How would you react if your closest neighbours housed terrorists who signed a charter calling for your complete destruction?

How would you react if, on your holiest day of the year, your nation was attacked, innocent people raped, murdered, brutilised, and carted off as hostages?

How would you wage war against terrorists who hide in one of the most densely populated regions in the world?

How would you wage war against terrorists who base themselves in tunnels beneath hospitals and schools and orphanages, effectively using children and sick people as human shields?

How would you rescue hostages who have been held captive in tunnels, their basic human rights to freedom, good nutrition, and basic healthcare completely violated for almost two long years?

What would you do?

The truth is that there have been human rights violations on both sides of this awful war in Gaza.

The truth is that Hamas started the war and Israel is determined it should never happen again.

Two wrongs don’t make a right, but truly, how would you respond?

The truth is Hamas knew how Israel would respond, yet they still attacked.

The truth is that the terrorist organisation Hamas could stop hiding behind human shields.

The truth is that Hamas could unconditionally surrender, return the hostages, and lay down their arms at any time and the war would stop.

The truth is that Hamas doesn’t truly care for it’s ordinary Gazan citizens. Indeed, they stockpile food and energy supplies for their military while innocent Gazan citizens starve.

The truth is Hamas doesn’t want peace with Israel, nor do they want a two state solution. They want Israel’s utter destruction. It’s in their charter.

The truth is that recognising a Palestinian state in Israel is rewarding the October 7 attacks. It is rewarding terrorism. It will be seen as a victory for Hamas.

War is horrible. War is horrific. My heart truly breaks for innocent people on both sides. Most of them just want to live their lives in peace.

I hate that people are suffering and starving and wounded and driven from their homes.

I hate that children are scared and orphaned and have no safe space to call home.

I hate war. I hate terrorism. I hate that people hate each other so much.

I write this because I am disappointed in the one-sided narrative. I am disappointed in the short memory of the media and politicians.

I truly pray for peace in Israel.