I HAVE read with a deep concern some of the letters concerning the present situation in Gaza which present an unbalanced and wholly wrong view of Israel.

That suffering happening in Gaza at the moment is beyond dispute but the reasons for the suffering have never been explained by the media in this country that is, I believe quite biased, and that maybe explains why we have had such letters from Axmed Bahjad and Tom Horwat.

I believe their arguments are based on a fallacy that they may have gleaned from the unbalanced reporting that we see in the media today.

A fallacy that says that it was the Israeli blockade that led to the firing of rockets from Gaza, when the truth was that the firing of rockets from Gaza by Hamas led to the blockade of Gaza.

Many people do not know that when Israel left Gaza in 2005 Ariel Sharon stated it was his desire that both peoples would live side by side in understanding and peace.

However many people do not know that the response from the then Hamas bomb making chief, Mohammed Deif, was instant in that he thanked Allah for his support in the jihad of his people, and will not rest until their holy land was liberated, and he promised the Zionists that “Palestine” will become a hell for the Jews.

Many people do not know that after leaving Gaza, Israel signed an agreement with the Palestinian authority which gave the Palestinians control over their own borders which allowed for imports and exports, and even approved of the construction of a seaport, and discussions for an airport. Unfortunately Hamas does not respect deals between the PA and Israel.

Many people do not know that when Hamas launched a coup in 2007, took over the strip and drove out Fatah, and threw their fellow Palestinians from rooftops, they declared as the new rulers in Gaza that they would use the strip to destroy Israel.

As a direct result of this, a legal blockade (but allows for food and other humanitarian aid in) was imposed to stop the flow of arms into the strip which would have been used against Israel, as was a recent case when an Iranian ship was intercepted in March with having M-302 surface to air missiles on board.

Many people do not know that Hamas rejects any peace with Israel, refuses her right to exist, and in its covenant charter calls for the destruction of Israel.

Israel simply has had enough and had no alternative but to act. They warned repeatedly that action would be taken to stop it. This action is not of their choosing, they did not want this fight, nor do they deliberately target civilians (that is a deliberate outrageous lie), but when you have an enemy that deliberately puts their own population in harm’s way by using them as “human shields” and placing their weapon arsenal in schools, hospitals, mosques and apartment buildings, this leaves Israel in a terrible dilemma.

So what does Israel do? They warn people beforehand that they are going to attack by telephone calls and leaflets. There is no other nation that would do this, and I refute totally the allegation that Israel is “a thug” or conducting genocide, that is a complete nonsense and a travesty of the truth.

The truth is that if the Arabs were to lay down their arms, there would be peace tomorrow, and the impoverished plight of the Palestinians could be addressed, but first the hatred of Hamas has to be defeated, and recognition from the Arab world that Israel has an undeniable and moral right to be a nation state. If that were to happen, then the Middle East would be a different place altogether.

Steve Jack, Damson Trees, Shrivenham, Swindon