On the day of Yom Kippur, October 6th, in 1973, the armies of Egypt and Syria launched an attack on Israel. It was an attempt to recapture land they had lost to Israel when they attacked them in the Six Day War of 1967. The Israelis suffered significant losses but the attack failed. Israel won.
Following the war Egypt and Syria chose different paths to regaining their territories. Egypt sought peace with Israel and all of her lands - including the entirety of the strategic and crucial Sinai - were returned. Egypt and Israel have lived in peace since.
Syria chose continued conflict with Israel. The state of war has perpetuated, and the resolution of territorial dispute with Israel remains as elusive as ever.
Last Saturday, on the 50th anniversary of that attack - and in an unmistakeable echo of it - the terrorist group Hamas launched an unprovoked attack on Israel, from Gaza. But whereas 50 years ago Egypt and Syria attacked Israel’s military forces, this time Hamas aimed thousands of its rockets at Israel’s southern population centers including Beersheva, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Tel Aviv and communities neighboring the Gaza strip.
At the same time, Hamas terror squads broke through the border and entered Israeli towns and villages where they killed, raped and abducted Israelis and other nationals.
Pictures are circulating of Hamas terrorists parading the broken and naked body of a woman as some kind of grotesque trophy. Of elderly people, lying in the street, gunned down as they queued for a bus. Of civilians being abducted as hostages. Of dozens of young people fleeing for their lives in terror when a 'music festival for peace' came under fire from Hamas terrorists.
Already Israel is reporting over 800 hundred deaths (250 alone at the festival) and more than 2,000 hospitalisations. As Israel Defence Forces fight to clear homes and settlements of Hamas, those numbers will no doubt rise further.
These acts of terrorism, purposefully attacking civilians, can never be justified. I have joined with politicians of many parties across the UK and around the world in condemning these attacks. I hope and pray for a swift end to the hostilities.
But Hamas' moral failures extend beyond their actions this weekend. They have contributed to the needless suffering and deaths of the people they govern.
Hamas has ruled the Gaza strip for sixteen years. During that time it has used its resources - donations from Arab states and from the EU and USA - to fortify and militarise the Gaza Strip. It has governed with scant regard for human rights. Opposition to their rule has been brutally suppressed, as have minority groups.
Saturday's attack - no doubt months in the planning - would have required great resources and the support of others. Iran has admitted their role in this.
Those resources and that endeavour could have been used, instead, to develop the economy and civil infrastructure of the Gaza Strip. To bring essential services, order, prosperity and wellbeing to its people.
But by militarising the Gaza Strip and by its actions this weekend, Hamas has demonstrated why Israel cannot withdraw from the West Bank. For them to do so would bring Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem and the entire Galilee within range of Hamas rocket attacks.
Hamas are not only an enemy of Israel, they are also responsible for the needless suffering of their own people. These most recent attacks will not bring an end to conflict or liberate any land. They merely continue the cycle of destruction and suffering to civilians on both sides of this tragic conflict.