Ann Bardacke wonders, “why Hamas built miles of tunnels to protect its fighters but not one shelter for civilians” (“Hamas tactics are the main problem,” Our Readers’ Views, Sept. 11).
In 2007, Israel installed a blockade around Gaza, and since then Israel has decided what goes in and out of Gaza. When the water and electricity are turned on; how much food and medical supplies are allowed in. Israel only provides what food and water it thinks the people need to survive. It controls who gets health care and their health care needs.
For the Palestinian people, Hamas uses the tunnels to bring water, food, gasoline to run their generators and much-needed medical supplies. Building the tunnels also provided many of the young men with an income opportunity Israel would’ve never offered them. It also provides the Palestinian people shelter against bomb attacks that regularly occur in Gaza, so it shouldn’t be surprising when they choose Hamas to lead them.
I agree it’s tragic that these tunnels were used to bring harm to innocent people but it is also tragic that Palestinian people feel the only way the world ever pays attention to them is when they fight back.
