As a progressive liberal Democrat, I've had arguments fellow progressives and other leftists on this issue. To continue to assert, as they do, that Hamas is justified in what it did and that it is a freedom fighter group is ludicrous. I can decry Israeli settlers and the IDF for their actions in the west bank as Likud build more settlements while simultaneously knowing Hamas has no interest in anyone's freedom. They have been in charge since 2006- 18 years- and done almost NOTHING to improve the lives of the people living in Gaza despite getting BILLIONS of dollars.

Only the Arab Palestinians have their own refugree group.

As to the ignorant point about bomb tonnage, if one reads the very detailed "Blood and Ruins: The Last Imperial War, 1931-1945" by Richard Overy one could readily find accurate numbers!

Keep up the good articles