The Observer view on the Middle East crisis: Iran and Israel risk sparking all-out conflict

Retaliation can only end in mutually assured self-destruction

There have been many moments that have been described as milestones in the war that began when Hamas militants surged through the $1bn (772m) fence constructed by Israel around Gaza on 7 October to kill more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abduct another 251. With hindsight, we can now see that few of them were genuine inflection points.

The death toll resulting from Israel's offensive in Gaza last week reached 40,000, according to Palestinian officials. The number does not differentiate between combatants and civilians but around two-thirds of those fully identified are women and children. Then there are those still under the rubble, who may total 10,000.