this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2025

189 points (92.0% liked)

Europe

6284 readers

1711 users here now

News and information from Europe 🇪🇺

(Current banner: La Mancha, Spain. Feel free to post submissions for banner images.)

Rules (2024-08-30)

This is an English-language community. Comments should be in English. Posts can link to non-English news sources when providing a full-text translation in the post description. Automated translations are fine, as long as they don't overly distort the content.
No links to misinformation or commercial advertising. When you post outdated/historic articles, add the year of publication to the post title. Infographics must include a source and a year of creation; if possible, also provide a link to the source.
Be kind to each other, and argue in good faith. Don't post direct insults nor disrespectful and condescending comments. Don't troll nor incite hatred. Don't look for novel argumentation strategies at Wikipedia's List of fallacies.
No bigotry, sexism, racism, antisemitism, islamophobia, dehumanization of minorities, or glorification of National Socialism. We follow German law; don't question the statehood of Israel.
Be the signal, not the noise: Strive to post insightful comments. Add "/s" when you're being sarcastic (and don't use it to break rule no. 3).
If you link to paywalled information, please provide also a link to a freely available archived version. Alternatively, try to find a different source.
Light-hearted content, memes, and posts about your European everyday belong in !yurop@lemm.ee. (They're cool, you should subscribe there too!)
Don't evade bans. If we notice ban evasion, that will result in a permanent ban for all the accounts we can associate with you.
No posts linking to speculative reporting about ongoing events with unclear backgrounds. Please wait at least 12 hours. (E.g., do not post breathless reporting on an ongoing terror attack.)
Always provide context with posts: Don't post uncontextualized images or videos, and don't start discussions without giving some context first.

(This list may get expanded as necessary.)

Posts that link to the following sources will be removed

on any topic: Al Mayadeen, brusselssignal:eu, citjourno:com, europesays:com, Breitbart, Daily Caller, Fox, GB News, geo-trends:eu, news-pravda:com, OAN, RT, sociable:co, any AI slop sites (when in doubt please look for a credible imprint/about page), change:org (for privacy reasons)
on Middle-East topics: Al Jazeera
on Hungary: Euronews

Unless they're the only sources, please also avoid The Sun, Daily Mail, any "thinktank" type organization, and non-Lemmy social media. Don't link to Twitter directly, instead use xcancel.com. For Reddit, use old:reddit:com

(Lists may get expanded as necessary.)

Ban lengths, etc.

We will use some leeway to decide whether to remove a comment.

If need be, there are also bans: 3 days for lighter offenses, 7 or 14 days for bigger offenses, and permanent bans for people who don't show any willingness to participate productively. If we think the ban reason is obvious, we may not specifically write to you.

If you want to protest a removal or ban, feel free to write privately to the primary mod account @EuroMod@feddit.org

founded 11 months ago

MODERATORS

federalreverse@feddit.org

poVoq@slrpnk.net

anzo@programming.dev

EuroMod@feddit.org

189

Israel says it is keeping Rima Hassan because hostage taking is only wrong when Hamas does it (www.normalisland.co.uk)

submitted 2 days ago by cm0002@lemmy.world to c/europe@feddit.org

40 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Israel has already proven it’s the good guy by spraying the Madleen with an unknown chemical, ramming the vessel, boarding it and making the crew throw their mobile phones overboard.

Israeli commandos were so nice during the encounter that they agreed not to kill anyone as long as they showed total obedience. In fact, the commandos showed such restraint that they didn’t even strip anyone naked. Well, not that I know of…

Israel was temporarily nice to the crew of the Madleen so it could get a propaganda picture and then it took them ashore where it tried to make them watch footage of October 7. When the crew refused, it demanded they sign deportation papers accepting they had illegally entered Israel, even though they were in international waters and it was Israel who took them to Israel!

I understand some of the Madleen crew signed the deportation papers and were sent on their way, but disgracefully, Rima Hassan refused to be repatriated. Apparently, she wouldn’t confess to something she hadn’t done because she has “principles”. Israel says it therefore has no choice but to keep her as a hostage, I mean an, um, prisoner.

Obviously, prisoner is the only accurate word to describe someone who is being illegally detained, having committed no crime. Hassan can’t be a hostage because she smiled defiantly and ate a sandwich and no hostage would ever eat a sandwich. It disrespects all those who were captured on October 7 to call Hassan a hostage, just because she is being held against her will after being abducted by armed men.

