HOW can anyone, far less the leaders of countries such as UK and USA, believe that repeating the mantra “Israel has a right to defend itself” helps the current horrendous situation in Gaza? No-one in their right mind could do other than condemn the actions of Hamas, but what we are seeing is not proportionate defence, or anything close to it. To deprive an entire population of the absolute basics to sustain life, such as food and water, and prevent all humanitarian efforts to relieve the situation, is nothing short of ethnic cleansing.

Meanwhile, a population already crammed into a tiny area of what was once their territory, before Britain and her allies decided to give it to the Israelis, is being forced to squeeze into an ever-decreasing area, while still being bombed and killed even there. Just as in the West Bank, where Israeli settlers have continuously misappropriated more and more Palestinian land, squeezing them also into less and less space. Does any honest, thinking person really believe that those currently displaced will ever be allowed back to their home area to live in peace with their neighbour?

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I am old enough to remember, as a student, seeing the film Exodus and, along with all my friends, leaving the cinema feeling exhilarated that at last the Jewish people had received justice and could now live securely in peace, with the constant threat of persecution lifted. How wrong we were! Our arbitrary, forced division of Palestinian land and the Israeli constant encroachment has simply led to resentment, antagonism and sporadic attacks by both sides, right up to the present intractable situation.

However much I abhor the Hamas barbaric attack, I cannot believe that the present response of Israel has furthered the cause of peace in the region. Instead, it is much more likely that it will create such desperation in the traumatised Palestinians that even those who have never supported Hamas and condemn their actions may well come to believe that their only hope of survival is to support Hamas in their aim of destroying Israel. Israel may believe that they are trying to remove the Palestinian threat once and for all, but they are doing even greater damage to the likelihood of peace for themselves and in the entire region.

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We should be making future support of Israel contingent upon an end to the bombing of civilians and the opening of escape routes for the trapped and access for all necessary humanitarian aid, along with agreement to join UN-supervised talks on a peaceful solution. Nothing else is humane and can stop escalation.

Before someone accuses me of antisemitism, I have had and still have a number of Jewish friends, from young German Jewish refugees in my childhood to the present day.

L McGregor
Falkirk

I WAS saddened to hear of rising antisemitism and Islamophobia in Scotland and the UK due to the war in Gaza. But this hate is not characteristic of Judaism or Islam, which, when practised correctly, are religions that are by nature tolerant and respectful of one another. Let me explain.

Jewish tradition teaches that the righteous of all nations have a say in the world to come, provided they follow the seven laws given to Noah. These include a prohibition against blaspheming God, idol worship, murder and so forth. As Islam is strictly monotheistic, Muslims have always been considered to adhere to the laws, therefore have been honoured in Judaism as righteous and moral. Christians are widely held to be righteous as well.

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Islamic tradition teaches a respect for people of all faiths, and the Jews are respected as “people of the book”. Islam also gives intrinsic importance to central figures of Judaism such as Abraham and Moses.

Whilst there appears to be a haunting rise in religious intolerance amongst members of these communities in the UK and further afield, there is enough of a spiritual basis to bring these two communities together, and encourage dialogue, understanding, respect, tolerance, and peace. Inter-faith dialogue can go a long way to healing these wounds and may serve as a better avenue than politics to do so.

Tim Jones
Wrexham, Wales

MUCH as I deplore violence and terrorism by anyone, anywhere, for many reasons, and understand the reasons for the open letter from a plethora of artistes calling for the withdrawal of military aid to Israel, I am a wee bit puzzled.

At least one or two of the signatories are staunch advocates of women’s rights. Where then was the open letter demanding that Hamas recognise these rights?

I suspect that a similar letter written in Palestine would not have been met with equanimity.

Les Hunter
Lanark

SORRY that Sam Heughan has been intimidated by the thought police (Heughan withdraws support for artists’ letter, Oct 21). David Mencer’s remarks are simply silly, but also disturbing as we know what his “lobby” has done to destroy the reputations of politicians and others who dare express any empathy for the Palestinian people.

Marjorie Thompson
via thenational.scot