Sir, – In reviewing the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, Lara Marlowe leaves out some very obvious points that highlight Hamas's culpability in starting and prolonging the conflict ("How the Gaza war changed perceptions", December 27th). There was no mention of rockets that were continuously fired at Israel before the conflict escalated and continue to be fired to this day, contrary to the assertion that there was a 19-month ceasefire by Hamas. No mention of the well-documented tunnels that had been dug into Israel with the aim of capturing and/or killing Israelis. Hamas could have built schools and hospitals but they chose to use what building materials they had to foment yet more terror. Seemingly Ms Marlowe does see the connection between Israel stopping building material and the use to which they are put in Gaza.
Ms Marlowe omits to mention that there were several Egyptian-brokered ceasefire proposals which Israel, and even the Arab League, agreed to and Hamas refused. She also omits to mention that Egypt closed the Rafah crossing and any aid that got through came through the Israeli side. Even the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is on record in blaming Hamas for the slaughter.Israel draws enough short straws in the Irish media without pieces like this. – Yours, etc,
PAUL WILLIAMS,
Kilkee, Co Clare.