Israel’s war crimes in Gaza were overlooked

IN her letter (October 27), Cliona Campbell ignores the reason the people of Gaza resort to the use of tunnels – the illegal and inhumane siege of Gaza by Israel.

Recently-released Israeli documents show the siege was imposed and maintained not for ‘security’ reasons, but for political reasons.

As for Operation Cast Lead, Ms Campbell ignores the illegality and barbarity of the slaughter of 1,400 people, more than 300 of whom were children.

As the Goldstone report into the slaughter concluded, Israel was responsible for a litany of heinous war crimes, including deliberately bombing civilian targets including hospitals, ambulances, schools and homes, as well as using Palestinians as human shields.

She is also misleading about the process that led to that murderous assault. There had been a ceasefire in place between Hamas and Israel since June, 2008, which the Israeli regime acknowledged Hamas had abided by. This was despite Israel never fulfilling its ceasefire obligations, which included lifting the siege.

On November 4, 2008 the Israeli military shattered the ceasefire (again) when they bombed Gaza, killing six people. Israel was the aggressor.

There is no justification for the war crimes and collective punishment Israel inflicted on the civilian population of Gaza either by their bombing, which they continue to do on a regular basis, or by their ongoing barbaric siege.

Mark Cawley

Rusheen Árd

Caltragh

Sligo