The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Horrific strike

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Horrific strike

Sunday's devastating Israeli air strike on the Lebanese town of Qana that killed over 50 persons, including 34 children, deserves all-round condemnation. Worse is the way the Israeli military has defended its action. The Jewish state's attack will only strengthen the Hizbollah and its supporters. Hundreds of innocent people have already been killed in this conflict but the international community has failed to find a way to end the war.

Bijan Kumar Mahapatra,
Hyderabad

The horrific bombing has proved beyond doubt that Israel is a terrorist state. The U.S. and Israel deserve to be tried for crimes against humanity. It is a pity that very few nations come forward to criticise Washington's policies that are the root cause of all flare-ups in the region.

R. Venkita Giri,
Thiruvananthapuram

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says she is "deeply saddened" by the deaths of Qana's unarmed women, frightened children, the frail, and the elderly massacred by Israel's guided missiles. These civilians did not leave Qana because they could not and not because they did not want to. The continuous aerial bombardment of their town made it unsafe to escape by any means. Taking refuge in the basement of an abandoned building was their only choice.
Esra Tasneem Aslam,
Chennai

Israel's statement that its strikes in Lebanon are in self-defence is surprising. What kind of self-defence is it that snatches away the lives of innocent civilians, including minors?

Kuldeep Singh,
Visakhapatnam, A.P.

The savage Israeli air strike should stir the world community — especially the U.S. and Russia — into taking immediate steps to stop the bloodshed in the Middle East. Hizbollah should also be reined in.

G. Jagannathan,
Dharmapuri, T.N.

The front-page photograph speaks volumes about the devastation caused. More shocking is the Israeli military's rejection of responsibility for the civilian deaths. An immediate and unconditional ceasefire is the need of the hour.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,
Faridabad, Haryana

Hundreds of civilians have been killed, thousands rendered homeless, infrastructure worth millions of dollars has been destroyed, and yet the U.S. does not think it necessary to ask Israel to stop the war. What a shame!

A. Mohan,
Muscat

Once again Israel and its American allies, by killing scores of innocent civilians, have proved they are the enemies of humanity. They are the real threats to global peace.

Syed Mukram,
Warangal, A.P.

The Israeli air strike is unpardonable. Israel should learn to live in a civilised world. Otherwise it may have to face a universal boycott such as the one suffered by the apartheid regime of South Africa.

Soma Marla,
Solan, Himachal

Nobody denies a country has the right to defend itself. But the exercising of this right should not affect innocent people. What Israel is doing right now is totally against humanity. Hizbollah is sure to retaliate and the chain reaction will have no end.

B.P. Upendra Roy,
Srirangam, T.N.

The mindless bombing has to be condemned. Whatever be the provocation, the killing of innocent people cannot be condoned. The U.N. must move in and stop the carnage.

M.V. Devraj,
Bangalore

The U.N. is losing its credibility. Those who talk about ethics and morals should pressure Israel to call an immediate ceasefire. Expressing condolences is not enough.

Rajnish Raj,
New Delhi

The U.N.'s ineffectiveness is clear now, and peace in any part of the world cannot be re-established without the "blessings" of the U.S. A pity!

M.K.D. Prasada Rao,
Bangalore

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

News Update

Stories in this Section

Cruel, senseless campaign

Accountability in clinical trials

Narmada rehabilitation: OSG report and after

Qana massacre and the Security Council

Beyond the `mole' muddle

Handwriting reveals the inner you

Corrections and clarifications