The Media Calls Israeli Captives “Hostages” and Palestinians “Prisoners”

MEDIA, 19 May 2025

Jonah Valdez | The Intercept - TRANSCEND Media Service

People watch a live broadcast of Israeli American soldier Edan Alexander as he is released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, at a plaza known as “Hostages Square” in Tel Aviv on 12 May 2025.
Photo: Oded Balilty/AP

Although he was a soldier captured at a military outpost, U.S. news outlets rarely described Edan Alexander as a prisoner of war.

13 May 2025 – There are several ways to describe someone held against their will, each with its own implications. The word “prisoner” suggests someone detained on suspicion of crimes or captured during times of war. “Hostage,” on the other hand, signifies a civilian held against their will.

Since the start of Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, corporate media outlets in the U.S. typically describe Israeli captives as “hostages,” even if they are soldiers, and Palestinian captives as “prisoners,” even if they are children.

This semantic choice was once again on display in the coverage of the release of dual American Israeli citizen Edan Alexander, a soldier in the Israeli military captured from an Israel Defense Forces outpost along the Gaza border on October 7, 2023, by Hamas militants. Alexander, a 21-year-old New Jersey native, was freed after negotiations between Hamas and a U.S.-led delegation. His release kicked off Donald Trump’s Middle East trip, where the president is expected to meet with leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

American news outlets on Monday referred to Alexander as “the last living American hostage” in Hamas custody. Anchors and analysts alike made little to no mention of his service with the IDF, instead grouping him with civilians who were also taken by Hamas. It’s an omission notable to Palestinians, who say that when the Israeli military captures their countrymen — even those who, unlike Alexander, are civilians — they are seldom granted a similar reception.

TO CONTINUE READING Go to Original – theintercept.com

Share this article: email mastodon facebook 🔗 copy link

DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

There are no comments so far.