Gaza militants use women as shields

Re “Hamas Militants Flee Gaza Mosque Aided by Women,” Nov. 4

I see that the brave Hamas fighters in Gaza called on women to come over to the mosque where they were holed up and help them escape. I guess they were not ready for those 72 virgins, or do they leave suicide missions for children? Also, they assumed that Israeli troops would not attack women, an assumption that could not be made about them.

MARSHALL GILLER

Winnetka

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The Times states, “The most recent episode began Wednesday when Israeli forces stormed the town of Beit Hanoun to root out stockpiles of Kassam rockets.” This is not when this story began. This is, however, how most news stories about this conflict begin. This story actually begins with Palestinians firing missiles at Israel, hoping to kill as many civilians as they can. When Israel responds (as any nation under attack would) and Hamas purposely puts civilians in the way, the story becomes “Israel kills civilians.” Whatever happened to context?

JONATHAN TROST

Huntington Beach

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The headline used was a preposterous one for a news piece that talks about the death of tens of Palestinians. The sole purpose of such headlines is to deceive the readers, humanize the Israeli occupation forces and demonize the Palestinian population. I guess Palestinian lives are worth less than Israeli ones.

RASHAD AL-DABBAGH

Anaheim