I think it was Mao that talked about how much it demoralizes the enemy when their soldiers are treated humanely when captured.
One of the upshots of treating prisoners well and doing exchanges frequently is that all those prisoners you had are gonna tell their friends, and next time you're in an attrition battle it's more likely that they'll just surrender when it even remotely starts looking bad for them.
Wilfred Burchett was a journalist who covered major conflicts during the Japanese nukings and the Cold War. During the Korean and Vietnam Wars, he reported that American POWs were treated very humanely and many of them weren't even shackled, just allowed to roam around outside in the prison yard. He received a bunch of hate and slander for this, but even his detractors stepped in to defend him saying the reports were accurate because the returning POWs confirmed it. Although the US would later accuse a lot of them of being traitors and brainwashed.
The term “brainwashing” was invented to dismiss the accounts of actual POWs in favor of phantom POWs that didn’t/don’t exist who are definitely still being kept prisoner there at 90 years old.
“Stockholm syndrome” was later invented to serve the same purpose.
Our policy towards prisoners captured from the Japanese, puppet or anti-Communist troops is to set them all free, except for those who have incurred the bitter hatred of the masses and must receive capital punishment and whose death sentence has been approved by the higher authorities. Among the prisoners, those who were coerced into joining the reactionary forces but who are more or less inclined towards the revolution should be won over in large numbers to work for our army. The rest should be released and, if they fight us and are captured again, should again be set free. We should not insult them, take away their personal effects or try to exact recant taxation from them, but without exception should treat them sincerely and kindly. This should be our policy, however reactionary they may be. It is a very effective way of isolating the camp of reaction.
I saw an interview with a Japanese veteran who was conscripted to fight in the IJA. He was captured by the PLA and he thought he was going to be tortured to death. Instead, the PLA treated him well and he eventually went on to fight for the PLA. After the war, he returned to Japan and spent the rest of his life trying to educate the public about Japanese war crimes and campaigning for peace.
Can't find the link with the interview, but I think it was Hirosumi Kobayashi
It's interesting how reactionary regimes tend to take the opposite approach. Bad strategy on their part, or do they get some benefit from inflicting torture that revolutionaries don't?
That's for internal consumption. Settlers see what the Zionist occupation does to Palestinians and they're cowed into silence.
The point is to make everyone complicit, so they would support the government out of fear for retribution.
It's a form of dehumanization that makes the soldiers more willing to commit warcrimes. The soldiers who torture Palestinian children will feel less guilt and hesitation bombing hospitals.
For real, the United States made up the concept of brainwashing when American POWs in North Korea said how they were treated humanely.
If im not wrong i think there were even Japanese Defectors who fought for the PLA in the civil war
The food was scarce; there wasn't much food.
I wonder why there wasn't much food
He said Hamas tried to provide medications daily
GEE I WONDER HOW PEOPLE WHO NEEDED MEDICATION ON THE OTHER SIDE WERE TREATED
Hamas providing better healthcare in the middle of a bombing campaign and active genocide than what tens of millions of Americans have.
Meanwhile, Israel tortures and humiliates its hostages that it kidnaps without charge and sentences without due process.
Over the next few weeks, it’s very likely that the circumstances of many of the non-military deaths will be called into question.
Which may also be why Israel is so intent to kill any Hamas members or witnesses.
As it seems odd that at some spots Hamas took prisoners and at others Hamas apparently killed everyone.
Which may also be why Israel is so intent to kill any Hamas members or witnesses.
"Okay so we need to threaten the retrieved hostages or just keep them in prison long enough so no one mentions the name 'Hague'"
"But commander some of them are American"
"Oh no, oh God no"
Here's what will happen: Hamas will release every hostage that's still alive. Some will have died due to bombings or lack of resources. Then this will be Israel's POW/MIA used to justify forever war with Palestine.
There's video of the hostages being released where you can see Israeli hostages smiling and waving at masked Hamas fighters.
I don't want to link to them since a lot of them were tweeted by reactionary accounts, but you can find them if you search Twitter for "Hamas hostages".
Freed Israeli hostage waves to the people of Gaza.
meanwhile this guy seems worried they got Stockholm Syndrome and might speak on behalf of Palestinians
Show
https://www.businessinsider.com/jonathan-pollard-says-hostages-families-should-have-been-jailed
Jonathan Pollard is a former US Navy intelligence analyst who was imprisoned for spying for Israel.
"Bro, prison was so cool and fun. Everyone should have a go."
https://twitter.com/AryJeay/status/1728553408267768209
For those curious, this may be the video in question.
Hamas was too kind tbh, at the least they should have re-educated them.
to quote comrade SorosFootSoldier:
I think it was Mao that talked about how much it demoralizes the enemy when their soldiers are treated humanely when captured.
Thats so weird. I thought KHamas were all animals and savage beasts. /s
Every accusation is an admission
