Of the tens of thousands killed in Gaza, approximately 60% have been women, children, and elderly folks. Additionally, several hundred aid workers have been killed by Israeli forces. (Aid workers includes doctors, nurses, paramedics, ambulance drivers, food distribution volunteers, etc.)Bret Ripley wrote: I don't think anyone seriously argues that the death and suffering inflicted upon the civilian population in Gaza has been orders of magnitude greater than the suffering inflicted by Hamas on October 7.
This by no means diminishes the atrocities inflicted upon Israeli citizens on October 7. It is only meant to highlight the asymmetry of Israel's response.
This is probably not a great analogy, but consider this: let's say a group of teenagers from a nearby apartment complex breaks into my home and murders several members of my family. Furthermore, I have reason to believe they may do so again. Question: what moral arguments can I cite as justification for burning down that apartment complex?