I would like to point out to the disproportionate comments here and the use of the word genocide in describing Israel's action especially to Rach from Reading.
Israel's southern towns have been subject to daily rocket attacks for 7 years, it has restricted its respone time and time again. Now after people have been killed and kids can't go safely to school it has decided to react and lo and behold the world accuses her of disproportionate actions, of a civilian massacre. Please note that if Hamas were fighting from the derelct wasteladns and empty fields there would be no civilian casualties but they do rain their rockets down on civilian areas inside isreal don't they.
Israel doesn't intentionally target civilians, if they did so the entire population of gaza would be dead, that is Serbia or Darfur where real genocide happens. Israel does target terrorists who have no uniform and are thought of as civilians. It is tragic that kids are killed but why does Hamas fight with kids nearby

George, London, England

Israel stole the land from the Palestinians in 1948. If both parties wanted peace a solution would be found. It serves the West's anti-Islamic stance to keep Israel in existence. The West, Israel and the palestinians don't want peace. Both parties need an enemy and they have found each and so out of this greed they perpetuate the violence. Palestine should be the Vatican City or Switzerland of the Middle East.

AbdulHaq Islam, Kuwait, Kuwait

palestine is the land of love and peace, its children deserve to live peacefully ,

hahahaha

that is the best one I've heard all day

hahahaha

rod, daytona,

what would u do if some organized groop occupy your country? would u negotiate them to leave ??? or would u fight to get freedom????? palestinians walked in the peace process for years, they agreed to make their state on west bank and gaza strip , although what is called israel is a palestinian land was occupied by power in 1948 by jews,

every day civilian people of palestine is being killed , wounded and arrested by israeli soldiers in west bank and gaza srip..........no body knows what israel excatly wants.............

am sure if you were in such a condition like this , you will do anything to get freedom including fighting , even you dont have such military equipments that your enemy has

in gaza, children were killed while they were sleeping in their homes, babies didnt go outside and being used to protect gunmen, they were killed infront of their parents, sisters and prothers,

palestine is the land of love and peace, its children deserve to live peacefully ,

amy, ramallah, palestine

For those of us who love liberty it is a self-evident truth that those who are denied their freedoms will fight back. It is a natural response of all God's creatures to unshackle their chains. It is also illegal for any government to suppress rebellion, that is the legacy of John Locke.

It is therefore the Palestinians who have the full moral, legal and historic weight of democracy on their side. Through its murderous Occupation, it is Israel, and its apolologists, who are the real enemies of democracy.

Nick Ferriman, Bangkok, Thailand

Israel's supporters would be better off making their leaders talk to Hamas, rather than fighting them. We both know there will be no military solution here. The thirst for revenge will only create unncessary deaths on both sides, which can be avoided. The idea that Hamas could be ignored was a ridiculous one in the first place. Has anyone ever produced peace by only talking to one side?

akram, london,

If you continually poke a hornets nest - don't squeal surprise when the hornets start stinging you. I have absolutely zilch sympathy for the Palestinians. They are the architects of their own suffering.

Mark, London, UK

The Palestinian rocket war has been waging ever since Israel completely withdrew from Gaza in August 2005. The world had been clamoring to "end the occupation," and now the occupation of Gaza was over. This should have become a milestone in the process for peace. Instead Palestinians used it as an opportunity to launch a war against the Israeli south in an effort to make that region uninhabitable. Under other circumstances such behavior would be called "ethnic cleansing."

The Palestinians have stepped up their game. When Hamas breached the Egyptian border, terrorists brought back Katyusha-style rockets of Iranian design, together with antitank missiles and concrete for building fortifications. They fired at least eight Katyushas against Ashkelon, and at least a dozen rockets landed in or near the city, including a qassam rocket near Barzilai Hospital. While Sderot may be on its way to becoming a ghost town thanks to the Palestinian cleansing operation, Ashkelon is a major coastal city of 120,000. Several Israelis were wounded, including two children, when a shopping center, a residence, and other areas were hit. Several more were treated for shock.

Quite a few of the Palestinian casualties were victims of Palestinian terrorists. Hamas claimed that one six-year-old girl was killed by an Israeli strike on Beit Hanun, but residents nearby said the real cause of her death was a Palestinian rocket that fell short and landed near her house. A baby and two teenagers were hit when another Palestinian rocket misfired. It appears such incidents are not infrequent. According to Israeli officials, as many as half of the Palestinian rockets fall inside Gaza, menacing the Palestinian population.

Hamas terrorists do this deliberately. They stage their attacks from residential areas, showing complete disregard for the lives of their own people and a cynical willingness to use them as pawns for propaganda. Who gets the blame when Palestinian civilians die? Israel. So why should Hamas care? Hamas is, after all, the government elected by the Palestinian people.

