"There are no innocent civilians in Gaza — they elected Hamas."

Their strongest version

Hamas won the 2006 legislative election and polls have shown periods of significant support.

The response

The last election was in 2006 — half of Gaza's population is children, and the median Gazan is too young to have voted in it. Hamas took control of Gaza by force in 2007 and has held no election since; Gazans protesting Hamas have been beaten and shot. By this argument's own logic, every citizen of every state is a legitimate target for their government's acts — a standard no one applies to themselves. This claim isn't analysis; it's the dissolving of the civilian category, which is where atrocity begins. When a head of state says an entire nation is responsible, name that as the dogwhistle it is (see glossary: 'no uninvolved civilians').

Don’t