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.

  • SpaceCowboyEnglish
    43·
    9 months ago

    What is your description of fascism then?

    • Cryophilia@lemmy.worldEnglish
      102·
      9 months ago

      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism

      Historians, political scientists, and other scholars have long debated the exact nature of fascism.[28][page needed] Historian Ian Kershaw once wrote that “trying to define ‘fascism’ is like trying to nail jelly to the wall.”[29] Each different group described as fascist has at least some unique elements, and many definitions of fascism have been criticized as either too broad or too narrow.[30] According to many scholars, fascism—especially once in power—has historically attacked communism, conservatism, and parliamentary liberalism, attracting support primarily from the far-right.[31]

      Frequently cited as a standard definition by notable scholars,[32] such as Roger Griffin,[33] Randall Schweller,[34] Bo Rothstein,[35] Federico Finchelstein,[36] and Stephen D. Shenfield,[37] is that of historian Stanley G. Payne.[38] His definition of fascism focuses on three concepts:

      “Fascist negations” – anti-liberalism, anti-communism, and anti-conservatism.

      “Fascist goals” – the creation of a nationalist dictatorship to regulate economic structure and to transform social relations within a modern, self-determined culture, and the expansion of the nation into an empire.

      “Fascist style” – a political aesthetic of romantic symbolism, mass mobilization, a positive view of violence, and promotion of masculinity, youth, and charismatic authoritarian leadership.

      Notably, when comparing with Hamas, 1) religion is of secondary consideration in fascism, and 2) facism tends to create cults of personality such as Hitler, Putin, etc. Fascism will always put party before everything, unlike religiously motivated groups. And in Islam particularly, it’s difficult for one charismatic leader to create a cult of personality because such a leader is always standing in the shadow of Mohammed.

      Most importantly, fascism involves a comprehensive transformation of society, with a particular focus on military expansion. It’s very difficult for a group under siege to be fascist as they simply don’t have the option for expansion.

      Jihadis share many similar aspects with fascists, authoritarians, etc, but those are means to an end. In fascism, the means ARE the end, there’s no real plan, the fascist dictator just tries to ride the wave of nationalism as long as they can.

      • SpaceCowboyEnglish
        55·
        9 months ago

        Most importantly, fascism involves a comprehensive transformation of society, with a particular focus on military expansion.

        Palestinians all over the world chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” at demonstrations. This is a reference to lands that include Israel. So there is a desire for a non-democracy to expand into the territory of a democracy. This feeling is so pervasive in Palestinian culture it’s chanted in demonstrations on the other side of the world. Note there is no reference to any religious sites, simply to land the others have that they believe should be theirs.

        There have even been calls for the ethnic cleansing of Jews by Palestinians living in western countries as well. “Push them into the sea, wipe them off the map” kinds of things. Why would someone not even living there be saying these things if it’s not a societal transformation?

        If you look at the actual propaganda, very little references religion. It’s mostly about how the land rightfully belongs to Palestinians. Going on and on about the 1948 map, the Ottoman Empire etc. The only thing I see that’s somewhat religious is references to the times of the Crusades. “We’ll win in time like we did during the Crusades.” But note that’s also a reference to past greatness, one of the most defining characteristics of fascism. I mean where does the word fascism come from?

        In fascism, the means ARE the end, there’s no real plan, the fascist dictator just tries to ride the wave of nationalism as long as they can.

        Yes and what exactly is the plan in this current aggression by Hamas? Do you feel like what they’re doing right now is part of a real plan? Nope. What is the plan for the many rocket attacks Hamas has done in the past? There is no plan. Hamas needs to kill Israelis to keep power. Do you think the Hamas leadership does these things because Allah told them to? Or do they do it to prevent their followers from leaving Hamas and joining some other group that is willing to execute attacks on Israel?

        That’s the nature of fascism. You can get control over people by making them hate but you can’t allow that hatred to dissipate or you lose control. Hamas attacks Israel because if they don’t, they lose power. Sure they’ll use religious terminology to make their actions seem more legitimate to their followers, but in the end it boils down to blood and soil, promises of restoring past greatness, use of violence to maintain power.

