MAY I , through this column, vent some steam on the current grim situation in Gaza?

So, the Israeli government has announced a unilateral ceasefire, and claimed this whole sorry episode a success. Let’s not forget who broke the initial ceasefire on December 23, the israeli's.

With an upcoming election, this was an ideal time to show the Israeli electorate they meant business with Hamas militants. I'm no lover of the Hamas government, their indiscriminate firing of mainly haphazard rockets is clearly unacceptable. But the utter disproportionate response by the Israeli government is almost comparable with the Nazis dealing with the Jewish resistance fighters in the ghettos of Warsaw during the Second World War. For every Jew killed, they kill 100 Palestinians. The abhorrent use of white phosphorus by the Israeli air force is bordering on a war crime, surely they must know this godforsaken weapon is showering down on innocent civilians.

The stock response by the Israeli government is always ... "What nation in the world would not defend themselves when under attack"? I don’t recall the British government launching an all out air, Naval and ground assault on the IRA in downtown Belfast during the 70s. We would have been castigated by the entire world. We ended that conflict by talking to our enemies. Violence breeds violence.

The ruthless and cynical nature of this war beggars belief. We are no closer to peace and almost a month later what has been achieved? Who are the real terrorists here?

TOM HORWAT Upavon Court Penhill Swindon