Mainstream Media Discovers Palestinian 'Prisoners', Not Hostages
France 24 highlights the 'emotional return' of 'liberated Palestinian prisoners' after a recent exchange. What's consistently omitted from such reports is the pervasive system that put them behind bars: Israel's military detention of Palestinians, a practice documented by UN agencies and human rights groups for decades. Many are held under 'administrative detention'—indefinitely, without charge or
trial, a violation of international law. According to Defense for Children International – Palestine, over 12,000 Palestinian children have been detained by Israeli forces since 2000, often subjected to physical violence and solitary confinement. Yet, when they are exchanged, the humanitarian veil descends. The media rarely delves into why so many Palestinians are 'prisoners' in the first place,
or questions the legality of their mass incarceration by an occupying power. It's a selective compassion, a spotlight only shone when a 'swap' occurs, allowing the underlying systemic injustice to remain in the shadows. One might wonder, if freedom is so 'priceless', why are thousands more still awaiting such a transaction?