‘We must stand by Israel and support them in their fight against terrorism,’ writes Keith Bays

Such atrocities must never be allowed to happen again. This is why the international community must support Israel in its primary mission to eradicate the terrorist organisation Hamas.

Israel has a right to defend itself and prevent terrorist organisations like Hamas from repeating such atrocities. This will drive the decisions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet, and those decisions should be respected by international partners. What would those countries do if they were in the same position with terrorists wanting to wipe them off the face of the Earth?

To achieve the goal of ridding the world of a terrorist organisation like Hamas, the Israeli government will need the support of its international allies. This includes providing intelligence, logistics, training, and military equipment. Such support is essential.

Allowing Hamas to survive endangers us all. Backed in part by Iran, Hamas would not only continue to terrorise Israel but also look to spread its terror to the West.

While I accept that in any democracy, everyone should have the right to peacefully protest, those marching in London shouting "from the river to the sea" simply don’t have a clue. It could be argued that by mocking Israel in such a way, some of these people are turning a blind eye to what took place on October 7, as it suits their anti-Israel agenda.

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It is also worth remembering that while everyone has the right to protest, there are lines that should not be crossed. The antisemitic signs, the shouting of antiemetic bile, and the targeting of the Jewish community must stop.

It is incumbent on those in positions of authority to clamp down on protesters who overstep the mark. Members of the Jewish community must be allowed to go to work and send their kids to school without fear of verbal or physical attacks.

Also, it is appalling that the South African government has taken Israel to the UN’s top court to try and prevent Israel from going into Rafah to find Hamas terrorists who will be hiding in this area of Gaza. The government of Israel has every right to defend itself and prevent further attacks on its soil. If entering Rafah helps eliminate Hamas for good, I am all for it.

Individuals and communities must not abandon Israel at a time like this, and we must ensure that the UK Government and governments all over the world don’t either.

We must stand by one of our greatest allies and support them in their fight against terrorism.