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WiredOCT 2023
G7 Presses for ‘Humanitarian Pauses’ in Gaza but Not Cease-fire
Image copyright: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
While images of the destruction in Gaza and the high number of casualties as a result of Israeli air strikes may be distressing, they need to be put in the context of other wars. During World War II, the Allies killed 37K Germans during one aerial bombardment, most of whom were civilians. Wars are inevitably destructive, and this one was started by Hamas. Israel was forced to respond to a heinous terror attack, and justice can only be served when Hamas's leadership has been dismantled.
Pro-Palestine narrative
While Hamas's attack on Israel cannot be condoned, that does not justify Israel's brutal war on Gaza in which it has killed thousands of Palestinian civilians — the vast majority of whom have no affiliation with Hamas. This is collective punishment on the Palestinians, and the international community must apply more pressure on Israel to spare Palestinian lives. 40% of casualties being children is not a normal part of war but rather an act of genocide.