Dear Sir,

I find your publication of the article on the stance of Social Justice Bermuda shockingly unbalanced, inflammatory and irresponsible.

SJB’s defence of the people of Gaza, without reference to the killing, mutilation and kidnap of vulnerable Jews is hurtful and ignorant. The atrocities of October 7 were conducted by the governing body of Gaza.

Can you imagine how it feels to have suffered as the Jewish community has and then see the world rushing to support Hamas?

The living conditions of the people of Gaza are deplorable, and have been for some time. SJB’s blinkered blaming of these conditions solely on Israel and Jews is shockingly ill-informed and is exactly as Hamas wished.

Hamas governs Gaza, having kicked Fatah out of the Gaza Strip in 2007 when Fatah the sought peace. Hamas is not interested in peace or the living conditions of the people of Gaza. Its stated aim is the destruction of Israel and Jews.

The actions of Hamas on October 7 were designed to hurt and threaten Israel, so much so that the Netanyahu Government would forcefully retaliate to such an extent that it would risk the support of the international community. The kidnappings were designed to divide Israel on how to respond.

Two things are true, and there will be no justice without acknowledging that this is not black or white. A workable solution can only be found in the messy grey.

What did SJB neglect to mention?

There is no reference to the Rafah Border Crossing being with Egypt, or that Egypt has also washed its hands of Hamas. There is no reference to Fatah’s management of the Palestinian West Bank, its better relations with Israel and the growing economy of its territory. The West Bank also has its faults — including regrettable settler activity — but it is in a much better state than Gaza under Hamas.

There is no reference to Hamas tunnels and headquarters under the Al-Shifa hospital, in blatant contravention of the rules of war and with blatant disregard for the safety of the hospital. This is designed to maximise civilian casualties and create horror in Israeli retaliation. For this, Hamas have Arab and Jewish blood on their hands.

There is no reference to the illegal diversion and stockpiling of fuel donations by Hamas. It has amassed more than 500,000 gallons of fuel, which it is refusing to release to the hospitals and water plants. Yet it accuses Israel of suffocating its citizens. Israel is under no United Nations obligation to continue supplying Hamas with fuel when Hamas seek their destruction.

There is no reference to the peace agreement that Israel was about to sign with Saudi Arabia, or to Israel’s requests for other Middle Eastern governments to step up and assist with the governance of Gaza. It is this peace accord that Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah are so keen to disrupt. That is why they have chosen now to invade, kill, mutilate and kidnap.

I am keenly aware that it was the British mandate that led to the 1947 creation of Israel by the UN and the partition of the Palestinian territories. I believe that dividing Palestine into three Israeli areas and three Palestinian areas was problematic from the start. I also believe the 1949 seizure of southern Palestinian land by Israel was unjust and damaging to the long-term security of Israel.

However, nothing justifies the despicable actions of Hamas on October 7.

And yet, as we differentiate Hamas from the Palestinian people, we must also differentiate Netanyahu and Likud from the Jewish people. Like the Palestinians, Jews deserve our upmost sympathy for the situation in which they live. We should all be intelligent enough to realise that not all Jews are hardliners. By ignoring the pain of the Jewish people, desperation and isolation are increased.

Desperation leads to lashing out and escalation. It is unlikely that the long-term security of Israel will be found by decimating families, even if Israel lays the blame with Hamas. No doubt the situation is developing according to Hamas’s heinous plan, including the death toll within Gaza. If Hamas actually wanted the bombing to stop, it would release the hostages.

Intelligent support for the people of Gaza must acknowledge this. As a terrorist organisation, Hamas should be eradicated. As a government for Gaza, it should be replaced with someone worthy.

In the longer term, the two-state solution is desirable but impossible while there is no functioning government for Palestine and Gaza as the second state. Someone needs to get Saudi Arabia back to the table for the sake of Israel and the people of Gaza.

SALLY-ANNE BARON

Warwick