Sir Ivor Roberts (“Our best weapons are words”, 2 August) rightly says that we must begin to unpick the Gordian knot of war somewhere. As far as the current slaughter in Gaza goes, we might well start by pointing out that the root of this conflict is not Hamas rockets but the Israel occupation of Palestine. Perhaps we should cease all trade with Israel including arms until it gives equal rights to all its citizens whether Jewish or not; makes clear what it regards as its legitimate