I was heartened to see you reported the visit to this country of the 17-year-old Palestinian Hamman Mohsin, now paralysed down half his body having been shot in the head by the I.D.F. during his peaceful demonstration a year ago against Israel s attack on

I was heartened to see you reported the visit to this country of the 17-year-old Palestinian Hamman Mohsin, now paralysed down half his body having been shot in the head by the I.D.F. during his peaceful demonstration a year ago against Israel's attack on Gaza (Palestinian relives being shot in the head, H&H November 26).

Hamman has survived; tragically many innocents in Gaza did not and the Goldstone report before the United Nations is seeking a full and open enquiry as to the intensity and type of weapons used and on whom.

What also needs to be made known is that the siege of Gaza still continues with unimaginable hardship to the Gazans who have lost reliable water and electricity supplies, more than half of their agricultural land, and cannot import even the most basic materials for rebuilding their country and their businesses.

With ingenuity they have resorted to building mud-brick home and public buildings.

When one meets children who live under occupation in the West Bank, while life is easier than in Gaza, it is a life of constant fear, harassment and barriers to a decent education. Under Israeli law anyone can be held without charge for six months. A leading school has twice had the maths teacher arrested a few months before finals exams, only to be released without charge when the examination is over and the children have missed out on their education.

They are asked by armed soldiers as they enter school what is in their school bag, and what lessons they are going to have. When they leave, they are questioned about what the teacher said. They then face a long journey home through checkpoints and the few armed crossings in the wall.

If they win a scholarship to study abroad it is practically impossible to be granted an exit visa by the Israeli authorities.

I trust your newspaper will continue to report on the few visitors who come from Palestine and also to report some of their stories. It is vital that the human rights of children in Palestine are upheld.

Sara Wood

South Hill Park Gardens, NW3