War is abhorrent. War is ugly. All civilian deaths are an absolute tragedy. But how quickly people forget the inconvenient truth that Hamas started this war on October 7 by gang raping, mutilating, burning alive and beheading over 1,200 civilians – many still in their beds at home, many partying at a music festival. Hamas terrorists also took 240 people as hostages into Gaza, of which 135 remain in captivity, subject to who knows what conditions and abuse.
Hamas’ 17-year rule, with no elections held since 2006, is over. They don’t care about the Palestinian people – their radical Islamist ideology punishes, by death, ‘unbelievers’, gay and trans people, and anyone who speaks out against them. The Palestinian people need a government that actually cares about them, and wants peace.
You want a ceasefire? So do I. Hamas should surrender and release all the remaining hostages – now.
The only road to peace is a future without Hamas.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
