armed civilians

Freed Gaza hostage says she was abducted by armed civilians, sold to Hamas

The situation in Gaza is one that seems to be filled with complexities and contradictions that are hard to ignore. The recent news of a freed Gaza hostage who claims to have been abducted by armed civilians and sold to Hamas sheds light on the sinister reality that lies behind the facade of innocence often associated with civilian populations in conflict zones.

The concept of armed civilians is a troubling one. How can individuals be both civilians and armed combatants at the same time? It seems that in the chaos of Gaza, the lines between innocence and involvement in violence become blurred.… Continue reading