KEV McSTRAVICK is under the misapprehension that the reason for the appalling death toll among Palestinian civilians in the conflict with Israel is that “Palestinian terrorists hide behind their children” (HAS, Mar 29).

The fact is that the Israelis resort to overwhelming and indiscriminate firepower using, for example, white phosphorus, which causes terrible burns as it penetrates deep into the body, and “flechette” shells, each one firing thousands of lethal steel darts over a wide area.

There are also credible reports of deliberate targeting of noncombatants with “precision”

weapons.

Kev also seems to think that Israel only responds to unprovoked attacks by Hamas.

This conflict has continued for decades and whenever there is a violent flare-up, each side blames the other. Arguing about who started it is futile.

The truth is that there will never be peace without justice. If the Palestinians were allowed their own state alongside Israel, there would remain a minority of extremists on both sides who still believe that the entire land belongs to them.

But if Palestinian children were growing up in peace and prosperity, support for those who seek the destruction of Israel would dry up.

Pete Winstanley, Durham.