Yes, war is appalling and a one-sided killing is hardly a propaganda coup for Bibi Natanyahu. Going by the spontaneous demonstrations supporting Palestinians on almost every continent, he has already lost in the court of world opinion.
Moreover as UN Secretary General Antonio Gutierres has already pointed out the laws of humanitarian war call for proportionate response. Promulgated in 1949 after extensive debate, the Geneva Convention is an extensive document but the basic principles require that wars be fought with honor, i.e. with conduct clearly within the rules of war.
The Geneva Convention states these as follows: (1) Amelioration of the condition of wounded and sick in battle and (2) Applying the same at sea. (3) Reasonable treatment of prisoners of war and (4) Protection of Civilians.
Grave breaches include wanton destruction of property as applicable in Gaza, also using a poison weapon (read phosphorous bombs in Netanyahu’s case); taking hostages which applies to Hamas; attacking humanitarian workers or UN Peacekeepers (Netanyahu); and allowing settlers on occupied territory, hence the term illegal settlements used by UN and other observers.
The killing of civilians applies against Hamas except in the case of armed farmer settlers, who apart from terrorizing Palestinian farmers also claim to be defending the borders of Israel.
If our esteemed president is among the most enthusiastic cheerleaders for Netanyahu and the slaughter, (refusing for a long time to call for an end to the killings) he should be aware that being an accessory to war crimes can have consequences. It only requires a formal complaint naming them filed against the two countries with the International Court of Justice, and the indictment will make them fugitives from justice restricting travel opportunities. Well, he likes to be first and this would become a legal test putting him in the history books.
The vice president is no less a cheerleader and she, too, continues to express vociferous support for Israel and Netanyahu’s response in Gaza. The latest death count is over 7000 of which about 3000 are minors. One would guess the rest are mainly women and old men since the young will be probably facing the Israeli onslaught — a prospect of death or prison given the imbalance in weapons, and the human conscience in abeyance.
On a different plane, we can also imagine the two sides living peaceably together, cultivating the rich land without either side claiming exclusive rights to it. When that happens and Palestinians no longer have to spend half a day going through checkpoints, the whole will be a happier place with one less flashpoint for the world.
While we wait — and it is going to be a long wait — Palestinian children continue to be scarred for life. How sad!