End the blockade

Re: “Gaza death toll surpasses 560 as ceasefire efforts intensify,” July 22.

I just watched an interview on BBC World of a young representative of B’Tselem, the Israeli peace organization.

These are not self-hating Jews, but humans who are concerned by Israel’s obscene actions in Gaza. Instead of continuing to voice unequivocal support for Israel, our leaders should be urging our allies to end this murder of innocent civilians.

The Israel Defense Forces claims to be targeting terrorists, but this just insults our intelligence. They are demonstrating a cavalier disregard for human life, especially women and children.

Of course, it is true that Hamas rocket assaults and incursions into Israel are unacceptable, but I would suggest they are an understandable reaction of a people ghettoized and left with no hope.

Israel should have security, but it will never achieve that, or widespread international respect, until it ceases its blockade of Gaza, and its theft of land and resources in the West Bank — others will undoubtedly disagree with me, but that is a simple fact.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of course, says Israel has accepted a ceasefire which Hamas refused, but the proposed ceasefire does nothing to relieve the root causes of the conflict.

He would simply continue to isolate Gaza, patronize “Uncle Tom” Abbas, and brutalize the Palestinians.

James Currie, Calgary