The universal rules of war that emerged after 1945 are being broken – and not just in the Middle East | Martin Kettle

The world's agreement to protect civilians was never perfect. But that's no excuse for leaders in Russia, the US and the UK to row back from it

Hamas's murder of Jewish civilians in the Kfar Aza kibbutz on 7 October was without doubt a war crime", the BBC's Jeremy Bowen concluded in his report from southern Israel this week. But what, Bowen then asked, about the lives of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, who now face bombing and siege - and possibly an imminent ground war - as Israel retaliates.

Bowen asked a fundamental wartime question. In response, the Israeli commander in Kfar Aza, Maj Gen Itai Veruv, gave him an impeccable and restrained reply. You fight with [your] values and you keep your values at the same time," he replied. I know we will be very aggressive and very strong, but we will keep our morals and values."

Martin Kettle is a Guardian columnist

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.