In times of war, the moral clarity of leaders is often sharpened ~ or shattered. The escalating confrontation in Gaza has not only laid bare the horrors of modern warfare but also the dangerous fractures emerging among long-standing allies. When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounces counterparts in allied democracies for being on the “wrong side of history,” we are not witnessing routine diplomatic sparring. We are witnessing the crumbling of a post-WWII consensus on the conduct of war, the value of civilian life, and the limits of alliance. The allegation that condemnation of disproportionate military actions is equivalent to siding with terrorists is deeply troubling. The war against Hamas, which committed unspeakable atrocities during its 2023 attacks on Israel, is rooted in a legitimate national security imperative. But the means by which this war is prosecuted matter.

When a response crosses the line into collective punishment, it ceases to be selfdefence and begins to........

© The Statesman