        • Cryophilia@lemmy.worldEnglish
          34·
          9 months ago

          Note there is no reference to any religious sites, simply to land the others have that they believe should be theirs.

          That’s such a stretch they should call you Mr Incredible.

          I don’t know why I bothered, I knew even as I was typing that you weren’t interested in learning. I knew you were going to pick as many individual parts of that definition as you could and try to force the square peg of Hamas into the round hole of fascism. Because the alternative is that maybe you were wrong about something, and oh no we can’t have that.

          We really need to do a better job funding our schools.

          • fluxion@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            9 months ago

            He thinks religion isn’t the end goal, but instead a tool used by fascists leaders whose end goal is actually that: fascism.

            You think the people calling the shots are actually devout and that fascism is a tool to achieve some religious goal.

            The former is a safer bet, since it isn’t predicated on needing to buy into the idea that the sort of people who orchestrate these acts are inherently principled and devout people who just have a very unfortunate interpretation of Islam.

            Call it fascist+ with a fancy name if you will, but it’s nothing to get so worked up over.

            • Cryophilia@lemmy.worldEnglish
              1·
              9 months ago

              There is no fascism though. Just some similar elements.

              It’s definitely worth getting worked up over the zoomer tendency to call damn near everything fascism. Even the Barbie movie made fun of it. It’s watering the term down to meaninglesness. Which is very dangerous when there are real actual fascists on the rise in the world.

          • SpaceCowboyEnglish
            43·
            9 months ago

            We really need to do a better job in teaching better manners.

            When you have no logical response to something a person says to you, do you consider it good form to resort to… well ad hominem sounds too classy for what you wrote… Shit tier elementary school “You dumb I’m smart” asshat behaviour?

            Learn to do better at the conversation stuff mate.

            • Cryophilia@lemmy.worldEnglish
              21·
              9 months ago

              I know when actually arguing is hopeless. Literally nothing I could say would change your mind at all, no matter how much I prove you wrong, so why waste the effort? Better to just insult you, at least that’s a little fun and low effort.

              • SpaceCowboyEnglish
                32·
                9 months ago

                Yeah that’ll happen when you approach everything as if it’s an argument and while being incapable of making a cohesive argument.

                • Cryophilia@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  21·
                  9 months ago

                  Are you trying to suggest that you don’t want to argue? That you might be open to learning something new?

                  Wait, wait, let me do your part

                  Maybe if you could actually tell me something new. Instead, all you presented was a njknbfddscjjuhbjoiubffrdsdvnki

                  Sorry, I spaced on the last bit but it’s always a mad libs of haughty insults.

                  Okay my turn: can you possibly imagine being wrong in any way? Have you ever been wrong about anything?

                  Now you: you’re a sad individual who’s trying to distract from your total lack of an argument. I completely proved you wrong in every way and you know it.

                  Then me: so that would be a “no”

                  Then you: fuck off, troll

                  Then me: lol

                  That’s usually where this ends. Hopefully saved us a few back and forth.

                  • SpaceCowboyEnglish
                    21·
                    9 months ago

                    What is it you think I’m going to learn from anything you’ve typed? The only thing you seem to want people to “learn” as that you’re right and everyone that disagrees with you is wrong without you providing any kind rational reason for this.

                    You stated that it’s the nature of fascism for there to be no real plan. I stated that Hamas has no real plan other than to use nationalistic and genocidal fervor to remain in power. We’re seeing genocidal actions being celebrated (or at the very least rationalized) by Palestinians. I don’t see a lot of Palestinians outright condemning the actions of Hamas, either out of sympathy for them or out of fear of them. This is suggestive of a fascist society.

                    You could blow my argument out the water by explaining what the long term plan of Hamas is. But there is none. Because they’re fascist and having power over people is the goal.

                    So instead of anything countering long list of fascist characteristics of Hamas and Palestinian society, it’s just “YOU’RE WRONG WHY DON’T YOU ADMIT IT!!!”