West’s leaders, media vilify Israel, legitimise Hamas evil

Cameron Stewart highlights that there was no mention in the joint statement we signed with 27 other states last week on the “Occupied Palestinian Territories” that Hamas could end this conflict tomorrow by releasing the remaining living Israeli hostages and giving up power in the Gaza Strip (“There should be no amnesia: the blame for Gazan misery lies with Hamas” 26-27/7). From day one, Hamas’s evil use of human shields has been to maximise the deaths and suffering of fellow Palestinians. Using innocent civilian Gazans as pawns is part of its strategy to delegitimise Israel around the world. Israel is bending over backwards to reach a ceasefire deal. We should be doing all we can to collectively pressure Hamas.

It’s repeatedly refusing the deal on releasing at least 10 remaining hostages in exchange for a path to peace, showing it’s not serious. Silencing the guns in Gaza is the only way to significantly ease the heartbreaking humanitarian situation. This week there’s a high-level UN conference in New York on the two-state solution.

It’s possible Australia will soon recognise Palestinian statehood, although the government might wait until after Albanese has met Trump.

But recognition would be a meaningless gesture before a peace agreement is negotiated directly between Israel and the Palestinians and hand a victory laurel to Hamas for its campaign across the past 21 months.

Anthony Bergin, Reid, ACT

Cameron Stewart provides some much needed balance to both the media coverage and political responses in his account of Gaza’s ongoing conflict. The Labor government here demonstrated during the last election campaign it was not afraid to give support to the Palestinian cause. The media bears much responsibility for the world’s response to this terrible war.

John Bell, Bathurst, NSW

While criticism of Israel and its actions in Gaza is perfectly legitimate, I have genuine concerns regarding the sources employed in doing this.

To say The Wall Street Journal gives a true picture of what’s happening on the ground in relation to food distribution in Gaza is debatable.

To give the impression this “true picture” was because it had reporters watching the aid delivery is at best misleading. It did not have reporters watching on the ground but relied on satellite images, social media videos, and eye witnesses.

How accurate or honest these secondary sources are is anyone’s guess. The old adage “the fog of war” points to the fact that ascertaining the truth in war is always difficult. When a terrorist organisation is controlling the output of information it’s nigh impossible.

Bruce Armstrong, Buderim, Qld

It appears most Western nations are turning their backs on Israel. This is exactly what Iran and its proxies had in mind on October 7. Iran, in cahoots with Hamas, knew very well that by using innocent Palestinians as human shields against Israel they would win over public opinion. Hamas has broken every rule in the just war theory book. Make no mistake, the current situation in the Middle East is exactly what Iran and its proxies were aiming for although they probably did not expect Israel to fight back so hard.

Peter Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong are correct: under international humanitarian law, innocent civilians should not be punished by food denial for their daily sustenance (“ ‘Forbidden to withhold aid’: Wong joins PM on Israel censure”, 27/7). Under the same criteria, they should continue to have access to medical and health care. An embargo on those two vital functions is against the rules of war.

Mike Fogarty, Acton, ACT

Thank you, Cameron Stewart, for your fairly well-balanced look at the present situation in Gaza. What none of Israel’s present critics seem to grasp is just how an obsessive, sustained and unapologetic threat to one’s existence can and must change your point of view.

Stewart makes the common mistake of assuming Hamas’s release of the surviving hostages will be the circuit breaker. It will certainly help, but until Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and their Persian sponsor accept Israel’s right to exist, there’ll be no lasting peace in the Middle East.

John McHarg, Maylands, WA