I pray for all involved, but also note that we often forget about the Palestinian Christians, who have been caught between hammer and anvil for more years than I’ve been on this planet. Many civilians have already died, and many more are about to die — and both sides are morally culpable.

There are no heroes in this conflict. It enflames every few years and people die, then the cycle repeats itself after we in the West go on with our lives. It’s all a great and perpetual sadness.

I see no end to the cycle after this. Hamas will rebuild, and then we (mostly) detached onlookers will have the same conversation a few years from now. This isn’t even the fourth rodeo for most of us who have been on the Internet for 30 years. Some of you are old enough to know what I’m talking about.

Putting on the I-come-from-a-military-family hat for just a moment, however: is there anything different about this one? Not with regard to short-term outcome: a lot of Palestinians are about to die. In the long term, however, perhaps Hamas’ actions will force Israel to re-evaluate the feasibility of colonization into Gaza, slowing growth. At the same time, given the tenacity Israel displays with regard to settling this region, I remain skeptical.

Yet another reason this cycle is doomed to repeat itself, with no real solution in sight.