My history is fuzzy... but didn't the Palestinian people (obviously not women and children) elect Hamas (a terrorist faction) to govern them in 2006 and have not held an election since? I think that's the case, and I don't think that point is made clear when we talk about the "innocence" of many of the Palestinian residents. (and no, I am not saying they deserve to be collateral damage AT ALL)... But the notion that these people are somehow squeaky clean (and not at least somewhat responsible) in this scenario where they supported, elected, and sheltered a terrorists' organization (that pulled the worst terror OP since 911) to represent them.... seems... odd.
If my recollection (details) of that is off... then my apologies... but I think that's the case.