I feel compelled to respond to Carlyle Schlabach’s letter, “Gaza War Is Not Genocide” (February). I believe it’s important to name the specific evil that is happening in the Middle East. If genocide is the incorrect word, what might be better? I share a quote I got in my email today [March 9]: “Israel has imposed a total blockade to stop all food, fuel and medicine from entering Gaza, cutting off humanitarian aid to a population already facing catastrophic levels of malnutrition” (BBC, March 2). Now Israel is threatening to open “the gates of hell” on Palestinians by resuming the brutal assault that has already killed at least 62,000 and left nearly the entire population homeless (The Guardian, March 3).

Make no mistake: This is a war crime. And Donald Trump, who has called for the forced expulsion of the Palestinian population of Gaza, has announced another $12 billion in arms sales to Israel (Reuters, Jan. 4; New York Times, March 2). Are we afraid to name what is evil? Are we afraid to speak for those who have no voice? What news sources do we trust? Micah 6:8 calls us to do justice and love mercy. 

Nancy Graber, Goshen, Ind.