Israel
Two years ago today, we watched in horror as Israeli citizens in the area known as the Gaza envelope in the southern district of Israel, close to the Gaza border, suffered appalling attacks. A correspondent to the BBC, the father of a child survivor of kidnapping, quite reasonably described this as the greatest attack on Jewish people since the holocaust.
In a few short hours, 4300 rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel. 21 communities were murderously attacked by around 7000 Hamas fighters who had ‘broken out’ of Gaza.
The stories of pain and human suffering which emerged over the following days were horrific and heartbreaking. 1182 people, mostly civilians, died in those attacks, including 38 children. 70 of the casualties were Arab Israeli’s. Words like slaughter and massacre are appropriate. Nearly 3500 more people were injured. There were many reports of beatings and rape. 247 people were kidnapped, trafficked and detained in Gaza, from where many of them will never return.
Nothing can be said or written to justify what happened on that day in October, or the continued suffering of hostages of any other victim.
Tens of thousands of Israeli’s carry the emotional scars of loss, bereavement, uncertainty, and watching the ongoing suffering if people they love. For most, the scars of what happened on that day will never heal. The harsh blanket of despair covers a much wider proportion of humanity than just those who were killed and injured on October 7th.
Along with the people of Israel, and the global Jewish community, we should raise our voices once more in condemnation of the senseless brutality of those attacks. We should remember that every single victim had a name. We should pause today to mourn each and every one. We should pray for those who continue to suffer, and for those who mourn.
Gaza
Today marks 2 years since the start of the Israeli response to those brutal attacks. The response has been devastating and unrelenting.
Since October 7th 2023, in response to the Hamas attack, at least 67,000 residents of Gaza have been killed by Israeli action. In many areas of Gaza, the destruction is so severe, that these figures may underestimate the total. 20,000 of those casualties were children – one child for each hour since 7th October 2023. The IDF claim that 12,000 Hamas fighters are amongst the dead, although that figure is unlikely to be confirmed. Words like slaughter and genocide are appropriate. 169,000 people have been injured as a result of Israeli action. It is suggested that up to 40,000 people are facing life changing injuries, with up to 21,000 children permanently disabled. The position for children in Gaza is beyond horrific.
The deliberate targeting of hospitals is a war crime. In Gaza, more than 100 hospitals have been destroyed or damaged beyond use by Israeli bombs. Doctors, including senior surgeons, have been ‘arrested’ and transported to Israel to prevent them treating their own people. Journalists have been specifically targeted and murdered to prevent them communicating the horrors of everyday life in Gaza and the actions of the IDF.
As part of their military operation, Israel have blocked virtually all food, water and medical aid from entering Gaza. These tactics are medieval. They are indefensible. UNICEF figures say that in mid September 2025, 12,500 children (1 in 5 of the population) were acutely malnourished, and by the end of September, 459 people, including 154 children have died of malnutrition. They have starved to death. Many more will die unless they are provided with managed recovery from malnutrition.
Like the victims of the Hamas attack in Israel, every man, woman and child in Gaza has a family, often extending beyond the borders of Gaza. Once more, there is a great multitude of people who are in agony and despair for the suffering of people they love. Meanwhile, the bombs continue to fall and the numbers of dead and injured continue to rise.
Along with the people of Palestine, we should raise our voices once more in condemnation of the senseless and barbaric attacks visited upon them by Israel under the leadership and direction of Benjamin Netanyahu. We should remember that every single victim had a name, and we should pause today to mourn each and every one. We should pray for those who continue to suffer, and especially for those who mourn.
Peace Process
We hope and pray that the current peace process is successful in bringing about a cessation of hostilities, the delivery of aid to Gaza, the release of all of the hostages, and a lasting peace.
It’s difficult to be optimistic.
United States
Yesterday, the President of the United States, who believes that he should receive the Nobel peace prize for resolving world conflicts, was asked by a CNN journalist in a ‘text’ interview, what would be the response if Hamas refused to accept his latest peace deal.
He replied with two words. ‘Complete obliteration’.
Keep praying.
Let’s be honest, Donald J Trump is a pretty easy target. He was not, is not and never shall be fit for the role of President. He is a habitual and brazen liar. He is a narcissist. He is a manipulator. He is a convicted felon. He is a misogynist. He is a failed business man. He has polarised the nation. He is visibly cognitively challenged. These things are, or should be, disqualifying. Seen from anywhere outside the MAGA bubble which he inhabits in the US, his continued hold over American politics is inexplicable. His place as Republican candidate in this election is nothing short of obscene. He is not fit to lead America. I could go on, but frankly he doesn’t deserve further attention. He is dangerously unqualified to wield influence on the world stage.
Harris