Fish in a Barrel

I've always been able to separate governments from the people they govern. I'm no fan of Hamas or the Netanyahu government, but I feel sympathy for the people they represent.

But, I know that there was no Hamas until Gaza became an outdoor prison—over-crowded, no hope, no future, unable to flee, subject to collective punishment by their jailors who withhold water, electricity, food, & medicine. The eventual explosion of rage in October was as predictable as it was preventable.

However, Israelis shooting fish in a barrel is not defensible either. It is all very disturbing.

I blame neither the Jewish diaspora, the Israeli people, nor the Palestinians for this mess. I'd actively defend either from the mob on the street.