YOUR correspondent Hugh Cleverly is living in a parallel universe if he thinks that the killing would stop if Hamas bows the knee to Israel. This has been part of the problem that Israel's death squads swanned around Gaza when the mood took them to kill whom they considered opponents.

When Hamas was elected as the government of Gaza their members were kidnapped and imprisoned in Israel or were murdered; sorry were the subject of "targeted killings". Their only way of fighting back was to fire home made rockets into Israel causing little damage and few casualties.

Of course we know the outcome, Israel replied with all the power that American technology can provide.

Indeed God help Gaza.

Bob Thomas, Southampton.