Those who defend the Palestinians uncritically are enablers of murder. Not just the murder of Israelis, about whom they clearly could hardly care less, but the murder of the Palestinian victims of the Palestinian terrorists. The uncritical Palestinian partisans also share responsibility for the blood of the Palestinians who die in Israeli strikes intended to stop the aggression against Israeli cities. Israel cannot let this go on, while the Palestinians fire more powerful rockets deeper into its territory. These attacks are the only reason for the Israeli strikes. Those who support the Palestinian "resistance" are aiding the provocation that makes these strikes necessary. Unless they temper their support with strong and unequivocal criticism of Palestinian aggression, all their sympathy for the Palestinian people is nothing more than crocodile tears.

MazalUK, London, UK

I believe a meaningful UN force should be dispatched to Gaza and the West Bank to act as a buffer and prevent further conflict.

David, Roswell, GA, US

Israel has the right to exist. The holocaust was a terrible atrocity, but how long can we caontinue to justify or condone Israel's actions against civilians and the use of excessive force? israel neds to understand that an iron fist is not always the answer and that respect for human life must be paramount.

Hamad Lone, London, England

“… have you considered that using a highly expensive missile fired from a highly expensive aircraft might be considered by some to be cowardly…”

No, it’s easy to fire rockets from apartment blocks, wear civilian clothing, then hide behind women and children. And then use PR to complain that civilians are killed.

To wear a uniform and be a target is difficult. Then again, all Israelis are targets for Hamas.

Simon, London, UK

Israel clearly does not want to kill anyone who is innocent - Hamas works very differently and does not care about life ... It is about time the world understands this and stops being fooled by Hamas ...

P.S. Hamas is the only winner if a peace process is de-railed - this is why they are claiming victory as I write.

If you listen to Israeli news, it should be very clear that Israel is suffering and 10,000 of citizens are having to flee their homes because they cannot live under the threat of rocket fire and death every day. This is a human catastrophe for the Israelis.

Now, clearly it is terrible that Palestinians have to die to stop rockets being fired but Israel has the right to defend itself ... Blame can only be attributed to Hamas who revel in the publicity raised whenever Israel accidentally kills a civilian who is (in reality) acting as a human shield foir Hamas.

John

John , London, UK

Hamas are bent on destroying Israel. Sadly the people of Gaza are being lead by the nose by their leaders in thinking that firing rockets into Israel will further their cause.

This ongoing provocation against Israel will just backfire again and again, lead them into greater misery and this folly will gain no admirers.

What is Israel meant to do - receive rockets and do nothing - while the world's media largely describe Israel as the aggressor?

Hamas are playing a media war and the children of Gaza pay the price.

govert, doncaster, UK

To an Israeli from Jerusalem. I have sympathy with Israeli's living in Sderot and nearby. If I was the hyperthetical person living in Reading I would feel that my army's killing of over 100 people including women and children would hinder rather than help my situation in the long run.

Jack , Leamington Spa, UK

The Palestinians reap what they sow.
You vote a terrorist group into Government who then fire rockets into Israel day in day out, week after week, month after month.
What do you expect a country to do? sit there and take it!!

Phill , The Wirral, England

Easy solution... stop firing missiles into Israel and Israel willhave no pretext for military action against Gaza. Oh I forgot... Hamas don't want peace.

Andrew brown, derby, uk

To Alan - The Israelis are trying to develop something that takes down rockets in mid-air. But the system is 3 years away at least assuming of course that it keeps on schedule. Also the cost of the system will be about $50000 min for each rocket brought down. Qassams and Grads cost far less: it is a major problem.

Its very nice and easy to sit in the UK and say how dare the Israelis do this but put yourselves in their shoes. What would you do if Carlisle was under constant barrage (3000 rockets last year and more to come this year) from Scottish ultra-nationalists who refused to recognize England's right to exist? And then they started hitting Newcastle? And you know full well that any truce will be only to stockpile more weapons to throw at you in the next round?

Its all well and good saying that you should talk to the other side but the other side needs to want to talk to you in good faith as well. That is not present here on either side.

Nick, London,

Counter to what apparently most think the British Empire was established through trade not through conquest. We "invaded" and "occupied" very few countries.

The Second Generation "Berlin Wall" that some seem to decry has reduced the instances of death and injury resulting from random attacks and shootings by 96% in the last 7 years.

Of the original 1920 Mandate of Palestine, the Jews/Israelis now occupy 15.88% of the total, the Arabs hold the rest. The area of the sub-divided Mandate the Palestinians are "demanding" now was what they were offered by the UN in 1947 and refused.

