Hamas’s terrorist attack on October 7 last year – in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 240 taken hostage – has been condemned. Israel has a right to defend itself in response to events. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has used Hamas’ attack on Israel to further dispossess Palestinians of their land.

Gaza’s ministry of health has put the Palestinian death toll at more than 33,800 people and the number of injured at more than 76,000. In north Gaza, people are surviving on 245 calories daily, or 12 per cent of their recommended caloric intake, according to Oxfam. Famine is predicted without immediate coordinated action.

More than 80 per cent of Gaza’s population has been displaced (1.9 million people), and 62 per cent of homes destroyed. Eight of 10 schools and 84 per cent of all health facilities are either damaged or destroyed.

Until American politicians treat Palestinians with the human decency they typically afford themselves, their families or pets, Palestinians will not know self-determination within a two-state solution.

A larger Middle Eastern conflict looms. Eventually, there will be consequences to subjugating a people within the world’s largest open-air prison, of which Israel and other countries are reasonably aware.

Dr Michael Walton, New South Wales, Australia

Tying up aid to Ukraine is foolish

They have also destroyed the credibility of the US on the world’s stage by putting partisan politics ahead of human life. How can we be counted on any more as defenders of freedom and democracy when congressional policymakers tie funding for Ukraine to what is going on at our southern border? While wanting to fix our border problems is commendable, it has nothing to do with the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine.

Send the aid to Ukraine before it is too late and you destroy everything we have accomplished as a country in the eyes of the people who are living the nightmare you are creating.

Kurt Moore, Nevada, United States