Originally published on August 8

Israel today is showing that an horrific war begun will be horrifically won or lost, as with most wars in history. The lesson? Don’t even think of starting such a war unless you are prepared to finish it.

For Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart or anyone else to feign moral indignation only shows their malice and indifference to facts as they aid the wrong side of history again. War is war.

If you deliberately and stealthily cross into a nation and start a war, killing all kinds of unsuspecting young people and others in their sleep or awake, you had better be prepared to finish the war, win or lose. You have forfeited the right to make the rules. Israel cannot win a war of attrition due to demographics. It must fight fast and extremely hard.

Israel, unlike Hamas, has given proper notice when it acts in this war.  Hamas on the other hand knew their own people would reap the whirlwind when it nihilistically acted.Israel today is showing that an horrific war begun will be horrifically won or lost, as with most wars in history.

@RoryStewartUK @campbellclaret

Douglas Murray

On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization

In his travels through Israel and Gaza, #1 International Bestselling author Douglas Murray  has seen the best and the worst humanity has to offer, and he has no trouble choosing a side.

Murray is not Jewish and before October 7, he had never lived in Israel. However, he objects to being lied to, and Israel has been on the receiving end of the biggest, deepest, longest lies in history.

Israel’s commitment to fundamental Western values—capitalism, individual rights, democracy, and reason—has made it a beacon of progress in a region dominated by authoritarianism and extremism. Israel’s principles vividly contrast with the ideology of Hamas, which openly proclaims its love of death over life. With incisive moral clarity, On Democracies and Death Cults exposes how the campus left and international establishment confuse this conflict by:

• Calling on Israel for restraint and proportionality, while Hamas commits genocide.
• Slandering Israelis as white colonialists, while only a third of Israelis are Jews of European ancestry.
• Framing the conflict as oppressor vs. oppressed, when it is really between a thriving multi-ethnic democracy and a death cult bent on its annihilation.

Drawing from intensive on-the-ground reporting in Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon, Douglas Murray places the latest violence in its proper historical context. He takes listeners on a harrowing journey through the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, piecing together the exclusive accounts from victims, survivors, and even the terrorists responsible for the atrocities. If left unchecked, misplaced sympathy could embolden forces that seek to undermine not only Israel, but all of Western civilization.

See also Interview with Douglas Murray

Melanie Phillips on Iran photo: BBC

Front photo: BBC

+ Survey: Christians favor Israel over Palestinians in Israel-Hamas war, but Catholic-Jewish relations hazy

Unilateral Attacks

Prior to October 7 Israel had been unilaterally attacked many times over decades

(1) Q: how often has Israel been unilaterally attacked since 1949?

“Israel has been unilaterally attacked multiple times since 1949, notably in major wars and numerous smaller-scale incidents, including surprise offensives by neighboring states and non-state actors.

Here’s a breakdown of the most significant unilateral attacks against Israel since its founding:

Major Wars and Conflicts

• 1948–1949 Arab-Israeli War: Initiated by neighboring Arab states following Israel’s declaration of independence.
• 1956 Suez Crisis: Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal; Israel, Britain, and France launched a coordinated attack, though not a unilateral attack on Israel.
• 1967 Six-Day War: Israel, acting on intelligence, launched a preemptive strike, but tensions and mobilizations by Egypt, Syria, and Jordan were seen as imminent threats.
• 1973 Yom Kippur War: Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel during the Jewish holy day of Yom KippurBritannica.
• 1982 Lebanon War: Israel invaded Lebanon to combat PLO forces after repeated attacks from southern Lebanon.
• 2006 Lebanon War: Hezbollah launched a cross-border raid, killing and capturing Israeli soldiers, prompting Israeli retaliation.

Notable Unilateral Attacks by

 Non-State Actors

• Hamas and Islamic Jihad rocket attacks: These have occurred frequently since the early 2000s, with major escalations in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2021, and 2023CFR Education+1.
• Intifadas: The First (1987–1993) and Second (2000–2005) Intifadas involved widespread Palestinian uprisings and attacks against Israeli civilians and military targets.
• October 7, 2023 Hamas attack: A large-scale surprise assault involving infiltration and rocket fire, resulting in over 1,200 Israeli deaths and hundreds of hostagesUS News. —BBC and Co-Pilot A.I.

Summary

While exact counts vary depending on definitions, Israel has faced dozens of unilateral attacks, ranging from full-scale wars initiated by states to frequent rocket barrages and terror attacks by non-state groups. These incidents have shaped Israel’s security posture and regional relations. Israel, being a very small nation, cannot win a war of attrition. So Israel if attacked must hit back hard as a defense and deterrent.

War is hell. All wars will almost inevitably involve very many awful civilian casualties.

Comparing Casualties in Iraq and Gaza 2025

This is why we Christians must be peace activists. Because once war begins there is no telling how it will end. Almost all wars end in horror. Hamas deliberately began this latest major war, breaking a two year negotiated ceasefire. Israel in response went after Hamas and other war provocateurs. It warned Hamas that they had a high moral obligation to clear and protect civilians, and especially children. But Hamas shut its ears, opting instead to strategically use civilians as human shields. This was another great abomination. Candace should know this instead of slandering Israel before the whole world.

I hope Candace Owens gets the kind of help she needs. It is heartbreaking to see a woman with so many gifts and so much potential involved in a horrific self-immolation.

Listen: The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order by Gary Gerstle on Audible.