From 1948 to 1967 the Egyptians and Jordanians held 100% of both Gaza and the West Bank - It was land that "belonged" to the the Palestinians, it was the Egyptians and the Jordanians who built the refugee camps and kept the Palestinians in poverty, primarily because that suited their political purposes during the "Cold War".

Israel has every right to defend herself and her citizens from attack.

Bill, Stavanger, Norway

Hamas hides amongst the civilians and fires rockets not at the Israeli army but at civilians it also targets civilians with suicide bombers Israel targets hamas militants shouldn't the hamas goverment be criticised for being a coward and using its own people as a human sheild. The hamas goverment is an enemy of its own people and of the Israeli people.

Shur, Hove,

to rach, reading

well' you're just disgusted by Israel's response. Let's make a small experiment, shall we? I understand you live in Reading. Why don't we fire rockets at reading for a month or so. Let's say - 20 rockets a day?
Since England is a developed country, will give you the advantage of technology. You'll have special room in you house, where you'll be relatively save if a rocket hits you home. And we'll give you a warning of about 10 seconds - a siren, or something, to look for cover before the missile hits. Now, your life in the next month will be like that - every second of the day and night you'll be expecting the sound of this siren. Every noise will make you jump. When you go out to buy fod, you'll think whether you really need it today or maybe you can postpone it to another day - from fear of being caught without protection. When you're at work, you'll be wondering if your children are save in their classrooms and kindergarterns. I ran out of room. Get the picture?

an Israeli from, Jerusalem, Israel

rach--Why do you feel that if you speak as-a-Jew your criticism of Israel is any different from any other Brits' who is warm and safe in his/her house and who doesn't worry that s/he will have 10 seconds to get to shelter when code red sounds? Are you as-a-Jew so very different from the critic who speaks as-a-Brit?

Inna, Sacramento, USA

Is not now time that the united nations took a stronger line with the Israelis and implement all the decisions made by the UN which they are allowed to violate with impunity. The aggression shown by Israel or the Palestinians cannot be solved by force. It may be that the US support for Israel is governed by excessive Jewish influence, therefore UN pressure on US should be increased to ensure a more impartial attitude from them

JOHN, Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Gilly, Jerusalem, Israel - have you considered that using a highly expensive missile fired from a highly expensive aircraft might be considered by some to be cowardly.

Doing so in the full knowledge that the blast will injure or kill people in the vicinity strikes me as the mark of the bully and borders on war crimes

And what has this mass murder accomplished - precisely the same as a similar incursion in 2006 - NOTHING that benefits the state of Israel.

If Israel really wants to do something about the Hamas rockets why doesn't it develop something that destroys them in mid flight - or better still at the point of launch. That way the rockets become irrelevant and Israel becomes safer

alan, edinburgh, UK

What is a proportionate response? Upon whose shoulders does the responsibility lie when your enemy believes there is greater honour in dying for his cause than in living for his cause?

When a man lives to die then to kill him becomes the fulfillment of a desire, a fervent prayer and a yearning to serve his maker by dying in the name of Allah.

If Israel kills the followers of Hamas, in response to their constant brutal taunting with the ruthless and incessant launching of Kassam rockets and Grad missiles onto innocent civilians inside Israel it would fulfill their prayer for martyrdom. They goad us into retaliation; they want us to bomb these "refugee camps" for the camera; they want us to re-enter Gaza and perform the killings they crave in a cruel game of Russian roulette for the camera and the public acclaim of the foreign press.

It may soon be forgotten that we did what was demanded, that the Jewish State made Gaza "Juden Rein", to allow the creation of a Palestinian State. We gave them the means to kick-start their economy, including agricultural lands which we taught them to work and greenhouses filled with crops. The fields were left barren and the greenhouses burned down in rage. We provided staple foods, medicine, electricity, petrol and cash, cash, cash. The food was confiscated by Hamas for their own distribution; fertiliser was turned into bombs; electricity was denied in staged photographs and they continued to demand more and launch unprecedented attacks on the very people they expected to sustain them.

Sadly the world is still taken in "If you lie once, nobody believes you. If you lie a thousand times - everyone believes you." - T. Mann

MazalUK, London, UK

For any new peace intiatives, how about having all teh voices around the table , that includes the Palestinian refugees/diaspora. For any solution it's likely the Palestinian refugees would like a referendum - so the sooner you start voter registration the sooner they can vote on solutions. 850,000 Afghan refugees, in camps outside Afghanistan, were allowed to vote using Out of Country Voting (OCV) - and it was rcognised by the international community. How about the same for Palestinian refugees. Then you can discuss solutions about: land, returning and compensation. This is a positive pro-democracy suggestion. For more info google: afghan ocv

Hugo van Randwyck, London, UK

Some comments here justify the murders of innocent Palestinians. These people make me as sick as those Isreali who carry out the murders.
FACT Palestinians are being KILLED.

