Focusing on mortality, not morality, bombardment has had the effect on Gaza of 75 October 7ths or 750 9/11s. By some estimates civilian deaths in the Israel-Gaza war already exceed those in the Russo-Ukrainian war, which has pitted two gigantic, state-of-the-art armies against each other for well over two years.

There is not really another way for Israel to defend itself if it is going to be fully sovereign and truly independent. ... 

But the question can be posed: is Israel fully sovereign and truly independent? If it is not, then the arguments for this extravagant use of leverage weaken considerably. Although Israel has been growing toward self-sufficiency, the fact is that this is a country established on a piece of the British Empire wrested from the Ottoman Empire and protected by its special standing within the American empire. Israel’s strategic choices will define what Israel is. Netanyahu’s coalition partners have one vision for defending Israel. It involves sovereignty, pro-natalist policies, prayer, and a command of military strong points—but at the risk of isolation, and even retaliation, from the outside world. The secular tech elites who lead the Israeli opposition propose another vision: good relationships with other global elites, above all those of the United States. But there is a risk here, too.