Did “Hamas actually want Israel to invade Gaza? Is there a danger that this tragic situation will strengthen the hand of the ultra-nationalist Israeli right? How should the international community respond to the war between Israel and Hamas?Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart last year were joined by Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari to address all these questions and more, a week after Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel.”

“Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel, massacring thousands of Israelis and foreign nationals and taking hundreds more hostage, launching Israel into an unprecedented year of threats, attacks, assassinations, protests, and war. Some 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas-led October 7 massacre. Over 250 people were kidnapped into the Gaza Strip, with 101 of them still being detained in captivity.”

“Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel, massacring thousands of Israelis and foreign nationals and taking hundreds more hostage, launching Israel into an unprecedented year of threats, attacks, assassinations, protests, and war. Some 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas-led October 7 massacre. Over 250 people were kidnapped into the Gaza Strip, with 101 of them still being detained in captivity.”

Israel had to respond. Nations cannot always turn the other cheek as individuals may. Nations must protect the whole of its people.

Israel once (2005) withdrew completely, disengaged from Gaza altogether. It evidently didn’t work. For now at least.

Has Israel’s punishments on Hamas-Hezbollah gone too far, exceeding the bounds of a moral response? The International Criminal Court (ICC) said yes. The United States won’t answer to that international body though, and recognizes its authority only very selectively, when it has another enemy in the cross hairs.

So it is, we know, a very difficult and hotly debated question.

Updated

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