[abeppu]

I think the "Gulag" label is a bit hyperbolic, but that's because Gulags were forced labor camps, whereas Gaza under the blockade has had extremely high unemployment due to the severely hamstrung economy. The "open-air prison" description that others have used seems close to being correct, however.

I think you tried to engage in goal-post moving, by arguing that Israel has not "occupied" Gaza following the "disengagement", which is not directly tied to the "Gulag" label you were disagreeing with. While I think the claim that Israel was not occupying Gaza during this period is literally true, this is only because international legal definitions of occupation have multiple specific requirements. Though Israel was not stationing soldiers inside the territory, and was not running a sole government in the territory, it has still had enormous control. Imposing a blockade by sea, air and land for years on end, and continuously imprisoning Palestinians without charge or trial, is technically not "occupation", but it is an enormous projection of state force over a territory that Israel claimed was not in its control. Perhaps it's not "occupation" as defined in international law -- fine. So let's come up with a new word for it, but continue to recognize it as abusive.

In that context, talking about the rights of women and gays inside Gaza seems like bad faith whataboutism; if Israel cared about their rights and equality, it could let women and queer people living in Gaza leave.

[G3rn0ti]

> but it is an enormous projection of state force over a territory that Israel claimed was not in its control

You conveniently ignore why Israel has been controlling Gaza’s borders. Because it is ruled by Hamas since 2007 misusing their power to build up an armed terrorist origanization instead of a country. And they keep attacking Israel’s territory. If Israel had established an open border policy (which they had when they were actually occupying Gaza) last year‘s massacre would have happened already years back.

I keep getting criticized for „ignoring history“ but your post is a very good example how the self-proclaimed supporters of Palestinians, here, are constantly engaging in cherry-picking the historical facts trying to win their arguments. Israel haters should really step back for a moment at least and consider who they are supporting and what cause.

[abeppu]

Gulags imprisoned individual people based on insufficient sham judicial procedures, but they say least made a show of imprisoning people who had done something to earn it. Keeping Israel as an open-air prison for residents who have not specifically done anything wrong is arguably worse. Detaining thousands of civilians in officially Israeli prisons without charges or trials

I have no objections to Israel trying to control the flow of dangerous individuals and materiel across its own land. Why should it have a right to block sea and air access? Why should it stop the flow of ordinary goods? Nowhere have I recommended open borders; there are lots of options between open borders and the blockade system.

I'm not actually a supporter of Palestinians. You'll note that I started this sub thread arguing that the UN resolution talking about right of a people to self-determination doesn't seem coherent. But I am a supporter of human rights, and this is a situation in which there seem to be many serious violations.