In northern Gaza, trauma and terror engulf all
Los Altos, Calif.: The human suffering unfolding in northern Gaza is incomprehensible. Yehya Qasem, like many others, witnessed the horrors of Israeli airstrikes, with his family’s town of Jabaliya facing repeated invasions and attacks. Amid Israel’s ongoing siege and bombardment since Oct. 7, Gaza’s northern region has seen thousands of civilians trapped under rubble, denied medical care and subjected to starvation.
Israel’s ground offensive, paired with airstrikes, has intensified in recent months, devastating Gaza’s infrastructure. Hospitals such as Kamal Adwan and Al-Awda struggle to treat the injured while lacking vital supplies. Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, who continues working despite being injured, describes the dire situation: “We don’t even have a single ambulance to transport the injured.” The ongoing siege prevents rescue teams from reaching survivors, leaving them without hope.
Meanwhile, families like that of Amal Almasri endure unimaginable trauma. After her home was bombed, Almasri was forced to give birth while struggling with severe malnutrition. The Israeli military then separated her from her husband, Yousef, under the guise of evacuating civilians. The family was torn apart, with Almasri and her children fleeing south while her husband was detained, later injured and used as a human shield.
Tragically, Ramez Abu Nasser lost his mother and two brothers in an airstrike on Nov. 4. Trapped under rubble, he could only dig helplessly, his parents’ cries for help forever etched in his mind. The family’s suffering exemplifies the cruel and ongoing trauma faced by Gaza’s civilians.
The current actions of the Israeli military in northern Gaza constitute grave violations of international law. As the violence escalates, the world must demand an immediate end to these atrocities and hold those responsible, like Israel and the United States, fully accountable for these horrific war crimes. Jagjit Singh
Revealing subtext
Bronx: Your article on the Israeli attack on the Palestinian people in Gaza shows its bias by referring to Israelis held by Hamas as “hostages” and Palestinians held by Israel as “prisoners.” Once again, you fail as a newspaper. Richie Nagan
Plenty smart
Palm Coast, Fla.: To Voicer T.S. Fallani: You call us uneducated racists (not!), but we were smart enough to vote out the most corrupt, inept administration in the history of this country. Fallani sounds like the racist to me. D.A. Weinberg
Right back at you
Hicksville, L.I.: Once again, Voicer T.S. Fallani attempts to prove intellectual superiority by labeling all 77 million Trump voters stupid. She talked of being easily tricked — this from a lefty who honestly believed President Biden was mentally capable during his tenure, when anybody with half a brain could see he was not. And who is the real bigot? You come off as one of the most hateful, condescending individuals I have come across in the Voice of the People, and I have been a reader for more than 50 years. There is a reason your party got their butt whooped, and all you have to do is look in the mirror and see the reason. John Gelormino
Venue shopping
Bayside: Luigi Mangione’s smartest move to date was waiving extradition and facing state charges in New York. It’s a well-known fact that cop killers and mass murderers never face the death penalty here, so neither will he. If only we had politicians who stood up to these murderers and gave them what they deserved. Enjoy life in prison with all the luxuries it affords — even free health care, no doubt better than what you had! Karen Sabatini
Extradition entourage
Bradley Beach, N.J.: I just had to laugh viewing the picture of Luigi Mangione being extradited from Pennsylvania to New York. As a retired NYPD detective, even I would say that was overkill! Why was the mayor there? My partner and I performed many extraditions, some guys more dangerous than Luigi, with no fanfare. Just so ridiculous. Patrick Freeman
Too much ado
Hamden, Conn.: The CEO killer show was on full view on his transport from Pennsylvania. Cops with body armor and machine guns, helicopter rides to NYC, shameless photo ops with Mayor Adams walking behind the procession, exactly where he didn’t belong. This murder suspect should have been shackled in a van for the ride to NYC and not treated like the star of the show. Shameless photo ops. Chris Lyons
Mixed messages
Flushing: What hypocrisy! On the front page of the Dec. 19 edition is “More soldiers in subway,” yet on page 2 there is a photo op of Gov. Hochul with law enforcement and the MTA CEO in front of a huge sign saying, “Crime is down 42%” Query: If crime is down 42%, why the need for the National Guard in NYC’s subway system? Martin Goldman
Fourth estate
Manhattan: S.E. Cupp has her dander up and rightfully so (“The press must resist Trump’s bullying lawsuits,” column, Dec. 19). Justice courses through my veins. I urge all newspapers, and especially their readers, to stand up strong for the freedom of the press. Newspapers have the lungs and the chops to hold politicians’ feet to the fire — the politicians who are supposed to represent the will of the people. Newspapers shine their ready spotlight on bullying politicians, eviscerating the bully’s inherently flawed position. That light shines just as bright on do-nothing politicians. Newspapers enrich our lives. Freedom of the press is essential for true justice. Susan A. Stark
Pliant press
Hartsdale, N.Y.: S.E. Cupp makes a number of important points in her article about the U.S. press and its over-compliant “relationship” with incoming President Donald Trump. But it makes me wonder: Does the press have a backbone left or are they merely there to bend for MAGA and report the latest outrage thereof? I have a suggestion: If Trump, as he says he will, pardons the Jan. 6 terrorists who attempted to interrupt the transfer of the president’s office, will the Daily News or any U.S. newspaper publish a complete list of all those convicted of crimes related to that effort? After all, criminal convictions are a matter of public record, just like those lists of unclaimed funds we get in our paper. So, let’s see the reaction of our reputed-to-be “free press” when our new president frees a bunch of terrorists. Norman E. Gaines Jr.
Policy of polarization
Woodstock, N.Y.: To Voicer Ron Beaty: I have no idea where you got the idea that Drumpf has spurred depolarization, at least not in D.C. He successfully blocked the spending bill, much like he blocked the passage of a bipartisan border bill because it would give the Dems a win — the country be damned — and he wasn’t even the president-elect! I certainly wish Drumpf wasn’t who he is, but as long as he’s in control, there won’t be compromise because he will prevent it. Suzanne Hayes Kelly
Better, but barely
Scarborough, N.Y.: The Democrats will return to power not by their own merits, which are few and far between, but because of the relentless malfeasance of the Republicans, highlighted by Trump’s Klown Kabinet selections and his willingness to shut down the federal government. Thomas F. Comiskey
Anti-enforcement
Tomkins Cove, N.Y.: The Dec. 19 editorial, “IRS cuts make Uncle Sam lose money,” could just have been titled “Republicans want to defund the police.” After all, that’s what the IRS is — in essence, the tax police who serve a valuable obligation to the citizenry. Congress has passed laws detailing what must be rendered unto Caesar; the IRS’ mandate is to ensure Caesar gets his due. To allow corporations and billionaires to thwart what legitimately belongs to Caesar, i.e. U.S. citizens, is morally repugnant by underfunding their constitutional mandate. Doug Slotolowicz
Security breach
Fairfield, Conn.: People are going nuts over drones, yet elected a president who kept our nation’s top military secrets in a bathroom at a country club. Go figure. Stephen Johnson
