Yanir Yagna, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service: Gaza rocket hits playground in Ashdod, amid barrage on Negev
Talkback
Title:Right to defend itself
Name:Shoshana
City: TorontoState:
I think that every country has the right to defend itself. For years Israel has warned the people of Gaza to stop launching rockets into Israel and trying to target civilians. For years they have chosen to continue to launch rockets and ignore Israel`s warnings.

The people of Gaza have no one to blame but themselves, for voting in a leadership that does not value the lives of its civilians, but rather wants to destroy the state of Israel, for the situation that they find themselves in.

Israel, like every other country in the world has the right and responsibility to protect itself and its people from rockets. Hamas always knew that Israel had stronger weaponry, just always assumed that they wouldn`t use it.

And now that Hamas has started a war where the biggest losers will be the people of Gaza, it is making no effort to stop, and put a end to this terrible mess which they have started.