Concerning the Israeli / Hamas conflict, there is a lot of propaganda on both sides and depending on world-view, one side of the propaganda will resinate more than the other. Every war is like this, with people siding with either side, citing justifications.

Hmmm, someone please refresh my memory of what defines a democracy

The true definition of Democracy is "rule of the people" or rather "rule of the majority" otherwise known as "Mob Rule". Today when our leaders address us, they speak of "Our Democracy", but it's not really "ours" as in the "people's", it's really "their Democracy", that is the government:

"Our Constitution opens with the words, 'We the People.' It's time we remembered that 'We the People' are the government... we have acted to restore the people’s faith in our democracy to deliver, we’re delivering real results, people. They can see it, feel in their own lives.” - President Joseph R. Biden Source

I think many people are feeling the results of "our Democracy" right now. Thankfully (at least on paper anyway) these United States are NOT a Democracy. The States are united under a Representative Republic, if we can keep it. Perhaps we've already lost it forever.