In the latest Israel-Hamas war in 2023, deterrence is the hidden word in the fiercely avowed Israeli objective to erase Hamas from the face of the earth - the logic is to deter future Palestinian rebellion and attack. This is manifested in the horrendous and relentless bombardment of Gaza, killing up to 15,000 Palestinians in just 6 weeks, with almost half being women and children.

And all this was to avenge the death of 1,200 in Israel from the Hamas 10/7 surprise attack into Israel? All this to deter future attacks on Israel?

Or this was simply to punish the Palestinians for their "trespasses" against Israel?

In any case, which is more abhorrent? The terrorist attack that killed 1,200? Or the revenge massacre of 15,000, and counting, with an incredibly overwhelming military force and relentless bombardment?

In criminal law, a premeditated killing is a murder. But a revenge killing of the murderer is a murder too. This is exacerbated if the revenge killing is extended to the killing of the family and friends of the murderer. Pleading of self-defence is not an acceptable defence in such criminal cases.

The world will have a far better chance for global peace if all nations and peoples focus on cooperation instead of deterrence.

The world will be a better place if humankind firmly reject vengeance and revenge, and reject the use of overwhelming military force to win at all costs.