I think Netanyahu made a devil’s bargain with Hamas (and 1001 other misdeeds) and now is trying to stay in power. This is partly why Palestinians in Gaza are suffering so tremendously. The Israeli people are in shock and trauma and want to prevent another Oct 7. I wrote at more length about all of this in my earlier essays. To summarize a complex set of motivations from multiple players in a way that denies self-defense as one major motivation is simplifying the situation beyond recognition…IMHO. Obviously you see things differently. I have no interest in debating with someone who doesn’t see self defense as a big part of the story.