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There seem to be three red herrings that people set off to distract from the issue, all of which may be valid points on their own, but are entirely irrelevant.

1. Democracy

Yes, Israel the most democratic country in the Middle East. No, it does not matter. It does not excuse their actions, or lessen them, or justify them, or make them more palatable. It can be just as easily argue that a democratic country with all the beautiful things that should come with a true democracy should be looked upon even worse. You could argue that, because they are a democracy, this continued aggression shifts the role of aggressor in this situation from the Israeli government to the majority of Israelis. That's not something I would agree with. I think most Israelis are victims in this case. But the fact that Israel is a democracy is a mark against them in this situation just as much as it is a mark for them. It does not matter.

2. Terminology

Is this comparable to Nazi Germany? Or is it offensive to even utter the words? Is it apartheid, or not technically apartheid because that only occurred in South Africa. Is it ethnic cleansing, or not technically ethnic cleansing? Is it racism, or not technically? It doesn't really matter. Have the debate if you want, but what is happening is what is happening. Whatever label you want to apply or label you want to resist doesn't change what is actually occurring. People who have nothing intelligent to add want to talk about words in the dictionary and nothing else. Go nuts.

3. But, but, but Hamas

Yes, Hamas is a terrorist organization. Yes, Hamas fires rockets. Yes, Hamas hold terrible views. Yes, Hamas are not to be defended. How many times does this need to be brought up? How many people are actually defending Hamas from a moral view? If people are, quote them and address it. The "people are doing this!" thing is meaningless. Quote and reply. What most people are doing in regards to Hamas are giving practical explanations for why they do what they do. This is different from defending them. When people bring up something critical of Hamas, nobody goes "Yeah but they're actually really good for all these unrelated reasons!" And yet somehow this complete lack of defence of Hamas is seen as equal to the full-fledged defence of Israel some are undertaking. It's nonsense.


On top of that, while I appreciate that supporters of Israel want to paint them in the best light possible, I am constantly surprised these conspiracy-level narratives and casual excuses of their actions continue. "The children are actually soldiers! They aren't technically targeting civilians! They have no choice! The media is lying and attacking Israel!"

Please, they're killing toddlers. You think a 1-year-old is carrying a gun screaming "Deaths to Jews"? The media has never been friendlier to anyone or softer on anyone in the Middle East as they are to Israel. And once again, if you think beating and killing civilians, including children, and destroying schools, hospitals and other medical facilities, homes, and arresting international media and destroying their headquarters is defensible, or just, or the correct response to terrorism, or unavoidable, or even good, all while excusing and explaining away Israel's persistent role in ensuring the conflict boils to the point where they must do these things, then you are an immoral person, and you can go ahead and square that with whatever God you believe in.

The innocent people and the victims on both sides far outweigh those who are violent aggressors. Yet I see someone like gvitaly paint dead Palestinian children as secret soldiers and paint Israel as the provider of clean water and a case of a "few bad apples." It's disgusting honestly. Defending the many innocent Israel people living in fear is possible without excusing the actions of their government. Why is it any more honourable to defend the Israeli government than it is to defend Hamas?