Israel and collective punishment

In response to the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier by Palestinian militants, Israel, as is its custom, is making all Palestinians in Gaza pay the price. It has sent in its army which so far has destroyed three bridges, cut off a water pipeline that provides water to 750,000 people, and blown up the territory's only power station, leaving 65 per cent of Gaza without electricity.

That the Israelis resent having one of their soldiers being kidnapped is understandable, but so do the Palestinians. Apparently seizing the soldier may have been due at least in part to retaliation for an Israeli commando raid into Gaza which resulted in the kidnapping of two Palestinian brothers suspected by Israel of militant action.

In any case, all Palestinians in Gaza are now being punished for the actions of a few militants. Mounting an invasion over one hostage seems somewhat disproportionate considering the entire Arab population of the West Bank and Gaza have effectively been hostages of Israel for generations.