Israel. People who were the same religious as you did. The jewish presence expanded rapidly in various waves, but was not as consistent as you're making it out to be. It is not your ethnic homeland.