Almost as soon as Hamas’ 7 October attack on Israel was over, and before there had been any response by Israel, many people were out on the streets shamefully ‘celebrating’ the murder of Israeli citizens and calling on Israel not to retaliate.
The subsequent military response by Israel, which seeks to destroy the Hamas terror group, has been met by protests from a combination of people who are, at best, ignorant of what happened on that terrible day.
But there can be no excuse for such ignorance. Much of the horror of the Hamas attacks was recorded by victims on their phones, CCTV cameras in streets and houses, and the cameras of emergency responders arriving at the scenes of carnage.
Israel has put together a 45-minute collection of this footage. With the permission of victims, it has been shown to a select number of policymakers and journalists. Last week, I and around 60 MPs and Peers viewed this footage in a parliamentary committee room.
CCTV from a kibbutz shows the banality of everyday life, with no music or sound. Until a heavily armed terrorist walks up to a car. He calmly shoots the occupants. The bloodbath begins.
Hamas footage shows a terrorist walking through a small village, their gun bobbing in front of the camera as if in a video game. The elderly, children, women, children are shot - many in their pyjamas. There is a great deal of ‘celebrating’, with terrorist fighters glorying in their atrocities.
Two young women are discovered hiding under a table in a building. They are methodically shot in cold blood.
There was evidence of women being sexually assaulted.
There was also footage taken from the camera of a first responder arriving at the devastation of the outdoor music festival.
His bodycam shows us what he sees. Everywhere there are bodies.
Eventually, and just about controlling himself, he simply walks through calling: “Is anyone alive?” There is no answer.
This was just a snapshot of what we saw.
1,200 people going about their daily lives were murdered and thousands more injured. Over 200 were taken hostage.
That is why the UK Government is doing everything in its power to bring about a lasting peace. We are supporting the Israeli Government and have also pledged £30m in additional aid funding to help Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel is a small country - the size of Wales. Almost all Israelis will know someone killed. Its people will forever be haunted by that day. The idea that some people are now daring to even question whether the Hamas attack happened is sickening.
I hope that one day Palestinians and Israelis can live side by side in peace. But it will never happen while Hamas run Gaza.
Any government confronted with the reality of what we witnessed for just 45 minutes - a mere snapshot of the horror - would have an absolute duty to protect its population from that ever happening again.