Blockade is to hurt Gaza, not protect Israel

Thank you for publishing the lucid, information-rich op-ed piece by Laila El-Haddad ("Israeli brutality on land and at sea," June 3). Ms. El-Haddad has pointed out the arbitrary nature of the restrictions that Israel imposes upon 1.6 million Gazans. No wheelchairs or paper or children's books. Also, no coriander or house plants. These, and many more banned items, are Israel's means of inflicting collective punishment, a violation of the Geneva Convention. A related topic is the significance of the natural gas reserves that have been discovered off the coast of Gaza and the business negotiations connected with this discovery. What is the connection between this matter and the Israeli blockade of Gaza?

Carole C. Burnett, Silver Spring