Hamas misfire

WHAT a joke: Hamas claiming that their rocket attacks on southern Israel were aimed at "military targets" (International, 1 February).

It would be interesting for them to identify just what military targets there are in schools and hospitals in Sderot, which has been under fire for eight years, or in Ashkelon and other towns in southern Israel where the rockets have all landed in populated civilian areas, usually timed from when children were travelling to and from school.

In any event, there is no way these unguided, unsophisticated rockets which have traumatised entire communities for many years, and which became even more threatening in the run up to Operation Cast Lead, could possibly have been aimed at specific targets, even if such targets did exist.

As for Israel's defensive action during Operation Cast Lead, extensive investigations have and continue to be carried out, and specific complaints have been investigated. As a result, there are ongoing investigations in more than 30 cases, and any disciplinary action needed as a result of the final findings will definitely be initiated.

Israel has an exemplary record of the moral behaviour of its defence forces and to quote British military expert Colonel Richard Kemp: "No country in the history of warfare has done more to avoid civilian casualties than Israel did in Operation Cast Lead."

JOY WOLFE

Cheadle, Cheshire