Israel had to act to protect its people

After reading Mr. Akhter's letter published Jan. 1, I cannot comprehend what he is saying or trying to say.

He argues that Israleli IDF is commiting genocide against the Palestinian population in the response to the Oct. 7 attack. He does not go into the Hamas rationale for committiing atrocities against the Jewish population on Oct. 7, which was a planned action by the Palestinian leadership of Hamas.

Should the Israelis have been completely ignorant of this and not react at all?

The only viable way as seen by Israel and its allies is to answer this challenge, and destroy Hamas.

Mr. Akhter's analysis does not contain any reference to the Palestinian/Muslim phrase 'From the river to the sea," which refers to the denial of the Israel right to exist. The reference that was coined by Muslims and used by Muslims to call for the destruction of Israel.

Where do we lose Mr. Akhter? He and other people who think like him do not have an answer for the unprovoked slaughter of innocents on Oct. 7. The action that Israel has taken was to eliminate the threat of murder of its citizens.

Dan Blum

Arlington Heights