Israel has cut off internet, cellular and landline communication with Gaza. This was followed soon after by an increase in bombardment. One must suspect that the cutoff was imposed was to keep the world in the dark about the casualties caused by the increased bombardment.

*Furniture for firewood, radios for news: Israel’s siege throws life in Gaza back decades.*

*UN general assembly calls for "immediate, durable humanitarian truce" [in Gaza].* Only 14 countries voted against the resolution, one of them being the US.

The US should have voted for that resolution.

The US is right to recognize Israel's right to self-defend against HAMAS — but there are limits to what constitutes "self-defense". It does not include unlimited bombardment of civilians in Gaza. It does not include denying civilians access to food, water, medicine and the fuel necessary to distribute those. It does not include cutting them off from communication.

There is no conflict between recognizing Israel's right of self-defense, properly understood, and calling for a truce. The US should do both.