SIR – Hamas’s murderous attack on October 7 was part of its wider, stated goal of wiping Israel off the map. Of course, it is essential to bring the current conflict to a just conclusion, and to commence serious discussions on the formation of a Palestinian state. Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, correctly points out that “statehood of a people is not in the gift of its neighbour; it is the right of a people, and it is the right of the Palestinian people”. I hope she would agree that th