SIR - Mr Leavor (T&A, July 16) suggests that if Hamas stops sending rockets, “Israel will not take any adverse action against Gaza”. Regrettably, history proves otherwise. In 1955, Israeli military chief Moshe Dayan declared “our strategy must be one of provocation”.

In 2008, with Hamas observing a ceasefire but PM Olmert behind in the polls, Israeli commandos entered Gaza, murdering four civilians and taking two hostage.

Hamas responded with home made rockets, triggering “Operation Cast Lead” which left more than 1,400 Palestinians dead.

Another election looming, in 2012 Israel murdered a 13-year-old Gazan boy playing football and assassinated the Hamas official who was trying to negotiate a permanent ceasefire. Rockets followed, with the predictable Israeli response.

We condemn the Hamas action.

But this is a symptom of the problem, the causes of which are the fundamental injustice of Zionism, the 47-year-old illegal occupation of Palestine and the seven-year siege on Gaza.

Derek J Bird, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Bradford & Airedale, Laurel Crescent, Keighley