I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but Hassan is Palestinian and it’s fine to treat Palestinians this way. It’s what Israel has always done x

all 42 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] EuroMod@feddit.org 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

The site is satire, just look at the archive of their posts (e.g. "Hamas offers to negotiate peace between [...]"

Even if there are "facts" that are the base for the article, we'd have to remove it. I am only keeping it here so that y'all know THIS IS WRONG. OP will get a ban for 7 days.

From the site "About" section, last paragraph:

Normal Island News is a politically-neutral publication which is why it simps so hard for Liz Truss. You will be pleased to know it is a registered charity so the four billionaires who fund it can deduct their contributions from their tax returns. With a 42% reliability rating, it is considered the most accurate newsletter in existence. You should sign up today so that you never miss an article, it will change your life forever x

Anzo

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 44 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

I'd like to add that Rima Hassan is a member of the EU parliament. I didn't know that. I'd ask why our countries are allied with such a state, but it's clear that quite a few national government members in the EU would love it if Hassan spent the rest of her term in an Israeli prison (or worse).

[–] HK65@sopuli.xyz 9 points 2 days ago

So I'm going to say that I think Hassan is doing the right thing here. Either the Israelis let her go and accept that there is at least some form of accountability they must accept, or they keep a French MEP hostage, which erodes EU support day by day. Hassan does have some risk as in I wonder how France would react to something happening to her, which is ridiculous as it is.

[–] latenightnoir@lemmy.blahaj.zone 28 points 2 days ago

Yep, makes perfect sense! And this is not gaslighting, btw, it's only gaslighting when Hamas does it.

[–] talkingpumpkin@lemmy.world 19 points 2 days ago (1 children)

demanded they sign deportation papers accepting they had illegally entered Israel

Well, assaulting vessels in international waters and forcing the crew into your country is certainly illegal.

[–] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 4 points 1 day ago

Generally things signed under duress are invalid

[–] qarbone@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago

Why are all the Israel apologists here framing "having to sign a (presumably false) document attesting they are being deported for illegal activities" as "just sign a document"? None of them has contested the document's contents, which is the only reasonable angle to paint "not signing the attestation" as "willfully-petty disobedience" like they all attempt to do. Signing a lie in hopes of getting free from war crime enthusiasts is reasonable, and not signing it is understandable.

[–] CaptObvious@literature.cafe 15 points 2 days ago (1 children)

BDS is the only tool ordinary people have. Use it.

I’m truly sorry for the collateral damage that sane Israelis will suffer as a result.

[–] rzadkie@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

All of the sudden middle eastern terrorists can take westerners hostage without any concrete reaction from their governments, interesting isn't it?

[+] gigachad@sh.itjust.works -9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (3 children)

Do I understand correctly she didn't sign the deportation papers and because people say it was international waters she is "kept hostage"? And that's the same Hamas did to people on Oct 7? Many people on Lemmy went from critizing Israel for commiting genocide (which is a fact) to openly supporting the Hamas during the last year. What the fuck is wrong with you people

[–] huppakee@feddit.nl 10 points 2 days ago

Certainly must be something wrong with you, since nowhere on this thread is there anyone supporting Hamas??

[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 0 points 2 days ago

Many people on Lemmy went from critizing Israel for commiting genocide (which is a fact) to openly supporting the Hamas during the last year.

This is an extraordinary claim. Please provide your extraordinary evidence.

[–] tortina_original@lemmy.world -1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Ah yes, of course, everyone is supporting Hamas. In your head, maybe.

[–] gigachad@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 days ago

Me:

Many people on Lemmy [...]

You:

[...] everyone is supporting Hamas

[+] Obelix@feddit.org -8 points 2 days ago (3 children)

[removed by mod]

[–] Saleh@feddit.org 13 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

So they are free to leave if they want.

"Free" to sign a document that would implicate them in the crime of having entered illegally, which they haven't committed as they did not enter Israel by themselves. They were kidnapped from international waters by the Israeli army and dragged to Israel.

From the CNN article:

Adalah, an Israel-based non-governmental legal organization that is representing some of the activists, said that those who remain are being held in Givon Prison in Ramleh, central Israel.

You know what being held in a prison is not? Being free.

