I do not share Andy Newman’s opinion of Baroness Warsi – (‘Resignation impresses’, August 14) and I am pleased to see her go.

In my opinion she has been ineffective in response to the evidence of thousands of Christians murdered annually at the hands of Islamic agencies but was quick to act when fellow Muslims fell victim to Israeli action.

The plight of Palestinians in Gaza is indeed dire but the fault for that lies entirely with Hamas. If Hamas and some other Arab nations had been prepared to accept Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish nation in the Middle East, there could have been a two-state solution, satisfying Palestinian ambitions, years ago.

In order to kickstart the peace process, Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 but Hamas responded with violence, using peaceful interludes to construct a network of ‘terror tunnels’ across the border with Israel, storing ammunition in schools and siting rocket launchers adjacent to schools and hospitals, viewing the probable ensuing civilian casualties as propaganda victories.

Hamas shares with ISIS an ideology that is a form of Islam described as extremist yet which is obedient to the Koran. Unfortunately, for the Israel-Palestine peace process the Koran, section 5:82, states that “Jews are the worst of the enemies of Islam” and there is no doubt that were Hamas in a position of military dominance then Israel would be annihilated.

Hamas/ISIS Islam is far removed from the ‘Islam light’ version practised by peaceful Muslims resident in the UK. As an example of the difference you have only to contrast section 5:32 of the Koran, as quoted by the deputy Prime Minister following the murder of Lee Rigby, with what the Koran actually states.

For the future of free democratic societies around the world, the Hamas/ISIS version of Islam must be confronted and a part of this process must be to support Israel, a nation on the front line, a small oasis of democracy and freedom.

John M Hartley, St Paul Street, Chippenham.