We Should Be in No Doubt What Hamas Stands For – This Was Terrorism, Plain and Simple: Foreign Secretary James Cleverly Explains Why Britain Must Back Israel in Its Deadly War with Hamas

By James Cleverly, Foreign Secretary
Published: 12:00 EDT, 14 October 2023 | Updated: 12:00 EDT, 14 October 2023

A bullet-ridden, blood-smeared doorway. A shattered interior strewn with debris. Not the scene a Foreign Secretary usually encounters abroad. But it powerfully brought home the sheer horror inflicted on the people of Israel last Saturday.

This home in Ofakim had been the site of a 20-hour struggle for life and death. One of hundreds, as Israel suffered terrorism on an unprecedented scale. The worst in their 75-year history. I was told repeatedly more Jewish civilians had been murdered in a single day than since the Holocaust.

The devastation was shocking. Gut-wrenching. But what hit me hardest were the stories I heard.

An elderly couple were held at gunpoint by Hamas terrorists for nearly a day. They had to barter for their survival by offering food, winning just enough time for the IDF to save them. They were brave. They were also lucky. So many were not.

The proud parents of a young IDF soldier have been living the nightmare of knowing their son is alive but held hostage. They got a glimpse of him, kidnapped, in one of the sickening videos flooding social media. That glimpse condemned them to agonizing fear and desperate hope.

I was left in no doubt. This was terrorism, plain and simple. Hamas set out to maximize civilian casualties and have done so with unimaginable cruelty. They left well over one thousand victims in their wake. Ordinary people going about their daily lives. The elderly, the infirm, and children. Babies.

That is why I wanted to be in Israel. To make clear to our Israeli friends that we stand shoulder to shoulder with them in their self-defense. We will be unwavering in our support as they restore security and recover their citizens from Hamas’ clutches.

In offering our steadfast support, we are also helping our own nationals. As the terrorists struck, tens of thousands of Brits were in Israel. Tourists, students, expats. Many are dual nationals, as British as you or I. We are working tirelessly to support all of them and offer whatever comfort we can to the families of those Brits Hamas killed.

I discussed supporting each other’s nationals with my friend, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. We are also engaging intensively with Israel on how they do all they can to minimize civilian casualties and get vital aid into Gaza. They get it. We know that Hamas lurk amongst civilians, using them as pawns for the sake of their fanaticism. In contrast, the IDF has warned civilians, even as it acts decisively to defend Israelis from Hamas. Warnings which Hamas has told innocent Palestinians to ignore.

It is false to equate Hamas’ heinous crimes with Israel’s right to self-defense. We should be in no doubt what Hamas stand for. A warped ideology which kills and abducts people simply because they are in Israel. Festival goers, Kibbutzim, peace activists, Arab Israelis. Anyone who happened to cross their path.

Hamas are not acting on behalf of the Palestinian people. Kidnapping and murdering innocents from all corners of the world does not improve the lot of Palestinians. Human suffering in Gaza has increased as a result of Hamas’ actions.

The loss of all civilian life is tragic. We have a proud track record of ensuring humanitarian aid reaches people in need, including Palestinians. We will once again do all we can.

Hamas does not care about those in need. Their agenda is not peace or a two-state solution. It is to suck us all into a lethal vortex, hoping to wipe Israel off the map.

That cannot happen. It must not happen. Britain will do all we can to help Israel stop it from happening. We will stand up for what’s right.

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