To the Editor:
Nicholas D. Kristof (“Gaza Boomerang,” column, Jan. 8) claims that Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza is not justified because it has killed more than 660 people as opposed to the 20 Israelis killed by Hamas rockets.
Perhaps the fact that Israel looks to protect its citizens with sirens and bomb shelters while Hamas, in turn, shelters itself by hiding among innocent civilians has more to do with the resulting death tolls than the actual force used.
While Israel goes out of its way to minimize loss of innocent life, it seems that Hamas values its own citizens less than the Israelis do.
Shayna Goldberg
Bergenfield, N.J., Jan. 8, 2009
