Hamas savagery deserves strong global condemnation

Hamas taking hostages on October 7 last year was a war crime. This week Hamas murdered six of those hostages (“Unfathomable cruelty of Hamas ghouls and a nation left with a broken heart”, 4/9).

Where is the outrage and condemnation from the UN and from the leaders of the Western world? Where is the condemnation from our own government and from the leaders of our universities, our businesses, our unions?

One of the murdered hostages was an American citizen. Why has there been no strong reaction from the US administration? If it had been an Australian citizen murdered by the Palestinians would our government, too, have had nothing to say?

Peter Fenwick, East Melbourne, Vic

An Australian aid worker is accidentally killed in Gaza and all hell breaks loose but when an American citizen is held underground for months, tortured and then forced to videotape a goodbye before being shot in the head, there’s only silence.

Paul Haege, Darling Point, NSW

Most people, regardless of whether they are supporters of Gaza or Israel, would condemn the recent murder of the six hostages. It proves Hamas is an abomination that should not be allowed to exist in a civilised world. But that still does not excuse Israel killing thousands of innocent citizens. Both are examples of irrationality prompting irrationality.

Ken Clarke, Tweed Heads, NSW

If you think the latest atrocity by Hamas will cause the Australian government to withdraw its support from the cause underlying the Hamas behaviour, you have very little understanding of the socialist left. And don’t waste your time looking for some unequivocal condemnation from our Prime Minister.

Frank Pulsford, Aspley, Qld

Your editorial (“Evil of Hamas propaganda videos”, 4/9) accurately states: “The challenge of Hamas’s barbarity … is bigger than just Israel. It is despicable savagery that has no place in a world that claims to be civilised.” One waits in anticipation for the UN Security Council’s and General Assembly’s condemnations, or will those organisations borrow our Prime Minister’s lettuce leaf (with acknowledgment to Johannes Leak)?

Alan Slade, Dover Heights, NSW

With the release of the videos that Hamas forced the hostages to make before their brutal murder in cold blood by execution with a bullet to the back of the head, the world can now see the terror that Israel faces. Israel needs to be supported in its fight to eradicate, once and for all, this evil, deadly, terrorist regime.

Robert Krochmalik, Pearl Beach, NSW

Cameron Stewart’s report succinctly highlights Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s isolation.

Yet his war cabinet still backs his ceasefire refusal. Short of a coup in the Knesset, what possible solutions exist? As can be seen in the West Bank now, Netanyahu would rather broaden, even internationalise, the war rather than end it. That the larger challenge of a future political dispensation across Israel-Palestine remains does not change the fact that Netanyahu is the immediate obstacle to progress beyond bloodshed.

Ken Blackman, Inverloch, Vic

How is it that when faced with the kidnapping and ultimate murder of civilians on the verge of military rescue, it is not Hamas but the Israeli Prime Minister who is held responsible for failing to effectively negotiate with the terrorists, who have rejected every proposal thus far? What sort of ally is Britain to respond punitively with an arms embargo?

Yahya Sinwar and his Iranian sponsors would be applauding Britain’s attempts to strip Israel of its right to self-defence.

Galya Kay, Bondi Junction NSW

As was demonstrated on October 7 last year, when innocents were murdered, without regard to age or sex, it is clear Hamas militants are a pack of inhuman sav­ages, a description that could now be further confirmed by the slaughter in cold blood of host­ages at the point of rescue.

Hamas are monsters, yes, but how should we describe those citizens of democracies (including ours) who effectively support this blight on the human species by attempting to hamstring Israel’s efforts to destroy them and free their hostages?

Terry Birchley, Bundaberg, Qld