Family tragedy leaves my heart scorched
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GAZA CONFLICT
Like many, I have shed tears over the decimation of Palestinian human life. Then something shattering happens such as the death of nine children from one family, deeply scorching one's heart to ashes (' Nine of doctor's children killed in Israeli strike on Gaza,' 26/5). This destruction of a family is yet another outrage to our humanity and international law: how much more often are we going to hear from Israeli officials statements like, 'the claim regarding harm to uninvolved civilians is under review'? Given the children's mother is a doctor and having witnessed so many deaths and severe injuries, and then to rush home to find her children dead, is beyond comprehension.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading
Horror event
I wonder how Gazan paediatrician Alaa Najjar will live with the grief of losing nine of her children, and the horror of viewing their charred and unrecognisable bodies in yet another Israeli atrocity at the weekend. And I wonder how long it will be before our government finds the courage and humanity to sanction Israel.
Jody Ellis, Thornbury
Ending the conflict
Like others, I am appalled at the death and destruction in Gaza. But, it would end tomorrow if Hamas released the remaining hostages. The deaths of women and children would not occur if Hamas let women and children shelter in the tunnels that protect their fighters. Or Hamas didn't hide their leadership under hospitals, schools and UNWRA offices. Starvation would not be occurring if Hamas didn't control the distribution of food in Gaza – delivering it to the needy rather than selling it to the desperate. And peace would be possible if the various Palestinian parties would accept a State of Palestine, alongside a state of Israel, and not instead of a state of Israel. Is one predominantly Jewish state too much for the UN to accept, alongside roughly 50 predominantly Muslim states and 150 predominantly Christian states? Are Jews the only people who are not allowed to live free, in a country they call home?
Bruce Hartnett, Alphington
Albanese must act
While Anthony Albanese reportedly told Israel's President Isaac Herzog last week that Israel's 80-day blockade of food supplies and medical supplies to Gaza was 'completely unacceptable and ... completely untenable', and our Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the comments of some members of Israel's government as 'abhorrent and outrageous', I regard these as achieving no more than water falling on a duck's back.
While I'm pleased that Australia joined 22 other nations, including Canada, the UK and New Zealand, in a joint statement condemning Israel's murderous blockade, our government must take resolute action to end immediately its contracts with Israeli arms companies and ban any direct or indirect contribution to Israel's war efforts.
Michael Kennedy, Pipers Creek
Israel wants peace
Your correspondent's claim that Israel needs war for its self-identity (Letters, 26/5) is unfair. Does he know, Israel withdrew from Sinai for peace, withdrew from Gaza for peace, and offered the same with the West Bank. It's arguable that every major conflict Israel has been involved in was started by its opponents. Hamas, by contrast, readily identifies its entire reason for existing as being the 'resistance' against Israel to wipe Israel off the map. It is not speculation what influence Hamas would have in Gaza if there was a ceasefire. It would have the control it has now, where it violently suppresses the people and steals aid. It's also certain it would keep attacking Israel and starting future wars, as its charter, past conduct and statements of future intent make clear. What your correspondent asserts as certain, that Netanyahu has no intention to allow the rebuilding of Gaza, is speculation. Netanyahu has spoken about a technocratic multinational administration rebuilding Gaza. But that can only happen with Hamas gone.
Stephen Lazar, Elwood
THE FORUM
Save the trees
Re ' At home among the gum trees? Not in Rowville ', (26/5), it is alarming to read statistics by tree expert Dr Greg Moore saying 'in Melbourne we are losing canopy at about 1 to 1.5 per cent per annum and the consequences of this is the city is going to be much hotter'.
There are many threats to Melbourne's tree canopy cover and it is crucial that we increase it. Our planet continues to warm and trees play a vital role in cooling our cities. This is something we need to urgently plan for and it is imperative we listen to experts.
Moves such as developing minimum canopy cover measures on new private residential and commercial developments, increasing the number of penalty units to disincentivise illegal tree removals, and reducing pruning around power lines in non-bushfire risk areas have been suggested by experts and need to be seriously considered.
Yvonne Bowyer, Surrey Hills
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