Israel is reportedly setting up a complex system of checkpoints that will prevent men of "military age" from fleeing Rafah in preparation for its offensive on the southern Gaza border city, a senior western official familiar with Israel's military plans has told Middle East Eye on condition of anonymity.
The checkpoints are designed to allow some women and children to leave Rafah ahead of an expected Israeli offensive, but unarmed, civilian Palestinian men will likely be separated from their families and remain trapped in Rafah during the assault.
The previously unreported disclosure of Israel's construction of a ring of checkpoints around Rafah underscores how Israel is pushing ahead with plans to attack the city where over one million displaced Palestinians are sheltering in tents and makeshift camps.
The creation of gender-based checkpoints around Rafah would put a spotlight back on Israel's practice of stripping and forcibly detaining male Palestinian men and children, as it faces rising scrutiny in the West of its conduct in the war.
The rounding up of Palestinian males in Gaza and photographing them stripped to their underwear drew condemnation in December, with the US calling the images "deeply disturbing."
Here are the top political news stories for today.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
How do you think being separated from one's family under these circumstances would impact a person emotionally and psychologically?
@9LYVMYH2yrs2Y
This is clearly a genocide. Its been happening ever since 1947 and Palestine deserves to be free'd. United States funding a genocide is crazy. This is where our tax dollars are going to?? Imagine I break into your house and say its mine and I'm forcing you to leave your own house by attacking you, what would you feel like?
@9LZ2DWTTranshumanist 2yrs2Y
As someone from the middle of the Navajo-Hopi relocation project once said/sang "Relocation is Genocide" (Blackfire). This happened right within the United States.
@9LYVT552yrs2Y
I think it would be very stress fully and harmfull.
Hamas has not accepted the peace deal on the table. It would mean a six-week ceasefire in return for the release of the hostages.
@B4llotBoxDanDemocrat2yrs2Y
Deal? Israel doesn't want any deal, only 2 days ago the person who was in charge of dealing with the hostages relatives said hamas offered to release all hostages if they didn't invade gaza, this was months ago, Israel said no cuz they wouldn't be able to ethnically cleanse gaza
Things change very swiftly in these circumstances. the US is talking to Saudi Arabia I believe. Israel is now prepared to accept 33 hostages.
@B4llotBoxDanDemocrat2yrs2Y
But the offer was there months ago, Israel had no interest because their goal is to ethnically cleanse all of gaza and build as many illegal settlements on the land as possible, this is a fact
@J0intResolShadsForward2yrs2Y
So all Palestinian adult males are deemed enemy combatants whether or not they are?
And what is their plan for them?
@Tr3atyTerryGreen2yrs2Y
Not just adults. Anyone age 10 and up. And I don’t think they hesitate for the under 10s either
@Bl4ckBallotBillyGreen2yrs2Y
It’s almost like they have a plan. No a solution, a permanent one. No.., that’s not right. Maybe a something… final, that’s it! They have a “final solution!”
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
Can the safety of some justify the detention of others based on gender, in your opinion?
@9LYWPB6Independent2yrs2Y
yes and no, young men should not be held but slighly older gentlemen should be if the case be so, it is our duty as men.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
How does the idea of separating families based on gender at checkpoints make you feel about personal freedoms and human rights?
@9LYV5YM2yrs2Y
Its a known thing that the man of the family and to stay back and take care of the danger.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
Considering men are being detained while women and children are allowed to leave, what does this say about perceptions of threat based on gender?
@9LYWG932yrs2Y
Men are being treated differently cuz of their gender
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
If you had to decide, would you support the use of gender-specific checkpoints in conflict zones, and why?
@9LYWDFX2yrs2Y
no, we shouldn't judge people paced off of their gender
So basically they plan to commit more illegal massacres of unarmed men that aren’t even Hamas.
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