There are some serious concerns about your response. First, while 20% of Israeli citizens are Arab and possess certain rights, they very often face systemic discrimination in areas like housing, education, and employment. Reports from organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International explicitly document these inequalities, showing that many Arab citizens in Israel experience significant disparity of treatment compared to Jewish citizens.
The fact that the Palestinian population has grown in no way negates the severe restrictions and controls they face. In the West Bank, Palestinians live under military occupation with limited movement, restricted access to resources, and frequent demolitions of homes and infrastructure. Despite Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, the territory remains under a strict blockade, which severely limits the movement of people and goods and contributes to a dire humanitarian situation.
Attributing all Palestinian suffering solely to Hamas and the Palestinian Authority ignores the broader context of Israeli policies, not to mention nearly a century of history. While Hamas and the PA have responsibilities for their governance issues, Israeli actions, including settlement expansions, military checkpoints, and land confiscations, have devastated Palestinian lives.
The issue of Hamas’s tunnels does not justify collective punishment of the civilian population. International humanitarian law mandates the protection of civilians, and while the use of tunnels for military purposes is problematic, it does not absolve the responsibility to avoid civilian casualties.
While the term “genocide” is highly contentious and debated, the fact that there are some who believe the threshold has been met demonstrates how bad things are. While I believe it is active genocide, the high civilian death toll and widespread destruction in Gaza should be concerning to everyone of good conscience.
While the IDF claim to take precautions to minimize civilian casualties, numerous human rights organizations have documented far too many instances of disproportionate and indiscriminate force. These reports challenge the effectiveness and sufficiency of the IDF’s measures to protect civilians. It also calls into question their honesty and integrity as they claim to be following the rule of international law.
Criticism of Hamas is valid, but focusing solely or even primarily on Hamas’s actions without considering the broader context of occupation and blockade simplifies the conflict. A comprehensive peace process must address the root causes, including the occupation and the blockade.
The transparency about casualty figures reflects the intense international scrutiny and the scale of the humanitarian impact. Reporting on civilian deaths is crucial for accountability in any conflict.
Arguing that Israel could commit genocide if it wanted to does not address the principles of proportionality and necessity in international law. Deliberate targeting of civilians is a war crime, and the scale of destruction in Gaza has exposes their failure to adhere to international humanitarian standards.
Finally, using violence committed by individuals during the conflict to justify collective punishment of Palestinians is misleading, dishonest, and unjust. Many Palestinians do not support such acts, and public opinion in conflict zones is complex, influenced by living conditions and political pressures.