Hear me out: it always make me laugh when I’m accused of being “pro-IDF” or an “Israel supporter”. I’m not a “supporter” of either side. Gaza isn’t football; it’s a god damned tragedy on both sides. But: conceptually, I support Israel’s right to exist. I support its right to defend itself after 7 October. I would feel the same about almost any state in the same circumstances. I don’t buy any of the “genocide” disinformation narratives, because I understand what war looks like and spend more time than is healthy on researching open source intelligence. All I’ve done on Twitter/X is do my best to explain what I think is happening, in a balanced and informed manner (as someone who professionally studies conflict, information warfare psychology, and post-war reconstruction to Master’s level and above). I’ve been critical of Israel’s strategy - bearing in mind, strategy is fluid and adaptive and changes as campaigns develop, because the enemy and the wider political context always get a say. I also think Israel’s strategy was in many ways forced upon them. I’ve been critical of the IDF’s conduct in Gaza when required. For example, some of the social media vids posted by IDF soldiers have been appallingly unprofessional. But here’s the thing: unlike most commentators, I’ve actually been to Israel and met the IDF. The non-reservist guys I met were far more scathing than I’ve ever been about that conduct. Civilian volunteer armies come with civilian volunteer problems. In meeting them, I was reassured. There’s not a day goes by that I don’t think about the hostages and their families. I’m happy to wear that bias. On this next issue, though, I’m not impartial: Hamas are monsters and Israel needs to kill as many of them as possible. Absolutely, *bring the rain* as long as it’s legally justifiable. Those animals deserve to die. My heart breaks for the inevitable civilian collateral, but that’s war. Innocents suffer. It’s appalling but war is a part of the human condition and that’s why we have the law of armed conflict and all the rest: to minimise that horror. And I don’t think, on the facts available, that Israel have done a bad job. My other bias is my Jewish friends in the UK. I’ve seen how this insane disinformation campaign has hurt them. I’ll never not go hard in defence of my Jewish countrymen and women (as, in fairness, I would in defence of my Islamic, or Sikh, or whatever religion friends). But, my Jewish friends: I’ll always stand by you. So I’m not pro-Israel or pro-IDF. I’m pro-truth, I’m pro-tolerance, and I’m pro-international law. I’ll wear that with pride.