Whitewashing history is no path to peace | Letter

It is hard to imagine a more vacuous and willfully one-sided column than Douglas Rooks’ Oct. 8 piece (“‘Genocide’ or not, US must seek an end to the suffering in Gaza”). In more than 760 words ostensibly offering a solution to Gazan suffering, Rooks places blame entirely on Israel — by my count, he mentions either Israel or Netanyahu by name 24 times while mentioning Hamas but twice.

Whitewashing history provides a weak foundation for peace; serious problems require acknowledging inconvenient facts. It was Hamas that militarized Gaza’s civilian infrastructure and embedded its war-making apparatus among the people it purported to represent. It was Hamas that initiated this war with its murderous Oct. 7 attack, then sheltered its fighters in tunnels while leaving Gazan civilians above ground to endure the foreseeable Israeli response. And, it was Hamas’ continued captivity of Israeli hostages that prolonged the conflict, compounding Gazans’ suffering.

Exploiting civilians — Gazan and Israeli — is integral to Hamas’ strategy. Yet the column never confronts Hamas as an obstacle to resolution. It contemplates Netanyahu’s removal through Israeli democratic elections without considering whether Hamas’ removal from power would advance the cause of peace. Wouldn’t an honest assessment of peace prospects examine the governing entities on both sides?

Lasting relief requires an honest and serious reckoning with the conduct and responsibilities of all parties to the conflict. Ignoring Hamas while focusing solely on Israel is neither honest nor serious and provides no path to peace.

Daniel Kagan
Lewiston

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