Your letters

have had their lives shattered from the rockets of Hamas.

It is an insult to them and to the brave soldiers who gave their lives defending, what is our country.

At this critical time for Jews everywhere, your newspaper, as the organ of British Jewry, has the opportunity and obligation of supporting the actions of Israel, rather than joining our enemies, whose sole objective is its destruction.

One can only hope that the publication of this advert will act as a wake-up call to those who still believe that in a liberal democracy here in the UK they have nothing to fear. David Freeman Oakleigh Park North N20

I am appalled that you saw fit to accept an advert for the Gaza Appeal. Are you sharing the same bed as George Galloway?

It is a pity you have not shown better judgment by printing a whole page, for example, listing the names of all those wounded soldiers to daven for.

How about showing some gumption and printing a whole page for the wounded victims, orphans, widows, widowers, and bereaved parents and siblings from the residents of Sderot? Geoffrey Pepper Darlinghurst Grove, Leigh on Sea, Essex

After my Friday-night dinner, I was sitting with my father while he flicked through the JC. When we reached the DEC I felt as if salt had been rubbed into my wounds.

I would love to donate to the poor women and children of Gaza if I could be sure the money will actually get to them without a risk of being used by terrorists to help buy more missiles to fire into Israel, which we were trying to stop in the first place. Simon Davies simon_davieshouse@btinternet.com

I support the running of the DEC Gaza Appeal ad.

First of all as a Jew, with lifelong connections and Zionist affiliations, I stand with Israel.

I am also entirely supportive of Operation Protective Edge, of Israel’s right to successfully protect its citizens against thousands of deadly rocket attacks — aimed at civilians — and attack tunnels.

I am also full of pride that the Israelis take more care than any other army to avoid harming civilians and have put their own troops at risk on the ground to avoid collateral damage from airstrikes.

Nevertheless, military operations inevitably include civilian casualties, displacement and human misery. Jews all over the world are horrified by the images they see in Gaza — no matter who is to blame — and

The DEC does not ascribe blame for suffering

are contributing to appeals for humanitarian aid.

Secondly, as chairman of one of the DEC member agencies, I am proud to support the appeal which is currently enabling us to work through our partner agency, HelpAge, to provide home-based care to 1,400 households headed by older people across Gaza. We estimate that there are around 100,000 vulnerable older people caught up in this crisis. It is important to recognise that the DEC is currently still supporting humanitarian disasters in many areas such as Syria and the Philippines, as well as Gaza, and is currently deciding whether to launch an appeal for the serious humanitarian situation unfolding in northern Iraq.

The DEC does not ascribe blame for suffering. They only appeal when they know they can help, and they ask three key questions: Does the scale and urgency of the disaster call for decisive action? Are the member agencies in a position to provide effective and swift humanitarian assistance? Will the public support the appeal?

Thirdly on deciding to support this appeal, I sought views from, among others, colleagues working in Israel. They told me they hurt — like any human beings — for the suffering of the older Palestinian population and the misery brought to them by their irresponsible leadership and that it would be fully appropriate for our organisation to provide all the humanitarian support it can to assist older Palestinians in Gaza.This is right and this is also the Jewish way to behave.

Finally, Age International is proud to be able to respond to the most urgent needs of older people and their families in Gaza including the provision of health assistance, food and psycho-social support. From Syria to Haiti and from Kenya to Bangladesh, we are active in more than 40 countries across the world. As the only UK charity focusing solely on older people in developing countries, we remain very concerned for the safety of all those affected by this conflict. Dianne M Jeffrey CBE DL Chairman Age UK and Age International Tavistock Square London WC1

As a Jew and Zionist I am proud to support the appeal

You have made a big fuss over the Tricycle theatre wanting to remove the Israel emblem and support from Jewish Film Festival.

Then a week later you publish an appeal for Gaza that contains all the charities that for years have been stigmatising Israel.

Loopy logic. Nitza Sarner Mackennal St London NW8

Are you crazy? How delighted Hamas must be. Their use of children as human shields has worked so well at demonising Israel and at ignoring