Irish Examiner view: Cries of the young demand Gaza truce

Hamas must give up its hostages and Israel must call a truce to allow help for victims. Peacekeepers will be required, to ensure a pause in hostilities is not exploited for any further evil intent

'Women, children, and newborns in Gaza are disproportionately bearing the burden,' say support agencies. Picture: Hatem Moussa/AP

We are now entering the fifth week of war in Gaza since Hamas terrorists poured out of their tunnels and bulldozed across borders on October 7 to butcher and kidnap more than 1,400 Israeli citizens, bringing a terrible tenfold retribution down on the heads of the Arab population of Palestine.

The figures are subject to claim and counterclaim. But what is incontrovertible is that the Palestinians are a people who have had no opportunity to vote for a leadership for 17 years.