Agreed, no nation should acquire new land by force of arms or police action. When you have a proper justification for attacking your enemies you must at least appear to be trying to minimize collateral damage. You must treat refugees and prisoners of war in accordance with international law. You must prosecute and punish members of your armed forces that commit war crimes.

For me it is very troubling that Gaza refugees are confined in Gaza and not given sanctuary in Egypt and Israel. I don't know if there is a law requires that civilians must be allowed safe passage out of the war zone, but it is or at least to me seems common sense. The disregard for collateral damage and the confinement of non-combatants to the conflict area are what makes the war in Gaza seem a lot like genocide. That and the lopsided power balance and disproportionate casualties.

Is the elimination of Hamas possible, won't it just reconstitute when the fighting stops? How much can Hezbollah be weakened? It is not going away either. Does anyone really believe that peace can be achieved in this region? If history is a guide, cease fires really mean just less fighting not really a stop to the fighting.

Terrorism: the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.

Who thinks anyone party to this conflict is not using terrorism?

There is no way to take sides in this conflict as there is not party that is not wrong. For me at least, I am against Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthi's, Iran, and Israel.

I hold Iran mostly responsible for conflicts in the region and I am a tiny bit sympathetic to Israel's plight caused by Iranian proxies. I feel the ignorant actions of the current Israeli government might be cause by frustration over decades of poking and prodding.

More must be done to stop Russia, Iran, and North Korea and by that, I mean China, Turkey, India and others who could really make the sanctions bite.

I don't know how to make war less profitable and until that is figured out, the bombs will fall.

TEK