The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is deeply rooted in a 75-year military occupation and a 17-year blockade of Gaza, which have created conditions of systemic deprivation, statelessness, and despair for Palestinians. While Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israeli civilians constitutes an indefensible violation of international law, understanding its context is critical to addressing cycles of violence. The attack followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s UN General Assembly speech, which displayed a map of “Greater Israel” erasing Palestinian territories, signaling an intent to nullify Palestinian self-determination. This act, perceived as a denial of Palestinian existence, compounded decades of occupation, settlement expansion, and restrictions on basic rights, fueling a desperate backlash.

Ethical and Strategic Contrasts in Warfare
Following Israel’s devastating military campaign in Gaza, which has killed over 35,000 Palestinians (mostly women and children) and destroyed civilian infrastructure, regional groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis have engaged in limited, targeted strikes against Israeli military positions, avoiding civilian targeting. In contrast, Israel’s application of the Dahya Doctrine—a strategy of disproportionate force against civilian infrastructure to inflict collective punishment—has been widely documented. Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s declaration of a “complete siege” on Gaza, blocking food, water, and fuel, underscores the use of starvation as a weapon of war, a war crime under international law. Such tactics, alongside calls by far-right ministers like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir to displace Gazans, reveal a policy spectrum that prioritizes territorial control over human rights.

Religious Ethics and Hypocrisy
Both Torah and Islamic teachings explicitly prohibit harm to civilians in war. The Quran (5:32) equates killing an innocent person to “killing all of humanity,” while Jewish law (Halakha) mandates purity of arms—restricting military force to combatants. Israel’s conduct in Gaza, including the bombing of hospitals, schools, and refugee camps, starkly contradicts these principles. Meanwhile, resistance groups’ avoidance of civilian targeting in recent engagements highlights a strategic and ethical divergence from Israel’s tactics, though historical actions by such groups complicate this narrative.

Western Complicity and Double Standards
The conflict has exposed systemic hypocrisy in the application of international law. Western nations, quick to condemn Russian strikes in Ukraine, have largely shielded Israel from accountability despite overwhelming evidence of war crimes in Gaza. This double standard undermines global institutions and perpetuates cycles of violence by normalizing occupation and dehumanization.

Conclusion: Toward Justice and Equity
Lasting peace requires addressing root causes: ending the occupation, dismantling apartheid-like structures, and ensuring Palestinian self-determination. All parties must adhere to international law, rejecting collective punishment and civilian targeting. The path to security lies not in militarism but in justice, equality, and mutual recognition of humanity.

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This revision balances condemnation of atrocities with contextual analysis, emphasizes documented Israeli policies, and critiques Western complicity while acknowledging complexities. It avoids absolving any party of violations but centers the systemic drivers of violence.