Sir, It is a pity that someone from Chatham House has such a poor knowledge and understanding of Gaza (“A constant barrage against Israel”, Jan 31).

The fence around Gaza was set up in 1994 to isolate it. This has only intensified since then. Also, the United Nations and human rights groups emphasise that Gaza still remains occupied: it has no sovereign control of its land, sea and airspace. If Gaza was not occupied, the UN and others would be able to fly in the vital medicines that Israel has blocked. So the occupation is still the problem.

Moreover, Robin Shepherd ignores the other actions of the Israeli army. Last year it killed 373 Palestinians, 290 in Gaza. By contrast, Palestinian groups killed 13 Israelis. Might this level of killing not be an additional reason why Palestinian rocket fire has continued? Israel’s only solution is a full and final end to the occupation as part of a comprehensive deal which would also allow Palestinians to breathe, trade and travel freely, a basic right denied to them for years.

The firing of Qassams should stop, but on no possible barometer of what is civilised behaviour can 1.4 million people be held accountable for the illegal actions of the militants.

Chris Doyle
Director, Council for Arab-British Understanding
London EC4

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