A slap on the wrist won't stop Palestine slaughter.

Byline: Elaine C. Smith 

THE conflict in Gaza is horrific with both sides believing the other is in the wrong and unwilling to sit round the table.

We all know eventually these men must negotiate.

But how many thousands will die before we get there, how many more children will be killed?

The sheer military might of Israel should ensure they beat Hamas.

And the political backing by the West only strengthens their position.

It doesn't matter how many platitudes leaders in Europe and the US spout about the crisis - they're wringing their hands while hundreds of people die.

An Israeli attack was inevitable. The world knew that when the people of Gaza voted in a Hamas government their neighbour wouldn't tolerate it.

It's funny how countries that lecture others on democracy only seem to like it when people vote the way they want.

No one would want the daily rocket attacks into southern Israel to go on.

For those who live there it must be awful. Around a dozen have died already.

But compared to the hundreds of Palestinians killed the response from Israel is disproportionate.

They're allowed to go on with the slaughter with nothing but a slap on the wrist from the rest of us.

But the truth is they shouldn't be there in the first place. They built settlements on land that doesn't belong to them.

The real solution would be for Israel to move out of the disputed territories.

Then the rockets would stop...and thousands of needless deaths avoided.