Israel faces global condemnation after Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 Jews

On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants killed roughly 1,200 Jews in Israel and abducted 251 hostages. Within days, many campuses, media outlets and left‑wing activists began accusing Israel of genocide, ethnic cleansing and other crimes, even before the Israeli Defense Forces launched a ground offensive in Gaza on October 27. Victor Davis Hanson argues this represents a “selective outrage,” noting that the same activists celebrated the massacre with slogans such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” and that regimes actually committing ethnic cleansing receive far less scrutiny. Hanson contends that the international backlash has morphed the victims of the October 7 attack into villains while the perpetrators and their supporters escape meaningful examination.

The commentary highlights a broader rise in antisemitic sentiment on university campuses and in the media, and questions how Israel is expected to respond to the attacks while being condemned for its defensive actions.