Gaza City – Well, well, well, look what we have here: another day, another Israeli airstrike, and another round of pearl-clutching from the usual suspects. Apparently, taking out a Hamas commander – one Mohammed Odeh, described as an “architect” of the October 7 unpleasantness – near the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha is considered problematic. You don't say.

The IDF took out Odeh in a targeted strike, reducing the upper floors of some building to rubble. Three less future terrorists, apparently, and a few dozen assorted injuries to folks who probably shouldn't have been hanging around a known terrorist hangout. It's like the old saying goes: play stupid games, win stupid prizes. The Israeli government maintains its right to target Hamas members, accusing Hamas of breaching the ceasefire agreement by failing to disarm.

Of course, the usual chorus of condemnation is rolling in. 'Disproportionate force!' they shriek. 'Civilian casualties!' they wail. Newsflash: war is messy. When Hamas makes like a bunch of roaches and hides among civilians, expect some civilians to get squished when the Raid comes out.

The fact that this is going on while the US and Israel are supposedly fighting a war with Iran in February just shows how serious this conflict is. The entire US-led peace plan appears to be stalled. Hamas is just acting up again and reasserting its authority. The only language these people understand is superior firepower.

The Palestinian territory’s health ministry reports over 800 deaths from Israeli strikes during the ceasefire period. Oh no! Anyways...

Meanwhile, the UN is probably drafting a strongly worded letter as we speak. The EU is wringing its hands and offering strongly worded platitudes. And the Biden admin is probably working on a sternly worded phone call to Bibi, demanding he stop being so darn effective at defending his country.

About 1,200 people were killed in that Hamas-led attack and 251 others were taken hostage. Israel responded by launching a massive military campaign in Gaza, which reduced much of the Palestinian territory to ruins and left many of its 2.1 million residents displaced. So yeah, maybe Hamas should have thought about that before they decided to go full barbarian on October 7th. Just a thought.

The real lesson here? Don't start a war you can't finish. And if you do, don't be surprised when the other guy hits back, and hits back hard. Suck it up, buttercups.