Editor,
Letter writer Susanne Thiel agrees Israel can defend itself but defames Israel with false claims of improper defense. (Letters, July 29.) For instance, she claims Hamas’ tunnels merely “open into” hospitals, schools and mosques.” In fact, Hamas stores rockets in the tunnels and blasts them to Israeli cities, a war crime that renders the infrastructure a legitimate target under international law.
In the entire war, one church was damaged in an exchange of mortar fire with Hamas, but Ms. Thiel blames Israel.
She decries Gaza casualties but fails to mention that Israel endangers its own soldiers to warn Gaza Arabs of impending fighting. As a result, Gaza has suffered the lowest proportion of civilian-to-combatant casualties in history. She also fails to mention that Israel has poured 96,000 truckloads of food into Gaza since Hamas began the war — enough to feed 2 million people for two years — most of which Hamas has stolen. How much food did the U.S, U.K., Canada, Australia, France and the U.S.S.R. provide to civilians in Germany and Japan during World War II? Exactly none. Not even a snack.
Hamas started the war by butchering 1,250 innocents and taking another 250 hostage, to be tortured to death. It can end the war in an instant.
Seth Watkins
Redwood City
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(2) comments
Well written, Mr. Watkins. Note that everyone supporting Hamas conveniently forgets, as you say, “Hamas started the war by butchering 1,250 innocents and taking another 250 hostage, to be tortured to death.” I’ve taken the approach that if these folks give Hamas a “pass” then it’s only fair they give Israel a “pass.” Hamas and their supporters should be continually reminded that there are consequences to Hamas's actions.
Hamas' seeks to maximize their own civilian casualties to win world opinion to their side. This strategy was espoused by Palestine's former leader Yahya Sinwar. It’s why Hamas builds underground shelters for its military and not for civilians and places them under hospitals to maximize casualties. Hamas could end the war tomorrow if it wanted. Israel would aid it and seek no territorial gains.
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