First it was the French, then the British. Unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, they will recognize Palestinian statehood.

Leaving aside the issue of the legalities of recognizing a territory with no government, this pretty much precludes an end to hostilities. Why would the Palestinians agree to end to their fighting now that G7 members are going to give them legal cover if the conflict continues?

I understand the horror that politicians feel with the images coming out of Gaza. People are starving to death. And there is no end in sight. No feeling human could fail to be moved by the tragedy.

This isn’t the first time in world history that a population in a war zone has been starving. But perhaps it is the best documented, given the advances in technology from previous wars. hat is important to remember when trying to put things into perspective.

Whether the actions of the Israeli government are criminal is something still being debated. Israel has lost the propaganda battle, though they may be able to justify their actions under the rules of war. In the information age, perception is everything.

London and Paris are probably just the beginning. Other countries will follow suit and promise to recognize Palestine as a nation unless the fighting stops. Once again, where is the incentive for the leaders to make peace when by continued fighting they can get what they wanted?

So we have democracies promising to endorse the creation of a state where the rulers don’t allow elections. There’s a certain irony there. Or maybe emotions are overriding logic.

There seems little doubt in most people’s minds that the Israeli government has waged war without adequate concern for civilians. Israel’s response would be that they have tried their best to limit casualties, but the terrorist regime that runs Gaza uses civilians as shields to protect its’ fighters. Faced with an existential threat, Israel’s government has chosen to accept civilian casualties and condemnation from much of the world. Some people may yet be brought to account for making that decision.

The question that puzzles me most is why the call is only on Israel to end the fighting. Where are the calls for Hamas to surrender and put an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people? Where are the calls for Hamas to release the hostages they took when they attacked Israel and started the war?

No, I haven’t heard those either. But a surrender would bring peace. Hamas has lost the war. Every death, civilian and military, is because they refuse to face reality.

Of course, Hamas’ leadership, secure in their mansions in Doha, aren’t suffering. They don’t care about their people and what is happening to them. They have a political goal and don’t care who dies for them to get it.

If the Qataris cared about the suffering they would deport them to Gaza. Peace would follow quickly. But that won’t happen because Qatar plays its own political games.

Too many politicians in other countries are letting Hamas get away with pretending to have no responsibility for the ongoing conflict. That is why people are still dying in Gaza.