Letter writer needs her facts straight

Response to "Both sides are at fault" of Jan. 8.

Get your facts straight, Ms. Ahmad. Gaza has not been firing the rockets; cowardly Hamas militants hiding among its own people are firing the rockets. Israel has always been reactive, not proactive, in their fight with its neighbors. With the exception of the blockades (and those were also reactive), every incursion by Israel was in response to proactive Hamas or Hezbollah military actions.

Regarding Hamas, both Egypt and Israel have periodically intercepted military arms at various Egyptian crossing points destined for Hamas to use against Israel. Israel's mistake is not allowing controlled humanitarian aid to the Gazans even if it means extraordinary measures to ensure military arms do not slip through. They have to realize the Palestinians in Gaza do not have the leaders to either control Hamas or to expel them and restricting aid puts the Palestinians in the cross hairs between life (Israel) and death (Hamas).

You are right in one statement: It is in the interest of all parties to come to some political solution, but that will only happen if Israel's neighbors just leave it alone and go on to the business of rebuilding the lives of their own citizens.

Israel has said "Stop the rockets and the suicide bombers. We leave Gaza tomorrow and the gates will be opened." Let us hope Hamas heard the message. Arnold Prepsky Oak Park