To crush Hamas, Israel must give Gaza hope

Bombing Gaza is like handing Popeye a can of spinach - it won't weaken Hamas, only make it stronger

Women mourn the deaths of four Palestinian boys
(Image credit: MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images)

The time for blame in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is surely coming to an end. After countless cycles of violence, death and fear on both sides, there is some slight hope at least that the tragic deaths of four Palestinian boys, killed in front of witnesses by shells fired from an Israeli gunboat while they played on the beach, might mark a turning-point.

Yes, Israel has a right to defend itself, everyone does. But Israel already has bomb shelters and Iron Dome and air-raid sirens.

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Venetia Rainey is a Middle East correspondent for TheWeek.co.uk based in Lebanon where she works for the national English-language paper, The Daily Star. Follow her on Twitter @venetiarainey.