Beneath official communications, many sensed an unspoken appeal directed not at the public but at decision-makers. It was a silent urging for reflection—for a momentary pause before momentum overtakes judgment. History demonstrates that escalation often occurs incrementally. Rarely does it begin with a single dramatic event. More commonly, it evolves through sequences of reactions and counterreactions, each justified within its own context, yet collectively steering events toward outcomes no party initially sought.
