Israel has repeatedly stated their intent to continue the war in Gaza regardless of international approval. Netanyahu, among others, has stated intent to establish a long-term/permanent security presence in Gaza.

Since Oct. 7th the Israeli military has either directly killed or provided protection to lethal settler attacks in the West Bank, resulting in over 500 deaths in a section of Occupied Palestinian Territory that theoretically isn’t at war. So there’s Israeli military presence, violence, and oppression of Palestinians even where Hamas isn’t in control.

Hamas are not good guys by any stretch, but unfortunately they are the folks bargaining for Gazans. In the face of continued Israeli aggression, disregard for international approval/law, and stated plans it’s no wonder they’re demanding that any deals have rock-solid guarantees on an enforceable timetable.

Serious answer: I remind myself it’s normal to be shocked by some stuff people do/create. I check the content against my ethics, and try to decide if I’m being uptight or if it really is messed up. If it’s something that isn’t unethical/harmful but I just don’t like, then I remind myself that not everyone needs to share my tastes.

If it’s genuinely terrible I allow myself to feel the anger/sorrow for a bit, try not to let it become excessive, and congratulate myself on having limits that fit my ethics. I remind myself that good people exist and they are the ones I want to support, emulate, and engage with. As others have mentioned, distraction can also help. Video games, music, socializing - whatever will move your train of thought along.

Deal. Hold me until dawn?

I’m of the opinion that as long as you aren’t hurting yourself or others without consent, do what you want to. The consent thing is important because people will play contact or combat sports, do BDSM stuff, etc. - so long as it’s informed go nuts. It’s also important because some people can’t give informed consent, e.g. kids can’t agree to underage sex because they don’t know about the harms and are more vulnerable to manipulation.

A couple of years ago I watched a doctor review a video of someone who likes having sex with balloons. The doctor said he would only diagnose that behavior as a problem or illness if it was hurting him or others around him. His argument was if there’s no harm and it makes that person happier then what really is the problem? I was initially taken aback because it’s weird right? But after some thought it really made sense to me - just because I don’t relate doesn’t make something bad. I don’t have to want to do it myself - there’s room in life for multiple (non-harmful) preferences.

The healthcare I can afford:

The Count is going to start teaching kids about corporate profits. “One billion extra dollars untaxed! Ha ha hah! 2 billion…”

Oscar the Grouch is going to be a working homeless who is forced to move his can every week by police.

This is like your meth dealer insulting your dental hygiene. Still, it’s better than nothing. The timing of this sudden pivot is interesting and makes me wonder if it’s really about ethics, but whatever gets Palestinians some relief from this nightmare situation is a step forward.

I don’t have a direct answer for you, but perhaps you’ll find the Renaissance Periodization YouTube channel helpful. Dr. Mike Israetel is a PhD in Sports Physiology, teaches at the university/college level, and does coaching so he’s legit and science-based. Here’s a series (that unfortunately isn’t in a playlist) specifically about avoiding muscle loss while cutting - video 1 video 2 video 3. For more general info, here’s a Dieting Made Easy playlist which features videos you may find useful.

Hopefully those prove to be a useful starting point. As a channel he covers a lot of weightlifting topics so it’s a good place to explore if you’re interested. Best of luck on your fitness journey!