Hamas’ brutal attacks in Israel on October 7 killed at least 1,400 people and the group took more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. In the wake of the assault, Israel launched an aerial bombardment of Gaza that Palestinian health officials say has killed more than 5,000 people. Israel also announced a “complete siege” on the enclave, withholding vital supplies of water, food and fuel.
Killing civilians is never right, it wasn’t back then, and it isn’t right now. But the big difference is that Hamas’ primary goal is to murder as many innocents as possible, not to win a war. That is why they are not on the same level.