Things got testy between former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett and a Sky News reporter on Thursday. The clash began after the latter asked about electricity being cut to Gaza in preparation for Israel's ground assault. 

That has become a favorite talking point over the last few days, with the suggestion being that Israel is somehow responsible for providing free electricity to an enemy territory that just invaded and slaughtered over 1,200 people. The phrase "collective punishment" was quickly circulated in pro-Palestinian circles, including among Democrat congressional members. 

During the exchange, Kamali Melbourne, the reporter, asked Bennett about the power being cut to Gaza, and the latter exploded in response.

"What about those Palestinians who are in hospital on life support & babies in incubators that will have to be turned off because Israelis have cut the power to Gaza?"

Ex Israeli PM Naftali Bennett: ""Are you seriously asking me about Palestinian civilians? Whats wrong wth you?" pic.twitter.com/mN5sH5PWyi

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) October 12, 2023

MELBOURNE: What about those Palestinians who are in hospital who are on life support and babies in incubators whose life support and incubator will have to be turned off because the Israelis have cut the power to Gaza.

BENNETT: Are you seriously keep on asking me about Palestinian civilians? What's wrong with you?  Have you not seen what happened? We're fighting nazis. We don't target them. The world can come and bring them anything they want. If you want to bring the electricity. I'm not going to feed electricity and water to my enemies. If anyone else wants to, that's fine, we're not responsible for them. 

(Shouting and Crosstalk)

MELBOURNE: Listen this is my program. This is my show, and I am asking the questions. You're raising your voice, and I'm asking you, and we've already, stop please and let me finish. 

(Shouting and Crosstalk)

BENNETT: They are responsible because I can tell you when the UK and Great Britain were fighting the nazis during World War II, no one asked what was going on in Dresden. It was the nazis targeting London and you targeted Dresden. So shame on you if you go on with that false narrative.

MELBOURNE: In hindsight, many people have readdressed that kind of carpet bombing. 

BENNETT: Oh, I see, you're Mr. Clean. Shame on you.

The back and forth continued from there, with Bennett being asked again what was going to be done to "make sure" that innocent people wouldn't die in Gaza. 

The answer to that is simple. Hamas needs to allow the evacuation of civilians, of which 24 hours warning has been given. Further, as Bennett pointed out, there is nothing stopping international organizations from coming into the Southern region of Gaza and providing medical care to people. Contrary to popular belief, the Gaza Strip is not one contiguous urban area, and evacuation zones have already been designated by Israel where civilians can go to avoid bombings and ground operations. 

In no other war in history has a nation acting in self-defense been expected to provide electricity to its enemies. That does not mean you can't have sympathy for innocent people who are truly caught in the middle, but Hamas rules Gaza. They are the governing authority and have been since 2006. 

The expectation should be that Israel is given the same leeway any other nation would be given in a similar situation. Not more leeway, but the same leeway. That means not directly targeting civilians, but also understanding that a terrorist group can not be allowed to use civilians as bargaining chips. The invasion and destruction of Hamas is happening.

Melbourne's questions are loaded, and he knows it. He wants to paint Israel as solely responsible for the welfare of Gazans instead of the government they themselves elected (and by polling, broadly support). Again, civilian casualties are tragic, but that is not a realistic expectation in a war. At the end of the day, all measures should be taken to minimize death, but ultimately, Hamas is responsible. 

Lastly, what Melbourne doesn't tell you is that the stated condition to turn the power back on is simple: Release the hostages. Why is it not incumbent on Hamas to make that concession to ensure their own hospitals have power? There are options on the table right now to save lives. If Hamas refuses to take them, Israel can't be expected to simply do nothing.