Jubed, london, england

Hamas was elected to government in Gaza, and then proceeded to sieze full power by brutally attacking and killing their Palestinian political rivals in a well-planned and coordinated coup, showing no regard for Palestinian lives. On the International front, Hamas's aim is the total destruction of Israel, and again acts with no regard for Palestinian lives. That is why Hamas fires mortars and rockets into Israel from densly-populated residential areas of Gaza, knowing full well that the inevitable Israeli response will also kill civilians. Thus, true blame for Palestinian civilian deaths in Gaza rests squarely on Hamas.

If Hamas cared for the true welfare of the Palestinians, and had even the slightest wish to try to live in peace alongside Israel, there would be hope for a peaceful solution. But it does not. Until that time, we can only hope that Israel's military precision increases, and causes fewer and fewer civilian casualties in its quite legitimate aim for self-defence.

Richard, Nottingham,

"The residents of Gaza have it in their own hands to eliminate this unhappy situation. SO long as they rfuse to step up to their responsibilities, chaos will rule. So Be It!" - Bill in Fort Lauderdale I'm guessing you are not in the front line.

On a less cynical note though, whilst I agree, doesn't such a comment remind you of 'Spartacus' or more controversially some old war film where they shoot the villagers until they give up the Resistance?

mount, dorset, gb

Why is Isreali response to attacks ALWAYS DISPROPORTIONATE?

You're quite right - the Palestinians are firing rockets randomly into civilian areas - it would presumably be proportionate for Israel to do the same?

“This morning I carried two children, one a 10-year-old and the other a 13-year-old, after they were wounded by an Israeli missile,” said Hussein Oun, a Palestinian resident of Jabaliya. “They were among a group of seven children standing near a fighter when the shell hit.

So who is responsible - Israel or the "fighter" (coward more like) who's using Civilians for protection?

Gilly, Jerusalem, Israel

I am a Jew and I just wanted to say how disgusted I am with the Israelis policies. It is perfectly obvious to anyone who actually thinks about the issue, that Israel are in the wrong. One Israeli has died and 100 Palestinians are being killed and Israel calls this defending its self. I'm sorry this is disgusting.

Danilo form Serbia is perfectly right to point the double standards of the west out. We bombed his country in 1999 causing thousands of deaths for the exact same thing, it seems that a country with our backing and a powerful lobby behind it can get away with anything. How is it right that Milosevic and Saddam both got punished and nothing is happening to the war criminals in Israel. It's an absolute disgrace.

It is shameful that the UK and the US are not going far enough in condemming this atrocity.

I've always suported Israel as a Jew and I always believed it had a right to exist, Im beginning to change my mind, I am that disgusted with what is taking place.

rach, reading,

1-1000????? An obviously uneducated comment, look at the War of Independence and how many of your 1-1000 were killed here? Look at the hundreds of suicide attacks since 1967, and how many of your 1-1000 were killed here? No facts, so a pointless statement! Please educate the readers as to your proposed solution to avoid constant daily barrages of rockets, as the peace talks do not work with a puppet government in power who seemingly supports this extremist faction at the basis of the problem?

Mark, London,

Shame on you, Israel.

Sylvia, Sydney, Australia

Danilo from Serbia is perfectly entitlted to say that it's a shame on the UK! We bombed his country in 1999 for doing what Israels government are doing now, and caused many innocent deaths, and Serbia is still being punished for atrocities that stopped ten years ago, by having part of its territory removed. You can see the double standards, why does one country's war criminals get brought to justice and the other not, because it is backed up by America maybe?

I am Jewish by the way. I am sickened by what these cowards are doing in the name of my religion - do they seriously believe that God wants this or that this is the right thing to do to safeguard Israel? I can't believe all the deluded people who think that this is the right thing to do - murder hundreds of palestinians, for the sake of a few pathetic rockets, half of which don't even work properly or manage to do any damage. The people who are doing this bring shame and dishonour on Judaism - absolutely sickening

rach, reading,

In the last 10 days, in their incursion into Iraq, the Turks killed about 240 Kurds (and the Kurds hadn't been firing rockets into populated areas of Turkey). Who condemned the Turks for acting in a disproportionate fashion?

Martin, Swindon,

They're just speeding up Irans nuclear program...The end times are near folks!

jayil, london, uk

John of Kenilworth asks when the West will demand a halt to action against the Palestinians. Here's a simple suggestion: why don't we demand that Israel ceases its operations precisely 12 hours after the last rocket is fired at Israeli civilian targets?

Nick, Rotherham, UK

If Israel were to be treating any other country (any non-muslim country) the way they treat the palestinians, the world would have brought israel to its knees by now!

But who cares about the palestinians! No one Does....

