>>The point must be made again too, surely, that Gaza is also a democracy ~ which fairly recently held elections ~ and elected Hamas ~ who are the ones firing the rockets: which can accordingly presumably be said to emanate with the avowed and explicit support of the majority of the population of Gaza. Is it not ∴ at least arguable that they have thus brought the IDF retaliation on themselves?

Just putting the point for consideration<<

If it is a point worthy of consideration then it applies in much greater measure to Israel. The Jews in Israel are a democracy, and many of the settlers near Gaza, not to live peacefully but to claim the land and and to provoke a response.

Keeping in mind that large numbers of the Israeli electorate support aggressive action to to expand the state of Israel thinking that though God has promised a greater Israel it is this generation's job to seize occupied land.

Religious fanatics do not want peace and they don't care who is destroyed to get in their way. The all think that they are Joshua. Blowing the trumpets, tearing down the walls and killing all of the occupants of the land God has promised them.