But there is an important distinction.
Revenge seeks suffering because suffering has occurred.
Justice seeks accountability for those responsible.
October 7 was not an anonymous act of war carried out by faceless armies.
Many of the perpetrators recorded themselves entering Israeli communities.
Cameras captured kidnappings, shootings and assaults.
Intelligence agencies have spent years identifying the individuals involved.
Israel is not merely saying, “Someone attacked us.”
It is asking, “Who did it?”
That distinction matters.
Nations have an obligation not only to defend their citizens during an attack, but also to ensure that those who deliberately murder civilians do not simply disappear back into society and wait for the next opportunity.
For Israel, allowing October 7 terrorists to receive effective amnesty could send exactly the wrong message.
–