THE first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel has been instructive because it has reminded us of the sheer horror, the sheer brutality, that the terrorists visited on Israel on October 7, 2023.

It murdered 1,200 civilians, and abducted another 250 – 100 of which may still be alive and being held hostage. This is utterly appalling and unacceptable.

It was quite shocking for us in our typical terraced houses, or nice country homes, in the North East to see all these Israeli properties with “safe rooms” at their core because such was the fear that the Israelis lived in, they were expecting a murderous assault. The anniversary reminds us they have a right to live without fear of either Hamas brutality or Hezbollah rockets.

So in the year since, the terrible suffering caused by Israel’s blanket response on first Gaza and now Lebanon has perhaps forced from our minds the barbarity that started this all.

That is not surprising. In Gaza alone, 41,000 people have been killed; 6,000 women, 11,000 children. Ninety per cent of the population has been displaced, and 60 per cent of buildings have been destroyed – there is going to be nothing left to rebuild if peace ever comes.

Yet at some point there does have to be a future. There cannot be perpetual wars. There cannot be bombing forever. As Keir Starmer said: “There is no military solution.”

There has to be diplomacy and there has to be a plan. How are the civilians of Gaza going to live when their homes and their economy have been destroyed? What sort of governance are they going to have to prevent the old enmities resurfacing? Who is going to rule Lebanon if it is not Hezbollah? How are Israeli civilians going to live in peace when all their neighbours want revenge for the bombing of today?

The British Prime Minister also said: “All sides must now step back from the brink and find the courage of restraint.” He’s right, but as we wait for Israel’s retaliation against Iran, sadly we can’t see it happening.