Coverage of Gaza too one-sided

Re. “A surreal scene as Americans open embassy in Jerusalem,” Opinion, May 16

I am writing regarding the cartoon and cover story in your May 16 edition referencing events in the Middle East.

Especially in recent days and weeks, this conflict has considerably heightened emotions on both sides. What has been unfortunate is the deeply one-sided coverage of events on the Gaza border by international and Canadian media, as well as the response by many public officials.

Both the cartoon and the cover story take a very brutal and visceral perspective, and neither reflects the reality on the ground.

Hamas reported yesterday that at least 50 of the 62 Palestinians killed in border altercations were Hamas militants. These militants had the express intention of breaking through the border fence, invading Israeli territory and attacking Israeli civilians. Hamas has made every effort in the past to target Israeli civilians, and there is no doubt this would have been the case had they not been stopped. Simply put, Israeli forces had no choice.

Even more appalling was Hamas’s observed efforts to insert many vulnerable civilians, including children, into a conflict situation they had instigated. It is unfortunate these facts have not been widely reported or given due consideration.

Steven Shafir, president, Jewish Federation of Edmonton