WE have had a gloomy start to the New Year with our economic woes, but spare a thought for the Palestinians struggling to survive in Gaza.

Anyone who has watched the news unfold over recent days must have felt utter horror at how hundreds of innocent, captive Palestinians have been killed under Israel’s massive offensive, with thousands more losing their homes and living in fear of their lives.

Only a fraction of the 700 aid trucks the United Nations would expect to be sending are getting through, and food, water, medical aid and electricity are virtually non-existent.

It is now clear that it was Israel that broke the ceasefire in November, but even before that Gazans who had access to water for three days a week were the lucky ones thanks to Israel’s blockade, and UN relief centres were closing as food, power and medical supplies ran out.

Israel’s claim that its operation is defensive is belied by its ferocity, and the scale of its indiscriminate killing is surely criminal.

When Israel was created in 1947, it was handed 56 percent of Palestine. It now occupies well over 80 per cent and it is slowly strangling what is left of Palestine.

Peace is always possible, but in Palestine it will only be achieved if Israel ends its occupation and returns to the borders that existed before 1967, when it first occupied Gaza and the West Bank and it allows Palestinians to return to the homes they have been evicted from, in line with UN resolutions.

Gordon Brown has thankfully joined France and other governments in demanding a ceasefire, but Mr Bush has used the last days of his presidency to egg Israel on before Mr Obama is sworn in.

Gaza may be a long way away but our voices can make a difference.

Even if you can’t make one of the many protests organised around the country, please consider boycotting Israeli goods and writing to the Israeli Embassy and our MP.

Sarah Evans, Artists’ Way, Andover.