I am a fortunate senior citizen enjoying retirement in our welcoming and friendly town; I am also Jewish.

The horrific actions of Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, killing, raping and abducting concert goers, have been widely reported and condemned. I feel that Israel had the right to respond but not by a continuous military action against the entire Palestinian population. The background of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is well known and can be discussed interminably but the current situation cannot be justified.

I have decided that it is my moral obligation to speak out to decry the current Israeli actions that have led to wide-spread deaths and starvation of the Palestinian residents of the enclave. I believe it is time for citizens and organizations to speak out and I urge our local religious and civic organizations to call for the end of military action by both sides, release of the remaining hostages, and for a cease-fire that will enable international organizations to bring in food, medical supplies and to attend to the injured.

The politics of the Mideast can be discussed endlessly and there will be those who disagree with me for many related reasons, but I feel there is no need for further debate regarding the need to stop the killing and starvation.

Max Kraus

Middlebury