Framework: brutal and unnecessary killing of civilians (using bombs that will kill everyone in an apartment building - or hospital - instead of the focused strikes that they seem to be capable of; snipers targeting children).

I think we probably think of the asymmetry quite differently. I see an occupied territory with virtually no control over its resources: money, imports, exports, food, water, electricity. Asymmetry indeed.

Re using civilians as shields - I think you meant the Palestinians, but the use of civilians as shields by Israeli forces seemed to be a practice for entering buildings. IDF claims not to be doing it any more.

A democracy that has control over a population that has no say in its future or resources or pretty much anything - not sure that democracy is quite the word in this case.

Which is not to say that I think Israel's position is easy. It's not. I think it's in an almost impossible position - one that it has steadily made worse, especially recently, but still ...