Collective Punishment

I want to direct this conversation towards the issue of “Collective Punishment” of people’s.

One recent example is that of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. As you know, I have spoken about the good, bad and ugly of both sides of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.

I think this is a hot topic and thus should be put here in the Cage section. Please mind the rules of discussion for this section.

I read today, and it is heart breaking, about the recent Israeli action in Gaza which has caused a humanitarian nightmare that amounts to collective punishment in the viewpoints of many people. I think it serves as a good discussion example (though is not the only example) for us:

(CNN) — Israeli airstrikes pounding Gaza are deepening the humanitarian crisis in an area that was already in deep distress, according to a United Nations aid official.

A man carries a wounded Palestinian boy into a hospital in Gaza City on Sunday.

“The situation is absolutely disastrous,” U.N. official Christopher Gunness told CNN on Sunday, as a second day of aerial attacks brought the death toll in Gaza close to 300. Hundreds more people have been injured.

Israel has said the airstrikes are a necessary self-defense measure after repeated rocket attacks from Gaza into southern Israel by Hamas militants. Israeli leaders say they are trying to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza.

Here are some questions:

What is meant by “collective punishment”?
How can it be avoided?
How should the folks on the receiving end be expected to deal with being punished as a people for the crimes of a faction among them?
What should we do (Muslims, Christians, Jews, whoever) to help when we see conflicts evolve into this?
Should blood be thicker than water and we all side with one side or the other on the basis of religion or nationality, etc?

Give also your opinions and concerns.

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