Douthat on Gaza: A Response to False Moral Equivalence
By Oded J.K. Faran and Walter Block
Ross Douthat’s recent New York Times analysis of the Gaza conflict exemplifies a troubling trend in contemporary commentary: the elevation of false moral equivalence above moral clarity. While Douthat acknowledges Hamas’s atrocities, his analysis fundamentally misunderstands both the nature of this conflict and the unprecedented burdens being placed on Israel.
The Problem with Douthat’s “Just Think It’s True” Standard
Douthat delivers himself of this remarkable admission: “So there is no way to look at the rubble in Gaza and the death-toll estimates and offer a mathematical proof that Israel is failing to exercise adequate restraint. I just think it’s true.” Here lies the fundamental flaw in his entire analysis: when serious moral judgments rest on subjective feelings rather than evidence, journalism becomes ideology.








Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem. (Photo by Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0, 