All the leaders of the so-called super power nations are all nothing but cowards, no one is willing to act against the poor israelis who have suffered so much!

If the palestinians stop fighting for thier land, They would have been wiped out along time ago! Just like palestine has shrunk by more than 90% since the ILLEGAL occupation.

All those in support of the Israelis should educate them selves further of the history of the occupation to really gain a perspective of what is going on!

Muhammad, manchester, UK

go israel!

Hans, berlin, germany

Jon said: probably the best solution for israel/palestine is the one state option where the jews, christians and muslims each have 33% of the seats and the president 1%"

Well Jon, you might have not noticed but the Arabs already have 99% of the land in the middle east. The entire size of Israel is Just 1% of the area land... Today up to 15% of French people are muslim... Why not give them 15% of France? And you better hurry because it's the best deal you're gone get before they become a majority...

nir, Jerusalem, Israel

Where is Lord Blair in all this

I thought he was supposed to be Mid East Peace envoy ?

a, london, uk

Why is Isreali response to attacks ALWAYS DISPROPORTIONATE?
It's not so much an eye for an eye, more like five people for an isreali eye. Not only do western econmies fund but they allow Isreal to occupy other people's land (lets not forget the ridiculous wall), holding back another nation democratiocally elected goverment funds, kill UN soldiers, capturing and imprisoning their neighbours citizens, imposing cufews in others people's countries, severly restricting the movement of people seeking employment after doing everything possible to destroy their economy...the list is endless.
Nobody is stupid enough to believe hamas are innocent, but Isreal is playing straight into the terrorist factions with thier actions...and too think its the arabs who are painted as the terrorist..i beg to differ.

B, Aberystwyth,

There is NO justification for this type of naked aggression. It is absolutely INSANE and it shows how low Israels government has sunk. My mum visited Palestine in 1970s and she was horrified at how the Palestinians lived - in a tiny little area probably the size of a small English town, there are millions of people - some of them appeared, she said, to be living in holes in the ground. Nothing grows in Gaza, imagine living in this way, with no electricity, with no food, being bombed constantly. Most palestinian children have behavioural and psychological disorders as a result of the Israeli governments treatment. It is sick, I mean you would not treat an animal in this way would you, but yet the Israelis see fit to do this to innocent Palestinians.

Thank god there are still some sane people left in Israel ad the Jewish world who are willing to see this for what this really is and condemn it. This is sick. Shame on us all

rach, reading,

Claude said:

" British never invaded and occupied other lands. "

well... I just don't know what to say...

Nir2, Jerusalem, Israel

Just when will it be that we, in the so called civilised West, demand a halt to this genocide against the people of Palestine?

John, kenilworth,

John 3:20 "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed".

When people stand before God in the judgment, there will be nothing that escapes His notice. All secrets will be known by Him. There is nothing that will be hidden. There is nothing that will not be revealed.

Everyone will be judged by God impartially. If a palestinian killed a jew, he is a killer. The jews who killed many palestinian children women, men are also killers and will be judged - if not on earth - but certainly by God.

Peace, L,

listen people, ask yourself this.
how many israelis died since wednesday?
how many israelis died since 1st jan 2007?
how many israelis died since 1967?
then ask yourself.............
how many palestinians died since wednesday?
how many palestinians died since 1st jan 2007?
how many palestinians died since 1967?

you will find that the ratio of isreali deaths compared to palestinians is 1-1000, this is absolutly crazy
and you blame palestine for being a terrorist orgainsation. isreal is the REAL terrorist who indiscriminantly kill the gazan population. and the puppet (ABBAS) who bows down to israeli and US wishes on the other hand is sittinging comfortably in his palaces built with Us/isreali support.

Israeli shud have now realised that resitance only make the paletinians stronger, may God give victory to the resistance movements over Israel.

mo, london,

Danio - Serbia - - why is it a "shame" on the UK??? What has the UK got to do with it? Your a Serbian amigo - you have your "own Shame"!!!!

Graham Williams, london,

Dear Claude, you say "British never invaded and occupied other lands." Try these: Ireland, the continent of North America, India, Australia, half of the continent of Africa. British English spaking decendants are still in charge in the USA, Canada and Australia and the indiginous peoples have been all but annihilated. So lets not be pious. Israel withdrew from Gaza 2 years ago hoping that might allow the Palestinians to establish an independent territory at peace with its neighbours. But from that moment to this the Palestinians in Gaza have abused their new found freedom to shell Israeli civilians on a daily basis. When Israel closes the border they wonder why!! If when Britain withdrew from southern Ireland in the 1920s the Irish government had then shelled Liverpool on a daily basis would we have sat on our hands and done nothing? Of course not.

