• GOPA Roy (What about Diplomacy?, January 25) wonders why there is no diplomacy.

No sane government, no sane admirals or generals, want to go to war. People die, land is devastated, and it all costs a lot of money. But diplomacy or negotiation with terrorists?

That’s impossible while there is no truce, ceasefire or cessation of hostilities. Hamas (and not only that lot) seeks the end of the state of Israel. It would be hard to talk about anything with such terrorists, where would be the trust?

Clearly something has to be done to stop the killings and it would be good to see the Arab world in general help much more in the Middle East.

It is hard to feel that Benjamin Netanyahu is the right man for Israel but after October 7 he had to look after his country’s interests. I expect any leader in that country would be damned if they did and damned if they did not.

Of course, as has been true through the centuries, people kill in the name of their deity. Religion, it’s unbelievable.

LESTER MAY, NW1