Re: Why We Set Sail, Ehab Lotayef, Oct, 25.

In his recent column, Canadian Boat to Gaza founding member Ehab Lotayef states: “Israel makes sure not to starve the people of Gaza, for optical reasons.” That is, Mr. Lotayef directly suggests that Israel would surely starve the people of Gaza were there no public relations challenge in so doing.

Whether he actually believes this (and as such is horribly deluded) or is knowingly being untruthful (and disgustingly so) makes no difference. It should now be clear to everyone just how openly extreme Mr. Lotayef is, and how he has nothing constructive to offer the conversation on how to resolve this difficult conflict.

That Israel was hit by more than 70 missiles from Gaza less than 48 hours before this column was printed is a point that — unsurprisingly — was lost on the author. Indeed, those who genuinely support peace do not engage in the sort of baseless demonization manifest in Mr. Lotayef’s poison pen.

Shimon Fogel, CEO, The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Ottawa.