David, UK,

The residents of Gaza have it in their own hands to eliminate this unhappy situation. SO long as they rfuse to step up to their responsibilities, chaos will rule. So Be It!

Bill, Fort Lauderdale FL, FL

Its a shame on USA and GB.

Danilo, Filipovic, SERBIA , BEOGRAD

This situation will always keep recurring because Hamas want nothing short than the total obliteration of the state of Israel. This is what they teach their chidren on a daily basis and the fact is that Israel is here to stay so Hamas need to get real and begin thinking about their people and encouraging cooperation with their Israeli neightbours.

Israel has pulled out of areas but that decision has not been reciprocated by the Palestinians in their hardline approach.
Israel has proved to the whole world that they will rightly protect their citizens no matter what the prevailing world opinion.

William , Luton,

The solution is in the hands of the people of Gaza. Protest at the firing of rockets into Israel. Stop it happening and wait and see if it yields results.

Veronica B, Liverpool, UK

What would be a "proportionate" response?
Should the daily rocket quota be counted and fired back?
Perhaps the United Nations should come up with a more commonsense conclusion.

D.Henry, Edinburgh, Scotland UK

Interesting how the UK Jewish lobby defends Israel yet live in England, and supposedly English. Lets redefine the Tebbitt test.

Shaffiq Mahmood, Halifax, UK

Israel pulled out from an occupied territory. In exchange, the Palestinians have been bombing Israeli civil population; non stop. What is Israel supposed to do? Ask the terrorists to "please stop launching rockets?". Those who criticize Israeli defending themselves are the same who would like the US military to "civilly" question terrorists. "Mr. Osama, would you be so kind and tell us..? It's crazy, and the left wing press isn't doing anything to help. If tomorrow a nuclear device should be launched at Haifa; what would they say?

Simon Stone, Santiago, Chile

Please, stop to compare Irish/British problems to Israel vs. Palestinians. British never invaded and occupied other lands. Israel isn't a state like others because is fighting for the borders form 60 years. If you are unable to sign a border with your neighbourgs there is something wrong in the political -military leadership of Israel. A state of war of 60 years in Middle
East is a problem for the world.

claude, lousanne,

If Hamas were to stop using their population, including children human shields there would not be as many casualties.


We have seen evidence that these extremists are prepared to use women and children as well as people with learning difficulties as martyres in order to point the finger at Israel.

Why do Hamas parade themselves wearing face masks like murdering thugs? Because they are. We see time and time again how many Muslims have no respect for life and of course it's always the Americans, Israel the West who make them murdering thugs. What a joke.

Renee, Macclesfield, England

The people of Gaza have known far worse suffering since Hamas came to power there, making any hope of peace more distant than ever. Though only too willing to create retributional havoc on their own citizens by shooting rockets into Israel, they themselves have taken care to go into hiding in deep underground bunkers, well dug out in advance for their own safety--very brave indeed!

diane, boscombe,

Israel is defending itself against an Islamist political movement that refuses to recognize the legitimacy of Israel's existence and is committed to its destruction. Hamas values its outrage, hatred, and Islamofascist ideology, more than it values the lives of unarmed Palestinian men, women, and children, using them as living shields, placing them in harm's way, firing upon Israeli towns, and now upon IDF troops, from inhabited homes. It is impossible for Israel to respond peacefully because Hamas does not want to negotiate anything. Israel, for all of its warts, is a democracy and its government must respond to public insistence that the attacks on Israel be stopped. The IDF could easily respond in much less limited ways than it has to date; in fact, it has been RESTRAINED. No peace will come until Palestinian leaders admit to their people the simple fact: our ancestors fought a war in 1948 and LOST. We must now move forward and make something of ourselves or fight and keep losing.

William, Kansas City, MO

If i remember correctly, Hamas was chosen FAIRLY in a democratic election by the Palestinian people. Obviously American and Israel were not expecting this and as usual refuse to accept the facts. Since the rocket attacks have started, 1 Israeli civilian has died. On the other hand over 70 Palestinians have died, whether militants or civilians (the majority civilians). I think its quite clear who is a bigger danger to civilians here. When will the American and the rest of the world open their eyes?!

Adam, Glasgow,

The Palestinians will never surrender or seek peace because they want their land back. The Israelis will never give up their homeland. Consequently, there will always be war and the Palestinians are going to get the worst of it since they always hide their forces and weapons amoungst the population which is agains the rules of war. There's no use whinning about how "horrible" it is. It is what it is and it will not change.

Brian, Syracuse , US

"What would we do if Welsh nationalists were firing rockets daily into Beth or Bristol?"

hmmm is it me or have people forgotten the regular bombings that were happening not too long ago thanks to Britain's involvement in Northern Ireland?

