Is whataboutism acceptable, when Israel defends its actions in Gaza by saying "What about Hamas crimes?" Is saying 'what about Hamas' a valid defense against allegations of war crimes in Gaza? Should Israel be allowed to commit war crimes in Gaza because Russia is committing or facilitating war crimes in Sudan and Ukraine? "We bombed a hospital, but what about Russia! What about Assad?"

Personally, I think what Israel is doing in Gaza is no less bad, because the Russians are doing similar things in Ukraine, or because Assad bombed hospitals.

You see, the worst thing about what's happening in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Xinjiang, wherever... it's not the hypocrisy. It's the war crimes.

Whataboutism isn't cunning. It's stupid and only useful idiots and morons think otherwise.