Thane Rosenbaum on Defending Israel’s Response to October 7

“Let me be clear at the outset and state, emphatically, what should be obvious to any rational thinking reader: I am not in favor of killing children, Palestinian or otherwise. And I don’t know any Jew or any Zionist who is.”

This is how Thane Rosenbaum, renowned legal scholar, Middle East analyst, professor and author, begins the first chapter of his new book, “Beyond Proportionality: Israel’s Just War in Gaza” (Wicked Son).

While it may seem obvious that Israel is not interested in killing innocent children – or men and women too for that matter – it’s just one of the many lies that’s been spreading on college campuses, in the streets, and online since October 7. The “baby killer” line is typically paired with chants about the “genocide” and “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza as well.

“Beyond Proportionality” clearly demonstrates how Israel’s response has been more than proportional to October 7, how it is fighting a beyond just war in Gaza, and how Hamas, Hezbollah, and their wicked allies do whatever it takes to make Israel look like the evil actor. While Israel does whatever it can to minimize casualties, including sending warnings ahead of time and conducting precision strikes, Hamas attempts to increase casualties by propping up the Palestinians as human shields.

Thane hopes that anyone who discusses the Gaza War with people who scream “genocide!” and don’t know how to respond will read his book and shut down those falsehoods.

“Also, the book should be read by your family members, friends, neighbors and people at work who have been indoctrinated to hate Israel, don’t know the facts and law, and perhaps don’t realize (or should be exposed) that they, in fact, are antisemites or self-hating Jews,” he said, not mincing words.

If you are dealing with anti-Israel or antisemitic people in your life, you can utilize “Beyond Proportionality” to fight back.

How to Use the Book to Combat Misinformation

Thane brings up several ways in which you can combat misinformation and aim to provide clarity to those who believe the lies about Israel.

The first is that October 7 was unprovoked – but Israel had the right to defend itself afterwards to prevent another October 7, which Hamas pledged to do again and again.

Thane said, “Everyone knows the Gaza War, which Hamas and Gaza’s civilians started, is justified — even the Islamists know it!  The laws of armed conflict and international humanitarian law endorse every action Israel has undertaken in its self-defense.  People know that Israel has that right to self-defense, and to establish deterrence against a future attack, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, even if they do not know the specific provision.”

Some believe that Israelis deserved it for “stealing Palestinian land.” However, Israel is and was always the Jewish homeland.

“Despite the ironclad testimony of the Old Testament, and archeological evidence buried deep in the land itself, Islamists and progressives will tell you that Jews are not indigenous to the Middle East,” Thane writes. “They are trespassers, white oppressors, rapacious land-grabbers. Palestinians should be given free rein to attack and kill Israelis at will—precisely what happened on October 7—and ‘by any means necessary.’ Jews, especially if they are unrepentant Zionists, have no right to self-defense at all. Taken to its logical conclusion, Israel is not permitted or even able to engage in a just war in the Middle East.”

Furthermore, Israel exited Gaza nearly two decades prior to October 7, so the occupation and “Free Palestine” arguments don’t hold up. During those 18 years, the Gazan people elected Hamas, who devoted their time to killing Israelis.

Thane says, “There is no Jewish life in Gaza. Israel ceded the territory in 2005. The only reason for the naval and air blockade that Israel has imposed on Gaza is to stem the tide of terrorism. Gazans prefer a terror state over a true nation along the Mediterranean Sea.”

The “innocent Gazans” narrative does not hold up either, Thane writes. “More than two-thirds of Palestinians support Hamas’ surprise, murderous attack in southern Israel, according to a poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, dated June 12, 2024. That’s a full eight months after the massacre. The majority of Palestinians, apparently, have no regrets.”

Thane Rosenbaum

Finally, there is the issue of the high death toll numbers in Gaza, measured by the only source there: the lying Gaza Health Ministry, which is an arm of Hamas. Thane says, “There are no independent fact-finders—not the press, not the International Red Cross, not even the United Nations. In counting the dead, the Ministry makes no distinction between combatants and civilians. It treats every Palestinian death the same and, in doing so, conflates categories that are always separated in times of war. Terrorists are counted as civilians. Cold killers and sleeping kids measured the same, as if the IDF is targeting both. Fudge the numbers. Shamelessly lie. The sum is all that matters. No other ledgers of loss, by any other entity, is created.”

Of course, Thane writes about the misuse of the word “proportionality.” Does this mean that Israel and Gaza must yield the same number of civil casualties in order for this war to be fair?

He asks, “What constitutes proportionality? Is it determined by disparate casualty counts—large and uneven numbers of civilian deaths is proof of disproportionality? Perhaps Israel should be allowed to go beyond proportionality—which is how most wars are actually won—given the asymmetric challenges of taking on terrorists.”

An Essential Read

“Beyond Proportionality” is for those who don’t know the facts about Israel, as well as those who are committed to defending it but can’t quite articulate the crucial talking points.

“Antisemites are depending on ignorance – their own, and those who might support Israel,” Thane said. “Israel’s defenders must come armed with facts and a knowledge of military history and doctrine.  The facts on the ground and the laws of war must be part of every conversation.”

It’s time for the Jewish people and Israel’s supporters not to be afraid, but to actively go out there and stand up for the Jewish state.

“Jews have grown accustomed, and also indifferent, to reciting ‘Never Again,’” Thane said. “But Never Again is now. Quietly reciting slogans did not inoculate global Jewry to what happened over the past 19 months. Fighting back requires moral clarity and a willingness to respond appropriately in the public square and in social gatherings. This can only get worse and therefore can’t be neglected.”

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