Did our jet fighters bomb Irish children playing football? There was an army presence in N.I. but we did not bomb and attack civilian centres as a policy. We did not build a wall around Belfast cutting off all supplies and denying the very basic human rights that we hold so sacred. The people of N.I. could visit a hospital and get medical treatment without waiting months for permission!

It seems to me that Israel gets away with a lot by using 'self-defence' as a means of justifiying her actions!

The vast majority of Palestininian people try to live their lives as best they can in peace. For the actions of a handful of extremists the whole population gets punished is this right?

How can military action even begin to solve this problem?

Joe, Aberdeen,

My total support to Israel, which has every right to defend itself against a terrorist regime which has openly declared its objective as the complete destruction of Israel and the death of every Jewish person.

Just what are the Israelis supposed to do? Sit back and do nothing whilst the Palestinians continue their rocket attacks?
There is no country on the planet which would do this.

As the saying goes - "the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity." They, and they alone are responsible for their problems. They will never want to live in peace and coexistence with Israel.

This is a permanent conflict - and we'd all better learn to live with it.

Good luck to Israel.

M LONG, Bradford, England

Tough - but Israel has no option. When all your neighbours are determined to "wipe you off the map", then there is no such thing as excessive force to defend yourself. If Israel did not do this then she would be annihilated by the totally hostile Islamic Arab states that surround her. It is these very states that have removed the option for peace.

Sean, Coventry, UK

Israel does not have a monopoly on facing terrorism. One part of the UK, Northern Ireland, suffered from terrible terrorism (at the height of which many more British citizens were killed than Israelis have been killed in Qassam attacks since disengagement in 2005). We did many nasty, brutal and illegal things in Northern Ireland but we did not bomb houses either in Catholic areas of Belfast or in border towns in the Republic. Criticising what many see as a disproportionate use of force by Israel is not the same as saying they cannot defend themselves (Dr Maceoin - I sense you are not an expert in International Law. The responsibility that Israel bears under IHL is a little more complex than you suggest).

There is a wider point here too. Those that criticise Israel's tactics include those who are supporters of the Israeli state. The seige of Gaza and the IDF's excessive force will contribute (with Hamas) to the failure of the peace process. In the long run Israel will be the loser.

Petra, Jerusalem, OPTs

@ Bert Johnson
England does not occupy any territories neither south nor north, does not cut off people from their daily needs and does not fly attacks, which kill endlessly no matter if civilans are targeted. And England does also not fly into a neibouring country, cause massive destruction, which has to be paid by the rest of the world`s community. There will never be peace as long as Israel is acting like a terrorist regime

Selina , London,

probably the best solution for israel/palestine is the one state option where the jews, christians and muslims each have 33% of the seats and the president 1%.

jon, paris,

The UN secretary labeled the Israeli operation disproportionate and excessive. Others labeled this action as terrorist.

There are no comments from the Americans and the British. They always keep quite in these cases. What are they going to do with this aggression. I suppose nothing.

SHAME ON THEM. This is not the kind of terrorism they are fighting, as Israel is an ally to them.

bob, hamilton, uk

If deadly rockets were landing on towns and cities in Southern England on a daily basis, killing people destroying people's houses and causing millions great fear, what would the British Government do?

Bert Johnson, Birmingham, UK

There is no justification for the level of force that Israeli forces are using. The situation in gaza with Israel is not so much unlike the challenge Britain faced only a decade or so ago. Imagine if we launched rockets into northern ireland blowing up dozens of civilians, women, babies, children whoever...

A state should seek a higher moral standpoint, I understand that it may be difficult to respond without anger clouding your judgement. But the Israelis have carried out a sustained operation to to stifle the palestinian people economically and militarily, it seems all that they do can be justified as long as there is some sign of a future peace process.

As a result of the second edition Berlin wall enclosing the West Bank, peoples businesses have ground to a halt, families are separated from each other, ghettos created.

Is normality and safety such an elusive thing for these
people?? If you have extremists in your midst are you sub-human state cannon fodder?

Elliott, London,

And the world just keeps on watching ...

The 'democratically elected' world powers are either incompetent or complicit ... choose your poison.

JohnP, London, UK

regarding,the present conflict between israel/gazza,how does one define excessive force,usa using the atom bomb,to end the war with japan,was acceptable,as more lives would be lost,in letting the conflict continue.there are no rules of combat,its not a duel,the conflict,between israel/palastinians,is war,one has to admit this fact,unfortunatly,civillians,are seen as collateral,remember,how the usa,had such problems,in the so called,friendly areas,in vietnam.hamas,launches,rockets from,blocks of flats,knowing full well,that israel will retaliate,when hamas,vacates,they do not warn the residents,of their soon to come demise,why?because the death of these residents,acheives much more than a rocket/bomb/bullet,all palastinians,are soldiers,no matter their age/sex,the greatest handicap,on the world stage,is our desire,to be viewed,as nice/fair/decent/just,in some conflicts this plays into the hands of those who view the west,as soft.
the end justifies the means,is their sole commandment.

kevin j lee, croydon,

Whilst Israel certainly has the right, indeed a duty to its citizens, to take measures to stop rocket attacks on their territory, the indiscriminate ,disproportianate scale and level of violence directed at the population of Gaza is what the international community finds shocking and unacceptable.

