To the Editor:

Foreign Minister of Ireland Micheál Martin aptly highlights the very difficult conditions endured by the people who live in Gaza and rightly lauds the devoted U.N. Relief and Works Agency workers who provide humanitarian services to Gazans ("Gaza a Year Later," March 5.) But it is not enough to be a critic of a difficult situation; rather, one must understand why the situation exists and what to do about it.

Israel has been forced into a blockade of Gaza because the territory is controlled by Hamas, a terrorist organization committed to Israel's destruction and which continually tries desperately to acquire more arms to renew attacks on Israeli civilians.  Had the international community and the United Nations been interested in dealing with the truths about Hamas and tried to stop them from acquiring weapons, launching rockets, and spewing hatred, the January 2009 war could have been avoided and there would be no need for a blockade.

Unfortunately, people like Martin only seem interested in blaming and condemning Israel rather than dealing with the root causes of the problems. Until the international community recognizes this, Israel will be left with only bad choices and the people of Gaza will suffer.