The Issue: Hamas’ attack on Israel Saturday, during which it kidnapped and killed hundreds of civilians.
Hamas’ attack on Israel was more than an act of war; it was a well-planned act of terrorism (“War crime,” Oct. 8).
Its primary targets were not military. Its intention was to kill or injure hundreds or thousands of Israeli civilians.
The press needs to recognize that while Israel’s retaliation will result in the death or injury of numerous Palestinian civilians, this is because Hamas deliberately launches its attacks from within schools, hospitals and other civilian areas.
Unlike Hamas’ unprovoked attack on Israeli civilians, Israel has warned Palestinian civilians to leave areas where Hamas is using them as shields.
Clearly, unlike Israel, Hamas has no respect for civilian life, whether Israeli or Palestinian. This key difference must not be overlooked.
Irving A. Gelb
North Bergen, NJ
Thank you to Michael Goodwin for calling out The New York Times for referring to Hamas as “militants” (“Harsh reality shatters Mideast delusion,” Oct. 8).
Militants don’t infiltrate people’s homes and massacre innocent women and children. Militants don’t slaughter hundreds of people celebrating at a concert. Militants don’t take elderly and disabled people as hostages.
Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.
Why is it so difficult for The New York Times and Newsday to recognize this? Refer to these Hamas savages as “terrorists.”
Sheldon Ehrenreich
West Hempstead
Israeli citizens have lived with the reality for decades that they need safe rooms in their homes to escape the intermittent rocket attacks they have experienced by Hamas and other terrorist organizations.
What they never anticipated was needing the safe rooms to withstand terrorist entry and the kidnapping of the elderly, women and children.
These unspeakable actions by these terrorists cannot be tolerated, and world opinion needs to remain with Israel as the country does what it needs to do to recover hostages and secure its own safety long term. It will not be pretty. It is necessary.
Amy Hendel
Manhattan
There is a vacuous space in the Biden administration’s response to Hamas’ horrific attack on Israel.
It was not a military action against soldiers, but a wanton attack on civilians in a manner reminiscent of the crusades — killing woman, children and revelers at a concert and committing beheadings and mutilations.
Obviously, the group’s mission is genocide. Our leadership in this matter is needed.
America must use its strength and leadership to bring this to a close. Our actions and statements are urgent in this matter.
Andrew Jassin
Manhattan
The devastating attack that Hamas launched against Israel, which included the murder of innocent civilians and the taking of hostages, was incredibly cowardly.
The bad blood between Israel and Palestine has been going on for many years, and now it’s coming to a head.
Assuming this war doesn’t escalate to something involving other nations, Hamas may soon be regretting its actions over the past few days.
Dick Mills
Bardonia
The first lesson from the attacks is: Don’t give $6 billion to terrorist-sponsoring countries like Iran.
The second lesson from gruesome videos of Hamas dragging Israelis through the streets while shouting “Allahu Akbar” is that the war against Israel is a religious war, not a territorial one. Israel gave the territory of Gaza to the Palestinians, and Hamas still attacks.
The third and most frightening lesson is: Don’t allow terrorists into the United States across our open southern border. What happened in Israel can happen here.
Gamaliel Isaac
Manhattan
If Hamas has no concern for innocents and is willing to kill women and children, then Israel should eliminate the threat from the Gaza Strip once and for all.
Mike Santavicca
Yonkers
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