Israel, sadly, has a track record of overreaction and vengeful attacks on her nieghbours that simply cannot be explained as self defense measures in response to terrorist actions.

The recent massive attack on Lebanon included atttacks on Beirut and the destruction of Beirut airport. No stretch of imagination can ever accept Israels plea of self defense as justification of the deaths of thousands of innocent Lebanese civilians.

It seems every time any kind of peace process seems to be making progress, the hawks within Israels political and military leadership seem to find a reason/pretence for a massive assault on someone.... with the end result being the death of any Peacetalks. T

Douglas Moore, Douglas, Isle of Man

In international law, Israel is not to blame for Palestinian deaths: Hamas, by hiding within the civilian population, bear full responsibility. Morally, it's hard to think how Israel could act otherwise. Hamas's charter spells out its aim of destroying Israel; it will not accept any form of compromise or peace-making, and will only accept a solution through jihad. It has broken every treaty (or hudna) ever made with Israel (basing this on Islamic jihad law). In ther meantime, rockets are being fired into southern Israel every day, and Tel Aviv may be the next target: a large city with a dense population. What would we do if Welsh nationalists were firing rockets daily into Beth or Bristol? For years?

Dr. Denis MacEoin, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Killing people is no solution to anything i think all the leaders of the world should stand together and hope there will be peace then only the world will be a better place to live.

Nishan, tvm, kerala

Israel has an imperative to defend itself from the terrorist Hamas cabal in Gaza. Hamas is a proxy for the Iranian regime. Hopefully Israel has learned important lessons from the hostilities with Hezbollah two summers ago.

E. McCabe, New York City, USA

80 people killed yesterday by legal murders , Children killed yesterday , but they've never believed in life since they were born, it is not only Yesterday and Tomorrow it ' s Jews and muslims cannot live together , the world cannot be divided between legal murders that are never judged for their killings and others who kill trying to defend themselves , it is their land and they have been there for thousands of years ,so where are you Mr. Human Rights ? Please Stop THESE WARS , and put smiles on these faces , you think about your parties, hollidays, sports events , happy moments , and they know nothing but " are we going to be alive tomorrow"

Bernard, Cornwall, U.K.

If you were in the position of having rocket attacks daily you would defend yourself Hamas is not just an ememy to Israel its an enemy to its own people.

J Shur , Hove, UK

8 years of rocket attacks from Gaza into Sderot and now Ashkelon have taken their toll. Why should Israel kowtow to the desires of Hamas who wish only for its destruction.

Hamas does nothing for the hapless citizens of Gaza except use them as cattle fodder. You don't see their leaders entering the fray - they just shout orders and hatred. The rest of the world should try living in an area rocketed daily and see what nerves are like under those circumstances.

Israel doesn't hit back until it has been hit.

leila, manchester, uk

The real story is the rocket attacks where Hamas have been on the offensive killing many innocent civilians in Israel. I cant understand why this has never hit the western media however the position we find ourselves in now is Israel having to defend its citizens by trying to root out the perpetrators. A sad situation but Israel are obligated to defend themselves and if any other country was subject to rocket attacks - lets say from france to england, you can be sure the headlines would be reversed and retaliation would be applauded.

edmond schama, london, englan

Israel has done everything to stop the rockets and avoid invasion. Every contact with Gaza has been used to infiltrate killers but so Israel ended them To push Hamas into stopping rockets Israel blockaded Gaza, cut off power for a few days after rockets but nothing even slows the rockets whilst even this is presented as Israelis killing babies and forcing old people to die of cold. But approximately 200,000 Israelis have been under attack for seven years. Since 2001 26 Israelis have been killed. 620 injured. It’s like the UK suffering 240 people dead and 6,200 injured by rockets from France. Israelis have been incredibly resiliant and patient but Israel is a democracy and has to act eventually. Hamas’ breakout through the Gaza/Egypt border has allowed them to import much bigger rockets and more terrorists. Israel cannot wait until Hamas hits a tower block in Tel Aviv and kills hundreds. Israel must invade but the innocents will suffer because Hamas hides in houses and schools.

R Mason, London, UK

If you are thinking of posting a criticism of Israel here, first state that you would not mind rockets being randomly targeted at your own house; and how you would stop those firing at your house without force.

Zen, London,