Again, by definition genocide has no military purpose.
Israel’s military objective is to destroy Hamas. According to Western military doctrine (which Israel is capable of using), this objective does not require wiping out every last Palestinian. So it doesn’t matter what Israel “determines”, wiping out every last Palestinian is not permissible.
I think if war is justified, then killing children is justified because children are always killed in war. Personally I’m ambivalent about whether war can ever be justified, but I certainly recognize that most people think it can.
But I don’t agree with those who believe that (say) the US invasion of Normandy can be justified, but this invasion cannot be justified. Both involved immense civilian suffering.
Hamas did not invade Israel. What are you talking about? They didn’t try to take over territory. They committed an act of terrorism, not an act of war.
Again, by definition genocide has no military purpose.
Israel’s military objective is to destroy Hamas. According to Western military doctrine (which Israel is capable of using), this objective does not require wiping out every last Palestinian. So it doesn’t matter what Israel “determines”, wiping out every last Palestinian is not permissible.
I think if war is justified, then killing children is justified because children are always killed in war. Personally I’m ambivalent about whether war can ever be justified, but I certainly recognize that most people think it can.
It isn’t.
If you’re a pacifist, I can respect that.
But I don’t agree with those who believe that (say) the US invasion of Normandy can be justified, but this invasion cannot be justified. Both involved immense civilian suffering.
The invasion of Normandy was not what started the war. The war started when the Nazis invaded Poland.
And the storming of Normandy beach did not involve the deaths of civilians.
This war started when Hamas invaded Israel.
And the invasion of Normandy did not end on the beach.
Hamas did not invade Israel. What are you talking about? They didn’t try to take over territory. They committed an act of terrorism, not an act of war.
Distinction without difference, it’s a casus belli either way.
Of course there’s a difference. An invasion is about seizing territory.
An attack is a casus belli even without seizing territory.
For example, if Putin launched missiles at Warsaw or DC, he would start a war. It makes no difference if any territory is taken.