‘What is the point in Hamas provoking Israel, knowing that they cannot defeat the latter? How has the firing of rockets, that cannot even find or reach their target, strengthened their position?'

Ajit Singh Jessy: How will this solve the problem in the Middle East? Has he forgotten that it was the US that was instrumental in creating and protecting the state of Kosvo, a Muslim majority nation in Europe? Could any Arab or Islamic country have achieved such a feat?

It is time for all concerned to stop playing politics and find a solution for the sufferings of the Palestinians. Each time there is a conflict there, we hear the same old cries of ‘boycott', resolutions, demonstrations and press releases from the UN and politicians worldwide.

Once the conflict ends, everything returns to normal and is forgotten until the next conflict, which is inevitable, as the causes of the conflict remain simmering.

Whilst our hearts cry out for the innocent children and other victims, the Arabs in general and the Palestinians in particular, must ask themselves some honest questions.

What is the point in provoking Israel, knowing that they do not have a ghost of a chance of defeating Israel? How has the recent firing of rockets, that cannot even find or reach their target, strengthened their position?

Until and unless they can match Israel's military might, it is in the interest of the Palestinians to negotiate the best deal that they can, given the fact that most of the major world powers are on the side of Israel.

They should then use the opportunity to built up their economy, provide education and health facilities for their children and youth. This next generation will be in a better position to fight for their rights.

At the moment the children and youth are being wasted and in war with their misfortunes becoming propaganda material. Neither Hamas nor Hizbullah can bring peace or relief to the long suffering Palestinians by their aimless and futile firing of misguided rockets.

On Fighting rages in Gaza City

Mohd Yusnizan Bin Yusof: I read with disappointment several letters sent blaming Palestinians and Hamas for the latest conflict in Gaza.

The way the letters were written makes me think that the writers do not even know where t5he Gaza Strip is. Awareness among Malaysians regarding the Palestine-Israel issue is so low that I felt ashamed reading one letter condemning Tun Mahathir on his call to boycott US products.

I call on the media to shed some light on the issue by providing the other side of the story in order to help neutralise those who have been bombarded by news from the Zionist-controlled international news agencies.

Malaysians need to know the real history of the conflict but so far we have been listening only to the distorted versions written by the pro-Zionists.

To put it in plain words, Zionist Israel invaded and occupied land of the Palestinian people who had inhabited it for thousands of years. They claimed that the land was a ‘land of no people'.

They wished to create a nation-country of their own on that land by expelling the millions of Palestinians by terror acts. The Palestinians were so desperate that they resorted to retaliatory acts.

Even though such acts cannot be tolerated in normal circumstances, the situation there is unimaginable.

For a start we may read publications by non-Zionist Jewish groups who condemn the Israeli invasion such as ‘Jews for Justice in the Middle East', the ‘Jewish Voice For Peace' and others such as this .

I hope we then may appreciate better the sufferings of the Palestinian over the past sixty years.

Munirah Hishamshah: I am a Malaysian living in Dublin, Ireland. Following the siege in Gaza, the public in Dublin is roaring with anger and protest. But I have not heard from the Malaysians enough. Where are they?

The Irish, their MPs, are roaring that they are for the Gazans, demanding that their government do something. They want Ireland to lead the cause in the freeing of Palestine.

Where are the Malaysians? Where are the Islamic states? Why have I not heard from them enough? Why are we not working on leading this cause for humanity?

Sum: Is the recent genocide taking place in Gaza related to oil again? We know that the Iraq war had a lot to do with oil and war profiteering by the Americans.

After oil prices had gone down to US$40 a barrel in recent times, isn't it convenient that there is a sudden renewal of conflict in the Middle East again? Isn't it suspicious that the price of oil has shot up to US$50 plus a barrel just over these past few days?

For all the conspiracy theorists, is there really a cartel of powerful business people running the world's economy, who will do anything for a quick buck? Greedy tycoons who don't mind bathing in blood money?

You know, if Bernard Madoff can run his ponzi scheme for years and cheat investors out of US$50 billion, then I guess anything is possible. Let's see how much the price of oil is once a truce is called between Israel and Palestine. Want to bet that the price will be around US$100 per barrel?

From financial scandals to high oil prices to war profiteering, I see a common link - don't you?

Speak up Malaysia, stop the harming of innocent civilians for profit.

Kaisim: I do not condone wars and the killing of innocent civilians in the first place. But this killing of innocent citizens has been going on for many years among the Israelis, Hamas and Palestinians.

Why? This question can only be answered by those who are involved in the conflict. We need two hands to clap. There is no smoke without fire. And why is the entire Muslim world against the Israelis who have been branded all sorts of names?

If we live by the principles of peaceful co-existence and respect each other, there should not be any enmity among the people. On the contrary, a tiny nation will be armed to the teeth if the big countries surrounding it become bullies and create trouble.

There must be a reason for the Israelis to attack Gaza this time around. But the world is full of unjust people who only like to paint one side as bad.

This is one lesson which all countries should learn do not harm relationships with another nation be it big or small. Live and let live. Even a dog will fight back if it is cornered. Right?

Netty E Komattu: Exactly who is to be blamed for such a horrendous act of war in Palestine?

Children, women and the elderly become the casualties of this never-ending war which has torn down not only physical structures but the hearts of many grieving parents, siblings and relatives who lost their loved ones in this war.

So my question is ‘Exactly who is benefitting from this ‘freedom fight'? Why has Hamas not learned from past incidents and where exactly are the Hamas leaders when the state is being bombarded?

Why does Hamas continue to fire rockets into Israel knowing the repercussions? Would any other state or country just keep quiet and take all the beating? The way I see it, the only way Palestine can continue to have peace is to first stop Hamas from continuing to fire rockets into Israel.

Hamas must understand that this kind of dirty war tactics will only result in more destruction and loss of life rather then any gain.

This conflict has now caused the price of crude oil to rise and no nation wants yet more escalating costs with the current recession. This war is costing us a lot of agony and pain whether direct or indirectly.

Hamas, must and I repeat, must stop their horrendous acts immediately if this war-torn nation wants to live in peace. Terror and violence is not the way. Save Palestine, save the world.

On Don't blame Hamas for Gaza conflict

Dawei Shine: If Hamas is not to be blamed for the current situation in Gaza, then who is? Is Israel, which is provoked to aggression by as many as 80 missiles raining down on its territory on Christmas Day, to be blamed?

If we are looking for someone to blame, then Iran is a good candidate. Iran has be arming radical groups like Hamas and Hezbollah with missiles.

It is not only not interested in peaceful co-existence with Israel, but has openly vowed for the destruction of the Jewish state.

This may also be a good time for it to test the incoming new US president.

Would Hamas be better for the Palestinian people? This is for the Palestinians to decide.

But, we should ask: ‘What can we expect from a leader who chooses to use women and children as cover in fighting his enemies and uses places of worship (considered to be holy) to hide weapons for destruction of lives?'