[–] EuroMod@feddit.org 2 points 1 day ago

Your submission in "Israel says it is keeping Rima Hassan because hostage taking is only wrong when Hamas does it" was removed for they're not free to leave if there's a condition (be it sign a document or whatever else.) So this is disinformation....

[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago

That's not "free" as in "you can go any time". That's "sign here that you did something that I think is illegal and that you don't think is illegal and that also recognizes my right to define what is and what is not illegal and then you can go".

[+] Fitik@fedia.io -15 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I think there's a big difference between being taken hostage and being taken into custody before getting deported, but must be just me..

[–] CaptObvious@literature.cafe 34 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Israel has no jurisdiction in international waters. Boarding a vessel uninvited under those circumstances is an illegal aggression. Some states would consider it an act of war.

[–] krigo666@lemmy.world 22 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Actually, it's an act of piracy.

Piracy Under International Law

[–] CaptObvious@literature.cafe 2 points 2 days ago

That too

[–] huppakee@feddit.nl 8 points 2 days ago

You can only legally take someone into custody if you have jurisdiction there. You could argue whether they do or do not have jurisdiction in the waters that Palastine claims but they were not even there, they were in international waters. That is kidnapping.

[+] Quittenbrot@feddit.org -9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

..especially since she was only detained after refusing to sign papers. I bet, those hostages from October 7 would have loved to have that choice...

But hey, this trip mainly exists to be exploited in terms of propaganda. Both ways, btw. One sides wants to have "a huge scandal", one side wants to show how "proper and exemplary" the situation is handled. I'm sure both sides are getting their fair share out of it and this article is a part of the "huge scandal" fraction. In the end, nothing will change, as always; the conflict will carry on, as always; and the hatred for the other side will live on, as always.

[–] Saleh@feddit.org 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

They were "detained" after they were kidnapped by the army and forced into an Israeli port from international waters.

Nothing of that was done with the consent of the people. Claiming they were only "detained after refusing to sign papers" is like claiming the hostages of Oct. 7 only became hostages when they were in Gaza.

[–] Quittenbrot@feddit.org -3 points 2 days ago (2 children)

They were “detained” after they were kidnapped by the army and forced into an Israeli port from international waters.

Genuine question: is there any impartial/independent confirmation about the ship being boarded in international waters? Israel is exercising a naval blockade of Gaza in line with the war between the two parties and based on prize law is actually allowed to board and inspect all ships heading to Gaza.

Claiming they were only “detained after refusing to sign papers” is like claiming the hostages of Oct. 7 only became hostages when they were in Gaza.

I'm not the one drawing comparisons between these people and the hostages of Oct. 7. And frankly, it is a very very stupid comparison to make. These people can sit in a plane home the moment they sign a paper. Hassan doesn't want to sign the papers, hence will be brought before a judge this week and then will sit in a plane home. The hostages of Hamas would love to be able to do either of that. But they are neither offered anything to sign nor are they brought before a judge. Even someone filled with blind hatred for Israel should be able to make that distinction.

[–] HK65@sopuli.xyz 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

CNN and Euronews both confirm that the British ship's transponder was in international waters close to Egypt when Israeli forces attacked it and took its passengers, among them a French MEP hostage, who they have not released since.

[–] Quittenbrot@feddit.org 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

CNN and Euronews both confirm that the British ship’s transponder was in international waters close to Egypt

Thanks!

e: do you have specific links? The two articles I found on CNN and Euronews only cite FFC themselves when stating that the ship was boarded in international waters. I'm not saying it didn't happen that way, I'd just like a more independent confirmation of the situation.

[–] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Israel is exercising a naval blockade of Gaza in line with the war between the two parties and based on prize law is actually allowed to board and inspect all ships heading to Gaza.

Yea, you just made that up.

Israel's blockade is far from uncontroversially legal:

Crucially, a legal blockade IS NOT ALLOWED TO STOP HUMANITARIAN AID: https://theconversation.com/there-are-clear-laws-on-enforcing-blockades-israels-interception-of-the-madleen-raises-serious-questions-258562

[–] Quittenbrot@feddit.org 0 points 1 day ago

Yea, you just made that up.

I didn't. It is even linked in the article you posted (San Remo Manual). They are allowed to board and inspect. They aren't allowed to detain the ship if it doesn't carry prohibited goods and they aren't allowed to do it in international waters. Which is why the question of where they boarded is important.