Israeli citizens, the vast majority of them, have not taken meaningful effort in overthrowing the government of a corrupt prime minister doing everything in his ability to stay in power, else Israeli citizens ought to learn from Nepal and call for a concrete transition of power. At this point, they are complicit in the genocide, like it or not - simply protesting in Tel Aviv and their local kibbutzim won't cut it. And I say this as someone who's view has shifted massively on this topic since October 7, 2023 - from a vocal supporter of Israeli action (as a Muslim nonetheless!) to a vocal opponent now. Until Israeli citizens overthrow their corrupt government of their own will, they are all part of the genocide and must be rightfully ostracized. Especially given that Netanyahu has outed himself as a one-Jewish-state proponent, and has no interest in a peaceful resolution - or in regional peace.
What's to say Israel's next plans aren't for Greater Israel next? Stealing parts of the Egyptian Sinai, Lebanon, Syria (which they already have done) and Jordan? And then Saudi Arabia and Iraq?
Ancedotally, as an Israeli, people's (or at least protesters') discontent with the Netanyahu government is essentially limited to his criminal charges, general populist antics, and his refusal to cut a hostage deal.
You would be hard-pressed to find someone who thinks the IDF is commiting war crimes in Gaza, let alone a genocide.
There is great skepticism towards international NGOs that make these accusations, especially the U.N., owing to past pro-Palestinian bias.
Obviously, there are war crimes happening in Gaza—like in any war.
But having followed a number of conflicts, I don’t see Israel conducting itself in a way that’s uniquely bad.
What makes Gaza different is the opponent: one committed to total war, willing to sacrifice civilians in order to manufacture outrage and turn Western opinion against Israel.
Documented examples include:
- Shooting at civilians who follow evacuation routes
- Sending children with bombs in their backpacks
- Denying civilians access to bomb shelters
- Storing weapons caches and launching rockets from civilian areas
In my STEM degree I was forced to take an ethics class, if I wanted the degree. One thing that stood out to me in that class was how we were exposed to many schools of ethics, and looking at the limitations of each one. Specifically, when one train of thought didn't have any limitation to it.
When you regurgitate this, it lacks an explanation on what the limitations would be, what wouldn't be accepted rule of engagement, based on the same rationale.
"it's a densely populated place with civilians everywhere, except we arbitrarily decided that every male over the age of 15 is not a civilian, so we'll bomb and bulldoze the surface level and not find any of the tunnels whatsoever, because the opponent is so different!"
isn't Israel supposed to have the highest concentration of PhD's anywhere? this is cognitively negligent
Initially that's what I thought too. But then the more the war progresses, there's only one group benefiting from what's happening - and it's not the remaining hostages.
Also, do Israelis really believe that with the extremely omnipresent intelligence apparatus that Israel enjoys, especially on the technological front, their country was not able to predict the October 7th attacks? Or did Netanyahu, personally on the verge of being convicted criminally, found a route out by starting a long-drawn out campaign where his hawkish approach would bolster his image? This entire affair has had all the stench of Putin's Chechnya escapade.
There is widespread bias against Israel, for the simple reason that Israel does not let press on the ground. Not even conservative, pro-Israel voices were allowed to report with boots on the ground.
And now Israel went a step further, by attacking a sovereign third-party nation that is trying to give a voice to the other un-sovereign side. Granted, they are heavily biased, but they are (were) also Israel's thread to communicate with Hamas leadership - and Israel just bombs their soil? Don't Israelis think on those terms?
What's to say Israel's next plans aren't for Greater Israel next? Stealing parts of the Egyptian Sinai, Lebanon, Syria (which they already have done) and Jordan? And then Saudi Arabia and Iraq?